Can't format SATA drives in new machine, & install XP Pro 1

[Bocaire]

I've just completed building a new machine with the latest parts. I'm using the following key elements

ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe mobo
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4400
4 WD4000KD SATA hard drives

The assembly went well. The initial POST was completed nicely - no errors other than the fact that there was no OS installed - which is true. My 4 SATA drives were all recognized, as were my 2 optical drives.

I then put in the CD for XP Pro SP2, and it went through the initial setup, and brought me to a window showing my 4 SATA drives. However, there is no way to format the startup C drive, or any of the drives. I can set the partition size to any number up to the max size. But I cannot bring up the choice to format the drive, so that Windows can install. I just keep going around in circles.

When I tried second time, the system didn't complete the post, and I never even got to the drive listing window.

So I downloaded the files to boot up via floppies, to see if that would help. Setup proceded again, and I got to the same window, but there was no way to format the C: drive. Without that of course, I cannot install Windows, and the system is just hardware sitting there.

I know that there has to be a way to format SATA drives in new machines. But I can't find it. I've checked Google, and apparently that is a common problem.

If I had a machine running XP Pro, presumably, I could stick one of the new drives in there, to format it. But all I have is machines with IDE drives.

I just can't imagine what the devil is going on.

Can anyone help me here - PLEASE.

Ron Hirsch

 

[firewolfrl]

first unhook the other three drives and just have one hard drive to install windows.
then you need to make a floppy with the driver for the SATA controller
then when you boot the machine and for a very SHORT period after you see the Blue screen you will be asked to hit F6 to load SCSI drivers....hit F6

on the driver load screen load the driver floppy and then load the driver.
after that load XP like normal ....make sure you pull the floppy when it is ready to reboot


after windows is installed rehook up the other drives.

 

[Bocaire]

Thanks for the tip. Now, where do I get the SATA controller driver? I jsut learned that the mobo manuf, ASUS, supplies it

For some reason, the POST does not now complete, with the Windows CD in the CD drive. But, it will complete when I use the floppy setup 6 disk set I created. so I assume that I can use that, and when the F6 message comes up, I can hit F6, and then swap the floppy setup disk for the SATA controller driver disk I need - true?

I just got some info from WD that the CD that came with the ASUS mobo probably has the drivers that I need. But I was told by ASUS that I should use that CD after I have Windows installed. The main problem with mankind has surfaced. Commucniation between the memners of this world is pretty sad.

I will try running that CD now.

Once I do get Windows installed (I hope), I assume that I'll be able to properly format the other 3 drives directly from XP.

Thanks again for your help -

Ron Hirsch

 

[firewolfrl]

Check in the BIOS and make sure CD is the first boot device then floppy then HD0(preferred) (or sata.... BIOS's vary for those options)
that may fix the boot options

 

[Bocaire]

I finally got through to ASUS. They confirmed that one must generate a "driver floppy" to install along teh way. Their CD has the necessary files, buried deep, and named such that no one would ever be able to do this without specific instructions.

I chewed their ass out royally. I went to their site well before my hardware arrived, downloaded the manual on my mobo, duplex printed it out on my color laser, and GBC bound it. I then read it fully and carefully several times beofre starting on assembling my system. There isn't a single word in there on this whole topic.

Considering that just about all new systems are using SATA drives these days, and ASUS has 8 SATA connectors on the mobo, one would think that they should address this situation. And, considering that most machines don't even bother with a floppy any more. This would be a serious situation for many. And, when the onscreen line comes up re the F6 key, it mentions only for SCSI and RAID situations.

I also checked with an acquaintance who is in the full time business of building custom systems on this topic, and has been for many years.

He stated that when he put together the first SATA system, he had to search to find out what was going on.

I intend to write a strong letter to ASUS re this subject.

I spent more time resolving this issue than I did in assembling all the hardware for the system.

