[JJJM]

Just built this system: GA-MA78GM-S2H, AMD 64 Athlon 6000, 4G Corsair RAM, Antec Earthwatts 500 power supply, using onboard video since apparently my video card died along with my previous mobo, and at first I could not get it to boot with two devices on the one IDE connector--still can't, really, when they are jumpered master/slave. It only will work when they are cable select, and then the CD is seen as the master and the HDD as the slave. Might be how the cable is arranged--it did not used to matter which end went where. Does it now? I have the longer end on the CD because that's the only way it can reach. (It's a full tower case)

The SATA drives are seen at POST, but not by windows (xp) . . . well, might be the ones that are not partitioned. One does have a backup on it and is accessible. Should I be using ACHI? It complains on bootup if I leave it in IDE mode, but the SATA DVD is invisible when I enable ACHI!

I have my SATA drives in trays so I'm concerned about damaging them if I try the hot swapping that I used to do. My previous setup never offered ACHI--is it necessary for the drives to be safely hot-swapped?

Guess that's enough questions for now, hope I have given enough detail.

Thanks in advance for any insight anyone might have for me. :4-dontkno

 

[Tumbleweed36]

and at first I could not get it to boot with two devices on the one IDE connector--still can't, really, when they are jumpered master/slave. It only will work when they are cable select, and then the CD is seen as the master and the HDD as the slave. Might be how the cable is arranged--

You need to have the Hard Drive jumpers set to MASTER and place it on the END of the ribbon cable and the CDRom set to SLAVE and placed on the middle connector of the hard drive even if you need to swap the drive positions to make the cable work. That would most likely solve this issue.

BTW, if you purchase some of the round cables, you can get longer lengths that will work without too many difficulties, but the flat ribbon cables are shorter standard lengths. You also as a bonus end up with less clutter in your case since they don't take as much room.

The SATA drives are seen at POST, but not by windows (xp)

Windows will see them when they are partitioned and formatted. If you can't do that through windows setup (putting an OS on them), then download and run the hard drive manufacturer's utility and let it partition and format them.

 

[JJJM]

Thanks for the response! I was using the round cables, but switched back to flat. Maybe I can get it to work by moving the HDD up to the top empty bay, or look for a loooonger one. :tongue:

It boots, anyway, even tho it's showing as slave . . .

Ha! You should see my round floppy cable! It's way longer than I need!

Any thoughts about my hot-swapping concern? Should I enable ACHI? Hmmmm.....maybe I should look into RAID--don't know much about that.

I'm really more concerned about that and that the Sata Dvd is not showing up in windows unless in ide mode.

Thanks!

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Thanks for the response! I was using the round cables, but switched back to flat.

The round cables can be purchased in very long sizes, so that might be the best bet so you don't have to move a drive. Personally, I don't use or sell anything anymore except the round cables.

Maybe I can get it to work by moving the HDD up to the top empty bay, or look for a loooonger one. :tongue:

It boots, anyway, even tho it's showing as slave . . .

The hard drive should definitely be the Master in this setup.

Ha! You should see my round floppy cable! It's way longer than I need!

Know what you mean, have a couple of those lying around here. Notice, that they are lying around and not used. :grin:

Any thoughts about my hot-swapping concern?

To be quite honest, I always discourage "hot swapping."

Should I enable ACHI? Hmmmm.....maybe I should look into RAID--don't know much about that.

Leave it on IDE mode and don't mess with the ACHI, that is my opinion.

I'm really more concerned about that and that the Sata Dvd is not showing up in windows unless in ide mode.

That is normal, the Sata Dvd is performing as it should....it should be in IDE mode.
Thanks!

 

[lazareth1]

When you say long end of the ribbon cable, I take it you mean between the connectors? If yes then that end should be plugged into the motherboard.

|-------|---|

From left to right,

motherboard - CD-ROM (slave) - HDD (Master)

 

[Tumbleweed36]

Good point lazareth1. Most ribbon style cables, the blue to the motherboard, the gray to the slave .and the black on the end.

 

[JJJM]

When did they start getting so fussy? I've got scads of ribbon cables lying around here, some still in plastic bags, all monochrome, and I can't recall them caring which end went where!

Well, I moved the HDD up as high as I could--the cpu heatsink/fan makes it really hard to put it any higher--and managed to get the round cable to reach. But, it is kinda pushing against the wires (I guess you call 'em) coming from the main power connector, just a little.

Why do you discourage hot-swapping? I thought that was the advantage to SATA.

I have to tell ya, I been having a heck of a time with this--this is the third mobo I've tried, sent the first back to computer geeks and got another one. Probably it was good but not thinking I could come up with a different video card and no onboard video, I could not get it to go. I was trying to go cheap and keep the same chip and ram, so now I got a perfectly good second setup--AMD Athlon 64 3800 on a Foxconn Winfast. Figured I could sell it but maybe I'll keep it for a quick fix next time a board goes down--not too inclined now to give up this dual core, heh heh.

What really surprised me was how easy it was to re-activate xp! Worked online!! Last time I had to call.

I hate to start a new thread for one more question . . . how can you get the heatsink off a chip without pulling it clean out of the board? Happened to me twice! It's a wonder it was not damaged.

 

[Tumbleweed36]

For the heatsink (it is always best that the heatsink is warm), unclamp/unsnap/unscrew depending upon the heatsink. Then, grasp it by the sides with fingers on each side of the thing and start a slow side to side twist (be careful, not too much pressure). Then when it begins to slide back and forth a little, then use a little pressure to pull up at the same time you are twisting side to side. They come right up and out of there in 99% of the cases. Just be careful not to put enough pressure on it to damage the cpu. Take your time and be patient and it will loosen enough to come off if you keep that side to side and upward motion going.

In extreme cases, I have used a hair dryer to loosen and warm the paste up slightly so they come out easier. Not recommending this, but I have done it if the thing has been on there a long time and is pretty darn snug.

Let us know if we can help further and keep us posted on your progress.