Jonboy009

Hi folks, I've done alot of forum hunting the last few days, while trying to install Vista64 on my new pc. I get to the bit about choosing which drive to install VCista on and my Sata Hdd is not listed. So after reading around, it seems that I need to find the drivers for my motherboard to get it going. Thing is, I cant find the buggers. If anyone can help, I would really appreciate it. Here are my specs:


Mobo: Gigabyte GA-P35-S3g
Sata HDD: Seagate ST3250310AS
Windows Vista 64

stressfreesoul

This is the webpage with the drivers on for your Mobo.
You shouldnt need drivers for the HDD unless you have RAID?
Make sure the 1.5Gbps limiter jumper isnt still on the HDD (next to the data plug)
Try moving the data cable for the drive to a different SATA port on the motherboard (mine is funny about sharing channels between some devices)

Jonboy009

Thanks for the reply Stress. I'd like to take my issue back a little bit, if you don't mind. This is the first time i've built a pc, and I want to make sure that I have all my ducks in a row as far as hooking the hdd up proper like. I don't know what raid is, if I need it or should ignore it. Also there is the AHCI thing, again don't know what it is or if I need it. Then there's BIOS settings, with Native IDE or somesuch. I didn't really touch the BIOS aside from setting my boot sequence to cd-rom first, hdd second, no floppy. Everything seems to be good as far as all my other hook-ups go, as it all seems to work, or at least, it doesn't give me any bad beeps or error codes or anything. So if you could maybe help me figure out which slot to put the sata cable in, and set my bios properly, I would sure appreciate it. This one issue has had me going nuts for 3 days now. Thanks in advance!

Tumbleweed36

Give these things a try:

• In the bios, you should have the Sata set in IDE mode, do you?
  
  
• In the Bios, you should have the Sata options enabled, do you?
  
  
• Have you loaded all your chipset drivers from the motherboard disk?
  
  
• When you start to load the OS, did you load the Sata drivers at the F6 prompt, you should if you have Windows XP? You don't need them for Vista unless you are doing Raid.
  
  
• Are you certain you have the Sata hooked to the correct connection on the motherboard?
  
  
• Do you have the Bios set to boot as follows:
  
  

  CDRom - 1st
  Floppy - 2nd (if you have one)
  Hard Drive - 3rd

• Do you have the Hard Drive Priority in the Boot area set with the Sata listed FIRST?
  

Post back with questions/concerns.

Jonboy009

In the bios, you should have the Sata set in IDE mode, do you?

I didn't see an option that said that directly, only thing I saw was an option for AHCI, and below it an option to set Sata to Native IDE mode


In the Bios, you should have the Sata options enabled, do you?
Didn't see an option for this either.


Have you loaded all your chipset drivers from the motherboard disk?
How do I do this? Before putting the Windows Vista disk in to install?


When you start to load the OS, did you load the Sata drivers at the F6 prompt, you should if you have Windows XP? You don't need them for Vista unless you are doing Raid.

Never saw an f6 prompt, but i've heard alot of talk about it.


Are you certain you have the Sata hooked to the correct connection on the motherboard?
At this point I am fairly certain of this.

Do you have the Bios set to boot as follows:


CDRom - 1st
Floppy - 2nd (if you have one)
Hard Drive - 3rd

Yes, thats how I have it.
Do you have the Hard Drive Priority in the Boot area set with the Sata listed FIRST
Yes, it only has one option of hard disk priority, as I only have 1 hdd.

I know it has to be something super simple. Sorry, if I am a bit noobish on these matters. Thanks for your assistance. I am going to try to start the pc with the mobo disk in the drive right now, see if that does anything for me.

Tumbleweed36

Look in the main area of the bios and see if you can find an item called something like Sata Configuration, set that to Enhanced. Under that, you should have something like Configure Sata as IDE. That should be enabled. You must realize each board is slightly different in their bios working or phrases. Some even have options listed under different headings. Any sub heading in the bios options that deals with Sata, make sure it is enabled, unless it is the raid option.

Jonboy009

Ok, will hook new pc up and check all the settings that apply to SATA. I will write down anything that seems pertinent, and post back in about 10 minutes. Thank you again!

Jonboy009

Ok, these are the Sata related options in my CMOS page

HDD Smart Capability -Enable/Disable
SATA AHCI Mode- en/dis
Sata Port 0-1 Native Mode - en/dis
Onboard Serial Port1- en/dis
Onboard IDE Controller- en/dis


I had the AHCI disabled, and Native Mode enabled

Tumbleweed36

Leave the factory defaults as they are except the one that says Sata AHCI Mode. In there, change the disabled to Enabled where it says Configure Sata Controller to Pata mode.
Give that a try and post back.