RBH

 

[paparazi]

Join the club! lol, many builders like myself had this same experience with our first SATA builds some 18months or so ago.
Thankfully most of the newer motherboards have "native support" and don't require this F6 rigmerol and so recognise SATA drives without the need for any 3rd party drivers (rollon progress)
I don't honestly know why SATA drivers couldn't have been integrated in the first place, but there you go.
Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Bocaire]

I've still not been able to proceed with my Windows XP Pro install.

I found the "makedisc.exe" file on the ASUS CD, anbd ran it to create a floppy. There was no mention of any SATA drivers there however.

The new machine still will not start the process from the CD. It did go into setup from the CD on the very first try, when I got into the loop where I could not find any way to foramt the C drive. But after that, it more or less completed the POST, and then just stopped.

But, it will go through the initial process of SETUP from the 6 floppy disk set I created. Along the way I hit the F6 key, and was later prompted for the floppy I created. I inserted the floppy, and there were two choices of drivers to install - RAID and SCSI. ASUS said that was OK when I spoke to them originally.

So I installed both of them, and returned to the floppy setup. But I short got an error message that the setup had failed, So I'm still nowhere.

My boot order is CDROM, HARD Drive, and removable media.

I'm really getting riled up here, and super P****d off at ASUS.

Does anyone have the floppy disc files for the SATA situation, and the ASUS A8N32-SLI Deluxe? Or is there somewhere I can download the correct file set for a floppy? I'm going to call back ASUS today, and really demand some satisfaction here.

I'm still dead in the water, and have spent more time trying to install Windows that I spent on putting together the whole system.

Ron Hirsch

rbhirsch1h4i3r9s@adelphia.net

 

[jurgen36]

Actually its not ASUS to blame but windows, windows does not have the drivers on the installation disk. And windows only looks at a floppy drive to install them. Asus is not to blame at all as their bios does recognise the drives and lets you boot from them. However windows does not even find the drives at all. So please put the blame where it belongs. I am not a friend of Asus but the installation is actually quite simple. So please think where the blame should be send.
Regards

Jurgen

 

[jurgen36]

Also some more info, you can actually boot up with a win98se floppy, Fdisk the drives and format them. However winxp will still not see them, XP insists that they are loaded from a floppy drive. Write your letter of complain to MS that would be the fair and responsible thing to do.
Regards again

Jurgen

 

[jurgen36]

I just looked over your post again, the boot order should be floppy drive, cd rom and hard drive. This could be part of the problem. Also your installation disk could be faulty. If you can, try another install cd. Also after you hit the s button for the floppy drivers you should leave them in the drive untill the moment the system starts to reboot again. During the installation xp refers back to the floppy. During the first reboot remove the floppy.
Regards

Jurgen

 

[Bocaire]

Went to the ASUS site, and downloaded a driver which I thought would work

3132_32_SATA_v1009.zip

I unzipped this, put all the files directly onto a floppy, and then hit F6 during the setup, and put the floppy in to "do its stuff" when called for, but I ended up at the same screen where I couldn't format the hard drive to install Windows.

Does anyone know what and where I can get the files to put on a floppy so that I can format the SATA C drive, and proceed to install Windows.

I assume that once I get XP installed, I can format the other drives via XP, can I not?

It seems like I'm sending my life trying to get XP installed.

There are millions of machines out there that have XP and SATA drives. What do I have to do to get XP installed on my SATA drive machine???

HELP

Ron Hirsch

 

[Bocaire]

I can't leave the driver floppy in the A drive, as the install process of setup is using 6 floppies I created, and it asks for a different floppy.

Setup won't proceed beyond the POST if I try to do the install directly from the CD.

RBH

 

[jurgen36]

The file you need is called txtsetup.oem, thats what xp is looking for, you need of course all the other drivers as well. They are all on the MB CD. They are automatically transfered to the floppy. DONT CONTINUE to install xp from floppies it will not work. You need a proper install cd. If your CD is defective exchange it. Actually I did read the ASUS manual for your machine and it gives quite clear information how to make the floppy for XP. To install XP from floppies you would need a couple of hundreds. Not just 6.

