Booting XP from non-bootable SATA drive

Discussion in 'Windows XP / Older OS' started by rasputinuk, Sep 5, 2009.

  1. rasputinuk

    rasputinuk MDL Member

    May 21, 2007
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    Hi Guys,

    I have 120Gig SATA drive connected to a VIA pci SATA controller/USB 2.0 hub. The BIOS does not see the controller so I can't boot from the SATA drive. Is there a way in which I can boot from a small IDE HDD so that it can load the SATA drivers and then boot from the SATA drive ? :(
     
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  2. lonely

    lonely MDL Novice

    Jul 31, 2009
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    If the BIOS can't see your SATA drive then I think the drivers wont be of any use.
     
  3. rasputinuk

    rasputinuk MDL Member

    May 21, 2007
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    Using the drivers I can install XP to the SATA drive, but because it can't be seen by the BIOS it won't boot. However I have seen seen somewhere that I can modify the BIOS by inserting the cards BOOT ROM into it, but it is a hit or miss affair...I was just wondering how does windows boot from a SATA drive ? i.e where are the SATA drivers stored as windows can't read or boot the drive until these are loaded...
     
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  4. spiderman_pink

    spiderman_pink MDL Member

    Jul 1, 2009
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    which brand/model motherboard are you using?
     
  5. fred64

    fred64 MDL Junior Member

    May 2, 2007
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    If the BIOS cannot see the SATA drive then you will never get it running no matter what drivers you use unless you have a bootable PCI or PCIe SATA expansion card.
    I had the same problem but a BIOS update solved the problem. Have you tried to get a BIOS update from the mobo manufacturer?
    You could also try a SATA to PATA adaptor!

    If there is no BIOS update then your probably stuck with it
     
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