Jonboy009

Hi, thanks for the help. I haven't tried your suggestion yet, but I thought that giving some info on my bios might be able to help.

Intel p35 bios for p-35 s3g version f5a


Maybe that might help glean a little info. Gunna try your suggestion in a little bit. Thanks again.

Jonboy009

Ok, tried what you suggested, didn't work, unfortunately. It seems so odd that there are only 2 settings for sata on my bios, when so many other boards have all kinds of options. Anyways. I'll keep searching the forums, and hope I can figure it out. Thanks Tumbleweed

BCCOMP

Hi Guys,
Not sure if this will help, but I have attached a screenshot of Johnboy BIOS setup.
I have also found this:
And also this: Reffering to the BIOS Setup

SATA AHCI Mode (Intel ICH9 Southbridge):
Enables or disables AHCI for the SATA controllers integrated in the Intel ICH9 Southbridge.

Disabled: Configures the SATA controllers to PATA mode. (Default)

Enabled (AHCI): Configures the SATA controllers to AHCI mode. Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) is an interface specification that allows the storage driver to enable advanced Serial ATA features such as Native Command Queuing and hot plug.

For more information about AHCI, please visit Intel's website.

SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel ICH9 Southbridge):
Specifies the operating mode of the integrated SATA controllers.

Disabled: Allows the SATA controllers to operate in Legacy IDE mode. In Legacy mode the SATA controllers use dedicated IRQs that cannot be shared with other device.

Set this option to Disabled if you wish to install operating systems that do not support Native mode, e.g. Windows 9X/ME. (Default)

Enabled: Allows the SATA controllers to operate in Native IDE mode.
Enable Native IDE mode if you wish to install operating systems that support Native mode, e.g. Windows XP/2000.

Vista Related option: Power Mangement Setup
This does not apply to you HD issue, but it should be set correctly.

HPET Support:
Enables or disables High Precision Event Timer (HPET) for Windows® Vista® operating system.
(Default: Enabled)

HPET Mode:
Allows you to select the HPET mode for your Windows® Vista® operating system.
Select 32-bit mode when you install 32-bit Windows® Vista®.
Select 64-bit mode when you install 64-bitWindows® Vista®
(Default: 32-bit mode)

Owners Manual:
http://america.giga-byte.com/FileLis...-p35-s3g_e.pdf

Seeing this is the ONLY Harddrive on this PC:

Is your Sata drive connected to the TOP Sata port (SataII0)?

Does the BIOS detect it (Under Advance Bios Features) as IDE Channel 0/1 and is ACCESS Mode set to Auto?

Set: To Disable Hot Plug Capabilities
SATA AHCI Mode (Intel ICH9 Southbridge):Disabled
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel ICH9 Southbridge): Enabled

Set: To Enable Hot Plug Capabilities
SATA AHCI Mode (Intel ICH9 Southbridge):Enabled
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel ICH9 Southbridge): Enabled


Boot Device Priority:
CD-Rom
Harddrive
Floppy: Disable (None) this in the BIOS (under Standard BIOS Features) If you do not have a Floppy Drive installed.

With this setup what errors are you getting when you go to install Vista?


Bill

Attached Images

untitled.JPG (128.6 KB, 3 views)

Jonboy009

Thanks for posting BC, I have tried al of those settings as suggested, and Windows says that it cannot find a hard drive, and to load the drivers in. I've tried locating the drivers from the mobo cd, but they don't take(are incompatable). It is strange because when I browse for drivers, it shows the hdd as one of the places I can search. At one point I popped the hdd into my old pc, and formated it, as I read somewhere that that might be something that needs to be done. My old pc, running Windows XP, picked the hd right up with no fuss, and I was able to format it. Afterwards, thinking i was in good shape, popped it back into the new machine, and no dice. It seems strange that the new Vista machine will show the hdd as being searchable for drivers, but not as a place to intall the software onto. As far as the bios picking up the hard drive, it does pick it up, its in the top sata plug-in slot, shows up in bios in the port 0 slot, and has the auto feature enabled. A friend of mine suggested intalling a copy of xp onto the machine, then upgrading to Vista to kind of trick Vista into working. Hope that info helps. Thanks!

BCCOMP

Is your VISTA OS disc Retail or OEM version?
Bill

Jonboy009

It is an OEM version

BCCOMP

What is the EXACT make and model of this computer?
Is the OEM disk you are using for THIS PC?
You CANNOT use an OEM Vista OS from another PC that is not specified for this PC.

Bill