Exchange your XP setup CD and it will work.
Regards

Jurgen

 

[paparazi]

Hi
I just noticed that there are two differant SATA drivers on the Asus website, one is 347KB the other larger 897KB.
This second bigger file is called 3132disk etc etc I think this is the one you need to make your floppy SATA driver.
Give it a go.

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[paparazi]

Just to add:
Both are SATA drivers but it would appear this second larger file is the "make a disk" option.
It's the lower of the two in the list.
You'll get there! don't worry.

Martin

We like members to GIVE and not just TAKE.
Participate and help others.

 

[Sympology]

Fancy MS not realeasing boot disks for a Technology that didn't exist when XP was released. How thoughtless.

Only the truly stupid believe they know everything.
Stu.. 2004

 

[Bocaire]

Well, the issue seems to be resolved (hopefully). I did get lots of "wrong" info from ASUS tech support. But this AM, I spoke to someone who appeared to be very knowledgable.

He stated that if the Windows install recognized my 4 SATA drives, then I did not need any "drivers".

He was quite surprised at the screen that came up, and didn't offer any formatting choices. He said he's never seen such a screen. Actually, that screen is a separate screen that just did not show up previously

He said that I should set a different one of the SATA drives to be my system drive, and unplug all the others from the mobo, and try again.

I did that, and then attempted to use the Windows CD to do the setup process. But again, it halted after the POST. So I reverted to the 6 CD's which I made to do the setup, and then turn things over to the Windows CD, and I did not use the F6 key, as it was not needed. (Yesterday's tech call said it was)

I have my boot order set to floppy-CD-hard drive. Once Windows is installed, I'll change that around.

The screen showing the single hard drive now appeared, and when I hit ENTER to install Windows, this time a screen, not seen before, came up with the option to format the partition, and that is occurring right now. FINALLY, things are happening. It's still a bit fuzzy why they happened.

If things did not function properly, he said it might be a bad mobo, but that does not now seem to be the case.

So, thanks to all of you for your assistance in a weird situation. Hopefully all is back on track now.

So, the problem does not seem to be the lack of drivers by ASUS. But, the first two techs I spoke to did give me erroneous info.

QUICK QUESTION: When formatting drives, there is always the option of the quick or long format. I've always used the long format. Is it still the best way to go??

RBH

 

[Bocaire]

Hi Jurgen,

You misunderstood what I stated. I was not installing Windows from floppies. That would take a year or two <G>.

But MS does offer the intial SETUP, which is about 4+ MB, to be done via fgloppy. I downloaded the 1 file, and running it created the 6 floppies for me.

A friend of mine had to resort to this in the past on several occasions, when he also had difficulty in getting the CD to run initially. The last floppy calls the CD into action to do the real install.

Ron Hirsch

 

[jurgen36]

:Bocaire
Thanks for clarifying that, it really had me worried for a moment. I do believe it would never finish from floppies. Ok you probably use the resque set of 6 floppies to start the installation. Very good. I hope all works out ok now.
Regards

Jurgen

 

[firewolfrl]

ok go here

http://support.asus.com/download/download.aspx?SLanguage=en-us

then input your MB
you did not say if you were running the SATA as RAID or just Serial ATA?

Make sure the BIOS reads that you are either using RAID or Serial ATA

you have to first create a RAID Array if you are gonna use RAID (that means reinstall all the other drives so the RAID will work) and refer to your owners manual for help

I prefer using the Serial ATA. much less headaches

here is a direct link to the Serial drivers

http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/ide/silicon/3132/3132_32_SATA_v1009.zip

if you are not using the RAID configuration then don't download this file.
here is a direct link to the RAID 5 drivers

http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/misc/ide/silicon/3132/3132_32_RAID_v1231.zip

unzip the file then open up the unzipped folder and open up the folders till you see all the driver files. then copy these files to a blank formatted floppy.

then proceed as I last posted