SATA HDD problems. Please help!

[CoolCat]

I've been reading the posts and I'm glad I'm not the only one having problems!
I'm trying to install windows xp pro sp2 on a 200gb seagate sata HDD. My motherboard is an MSI 865PE Neo2-P Platinum Edition Motherboard (ICH5 controller), Bios version 3.31a. When I configure the bios as the manual says, the HDD shows up as Third ide master and I get the message "press any key to boot from cd. . . " but nothing happens! I've tried connecting my Sony dvd rw drive on both ide channels but no change.
If I change the settings in the bios, the hdd is not recognised but windows starts to install and the press f6 option is available. Windows starts copying files but soon stops because it can't find a HDD. . .
This is my first computer build and I'm really pulling my hair out here. . .
Any idea what I'm doing wrong?
Do I need drivers on a floppy disc?
Any help will be greatly appreciated!

[RJ]

You don't need any drivers (I don't even think there are any). Simply boot from CD and install windows.

If I got you right, then you can't boot from the CD if your BIOS recognizes your HDD ? You press a key when it says "press any key to boot from cd . . ." and nothing happens ? Have you jumpered the DVD drive correctly ?

RJ

[CoolCat]

"If I got you right, then you can't boot from the CD if your BIOS recognizes your HDD ? You press a key when it says "press any key to boot from cd . . ." and nothing happens ?"

Yes, thats right, I can hear the drive spinning (briefly), then nothing!
The dvd drive is set to master and seems to be working because when I change settings in the bios it at least starts copying files but stops because it can't find a HDD. Also, in the bios the dvd drive shows up as the secondary ide master.

[MaxRat]

You have to press F6 and supply the sata drivers via floppy...tis why that option is there....

[CoolCat]

So is RJ wrong about not needing drivers?
I kind of guessed i would, but the problem is I can't get that far with the bios configured as the manual says it should be - all i get is "press any key to boot from cd. . . " and nothing happens.
If i change the on chip ide configuration in the bios, my hdd is not recognised but windows setup will start allowing me to get to the f6 option, i have downloaded the only drivers i could find which were for the ICH5R NOT the ICH5. Tried installing them with f6 option but failed because the HDD does not show up. Getting very confused with this.
Surely the motherboard manual is correct?
Do I need drivers for the ICH5 controller or not?

[RJ]

So is RJ wrong about not needing drivers?

No, I am not. Your problem is that you can't boot from CD when the BIOS sees the HD. If you can boot from CD, HD is not recognized by BIOS.

And this can't work at all. Even if drivers existed, they wouldn't help at all. If the BIOS doesn't see the drive, nothing will. As long as the drive is not displayed in BIOS, you can't install Windows in it.

The BIOS has to see the hard drive, this is essential. Otherwise it can't work.

The problem is that for some reason you can't boot from the CD. If you installed the hard drive and the DVD drive correctly, it should work.
Maybe there are some BIOS settings that prevent it. What are the IDE settings in your BIOS ?

Do I need drivers for the ICH5 controller or not?

No. I've installed XP on SATA drives connected to mainboards with ICH5 and ICH6 southbridges, so I can assure you that you don't need drivers. . I don't even believe there are drivers. As you said you only found drivers for the ICH5R. . .the only difference is that the "R" supports RAID and you need the drivers for creating a RAID setup (without RAID, you don't need these drivers even on the ICH5R), that's it.

RJ

[Gizmo]

If I'm not mistaken, SATA is controlled by the ICH5 Southbridge I/O controller chip on that motherboard. Windows should therefore have generic SATA drivers. You would only need to install specific SATA drivers if SATA was controlled by a seperate controller chip designated for SATA on the motherboard and not the Southbridge I/O controller chip. Just leave the drive connected up to the Primary SATA controller chip socket, run the setup console in XP from the CD and let it do it's thing. Once done, reboot and the motherboard BIOS should go straight ahead and boot the newly installed OS on that hard drive.

EDIT: Also, it could be that PATA settings are overiding the SATA settings, considering that they are both controlled by the same controller chip. RJ has a point.

[Aussie01]

I had the same problem but i have a wd250 gig model. you need to install the drivers for the hard drive. They should be on your mobo disk. Make sure you copy the right ones to disk and boot your windows disk and hit f6 like someone else said and load the drivers, then you should be right. If it still doesnt work you either installed the wrong drivers or maybe you have a hardware issue.

[CoolCat]

Thanks for all the replies. Cheers RJ for the info! I've now got windows installed but i've not got a clue why it wasn't working before. I didn't change any settings, just pulled the dvd drive out to check the jumpers (they were ok). When i turned on later it went straight into windows installation without any problems! I can only think it could've been a loose ide cable, even though i checked all leads at least three times! Anyway, it's all sorted now.
Thanks again!