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Dr_Jekyll
03-07-2007, 08:55 AM
Hello all,

Many will be aware that the XP boot disk does not include SATA drivers. The usual work around is for either: a floppy disk to be included with your MoBo that contains the drivers (use F6 during install to add these or your BIOS will not recognise your SATA drive); or, use the CD ROM supplied with the MoBo to 'makedisk' and make your own floppy.

The subject Novatech bundle uses a FoxConn Winfast 6100 MoBo and has a CD with it. So starts the first problem; with a bundle of bits, how do you load the CD ROM and look to 'makedisk'? Answer: Find another PC and use that.

Then the 2nd problem. The disk supplied does not include the makedisk utility. So you hunt the CD for the appropriate files, but I assure you, they are not there.

So, 3rd step - Pull out all hair .

4th step - Go into BIOS and set advanced settings to SATA1 controller instead of auto.

5th step. Retrospectively add drivers once windows is installed.

Could all have been 10x easier if a disk had been included or a CD that had makedisk included or, finally, the Novatech person putting the bundle together had made the appropriate BIOS settings up front, seeing as they knew I had a SATA drive as part of the bundle (would have been helpful)

TheMan
03-07-2007, 10:09 AM
Quick question. Did you actually try installing windows using its normal built-in drivers that are on the CD first?
You should only have had this problem if you were trying to run it in a RAID config, as most SATA controllers now appear as standard IDE devices during a windows installation. I also bought this MB, and therfore know that it can be installed without fault.

Also, given that Novatechs bundles are stock items built in advance, how would the person who put it together have known what the future purchaser would order to go with it? Or do you expect the people who dispatch the items to read what you've ordered and set it up for you?