Windows cannot detect SATA drive

hi, new to this forum but i thought you might be able to help with a problem i have.

ok, i've got two SATA 120G Seagate HD's. basically, when i initially setup my new machine i didnt setup the hard drives on seperate buses so Windows(XP) was only seeing it as one hard drive even though it shows two drives.

my friend was taking a look at it and fooling around in the Raid controller setup menu and without changing anything he exited that menu and re-booted the machine and now it wont boot to windows. When you boot to the windows disc and go through that whole process(install the raid driver) Windows still cant detect a drive.

i'm probably not being specific enough but ask me some questions and i'll be able to explain it easier

rob

SATA Hardware Compatibility Information

Specialblend21,

The link above gives you detailed information about hardware compatibility. I believe that any software configuration, with the exception of BIOS, will not solve your problem.

If you meet all system (hardware) requirements, then I would consider installing only one SATA HDD to see if the computer boots properly. Also, read your Seagate documentation for very specific slave drive setup.

Hi,
I had a similar problem myself after a virus crashed my system. This might help you. I’m running an Nvidia n Force2 series Motherboard from ASUS. I took the Motherboards Manufacture Utility CD and a blank Floppy Disk to a friends PC. Your Manufacture CD should be an auto run CD. After I loaded the CD I closed the auto box window. Then go to My Computer, right click on the drive letter you have your CD in, and choose Explore. Now open the folder called “DRIVERS”, right click on the folder called “SATA”, and choose from pull down menu “Send to:” Send or copy folder to A: Drive.

Now go back home, insert your Windows XP CD into your CDROM drive, then RESTART your PC, and BOOT from your Windows XP CD. A blue screen will appear, in the grey box on the bottom the first thing you will see something like “Press F6 for third party Raid Drivers. This will come up fast. Hit F6 and wait for all other drivers to load. You should now be at a blue window that says “Setup could not determine the type of Mass storage devices installed in your system etc…” You have three Choices

1. S=Specify Additional Choices
2. Enter=Continue
3. F3=Exit

Choose (S) for “Specify Additional Choices”
It will now tell you to: “insert disk labeled manufacturer supplied hardware support disk into drive A: This is were your floppy comes in that you copied earlier from your Manufacturer CD. Follow the rest of the directions and your system should recognize your hard drive/drives. Any problems, feel free to e-mail or IM me at dungeonm29@yahoo.com

Hi,
I had a similar problem myself after a virus crashed my system. This might help you. I’m running an Nvidia n Force2 series Motherboard from ASUS. I took the Motherboards Manufacture Utility CD and a blank Floppy Disk to a friends PC. Your Manufacture CD should be an auto run CD. After I loaded the CD I closed the auto box window. Then go to My Computer, right click on the drive letter you have your CD in, and choose Explore. Now open the folder called “DRIVERS”, right click on the folder called “SATA”, and choose from pull down menu “Send to:” Send or copy folder to A: Drive.

Now go back home, insert your Windows XP CD into your CDROM drive, then RESTART your PC, and BOOT from your Windows XP CD. A blue screen will appear, in the grey box on the bottom the first thing you will see something like “Press F6 for third party Raid Drivers. This will come up fast. Hit F6 and wait for all other drivers to load. You should now be at a blue window that says “Setup could not determine the type of Mass storage devices installed in your system etc…” You have three Choices

1. S=Specify Additional Choices
2. Enter=Continue
3. F3=Exit

Choose (S) for “Specify Additional Choices”
It will now tell you to: “insert disk labeled manufacturer supplied hardware support disk into drive A: This is were your floppy comes in that you copied earlier from your Manufacturer CD. Follow the rest of the directions and your system should recognize your hard drive/drives. Any problems, feel free to e-mail or IM me at dungeonm29@yahoo.com