Hiya guys.
I used to have an asrock mother board and AMD CPU with an IDE HDD on which was installed windows etc. It also had a SATA drive that I used to store
all my documents etc for backup purposes.
Then I foolishly upgraded to a asrock k8nf4g-sata2 motherboard and AMD semipron 3000+ CPU. Done a fresh install of window's XP on the IDE
drive... everything going smoothly so far. THAT'S when I discovered the problem. despite trying every driver I can find I cannot get
window's to recognise the SATA drive. When I run the add hardware wizard it finds it and tells me to install drivers (which I do) it then says
"you're new hardware may not run properly until you reboot blah blah) reboot and guess what??? No SATA drive.
Can anyone help me out with this as if push comes to shove I'll have to downgrade back to the original motherboard + CPU as there is stuff on
the SATA drive that is both irriplaceable and needed.
Thanks in advance.
if windows is finding it, then i would suggest you havent got the right drivers - check the asrock web site for updated drivers
is the hard drive a sata 2 drive - might be worth trying jumpering the drive back to sata 1 (had a similar problem myself)
ps - i assume that the bios screen finds the drive (on boot)
according to the asrock web site the last bios update was may 2005 - you will probably have that version
whoops mis-read that its actually 5th.dec, 2005 - if the bios not finding it - might be worth flashing bios
[Edited on 26/1/06 by Scotty]
Go into the bios (hit del when booting). Go into the integrated peripherals section and chack that SATA IDE is turned on (on most boards the default
is off!)
Very very few drives or new motherboards need the drivers installing during the windows install. Certainly none that I have ever done.
David
If windows is recognising it and prompting for drivers then
a) contact the motherboard vendor
b) check the drive manfucturers website for advice
It certainly should find it.
Have you tried going into Start--->Control Panel--->Administrative Tools--->Computer Management
Then under STORAGE click Disc Management.
If you see the SATA drive listed - right click on it - make active and assign a DRIVE LETTER.
Then it should be visible 
Good luck!
Hi,
I built a pc last year and had a similar problem with the motherboard (ASUS a8n) not noticing the sata hard drives. I had to use a program called
'disk wizard' to create a floppy disk install utility. Mine Sata drives are from seagate. The guide and software is available on their
website - http://www.seagate.com/support/kb/disc/howto/sata_install_tshoot.html
After running the utility program from the floppy drive windows xp should recognise your hard drive.
Cheers,
Donny.
If the drive is not being picked up in the bios then it will not be picked up in windows.
If it is not picking it up in the bios first thing to do it try and jumper the drive. I should say on top of the drive which jumper you need to use.
It might say something like force SATA 150
Not "really" much of a help, but I had to click on the thread 'cos I read it as "SANTA HELP......PPPPLEEEASSE!" 
I'll get me coat....
Hiya guys.
Thanks for your help. I finally got it working, it was a problem with the BIO settings (although god know's which one)
SOOOO....
The winner of the chocolate banana is.....
drumroll.....
A joint winner between Flak Monkey and Scotty..... come and collect your prize guys.
And the crowd go wild, a very popular decision for the judges there!
(yes I know......I'm booked in to the psychatric clinic on monday)
What do I win? 
Glad you got it sorted
David
I don't mind coming second - as all gentlemen do !!!
ask the wife
Ok on reviewing slow motion play back the ref has awarded everyone with a goal, slightly to the annoyance of FIFA who now have to make 103 extra world
cups!
A great day ladies and gentlemen.
you sound a happy person
what drugs do you use ???
High on life mate.....
That is to say that if I keep telling myself that sooner or later I might start to believe it.
quote:
Originally posted by Scotty
you sound a happy person
what drugs do you use ???