Hard Disk Drive Knowledge Base

Problem:

The drive is not being detected during the installation of Windows 2000 (All Versions), Windows XP (All Versions), or Windows 2003 Server (All Versions) even though the correct drivers were loaded by pressing F6.

Solution:

As you attempt to install an operating system to a Serial ATA drive, it will be necessary to install the appropriate controller driver; which is typically supplied by the controller manufacturer on a CD or a diskette. This process can be somewhat confusing if you are not that familiar with the process and may miss the screen or not fully understand the screen instructions.

NOTE: Windows Setup only allows for the drivers to be read from a floppy disk. If the controller drivers are supplied on a CD, you will need to copy them to a floppy diskette before starting the installation of Windows.

Following is an outline of the steps that should be taken to ensure that the proper drivers are loaded correctly.

1. Boot the system to either the Windows CD or a bootable floppy and start the installation of the operating system (Windows XP, Windows 2000 or Windows 2003 Server).

2. When the installation changes to the first blue screen, a message with the following wording will be displayed in the gray bar at the bottom of the screen:

Press F6 if you need to install a third party SCSI or RAID driver...

NOTE: You will have 6 seconds to press the F6 key or Setup will continue as normal.

3. Insert the floppy disk that contains the latest Serial ATA controller driver (we recommend downloading them from the controller or motherboard manufacturer's website if possible) and wait for Windows to finish loading its generic drivers.

4. A new screen will come up giving options. If they press the "Enter" key, Windows will not load any additional drivers and consequently will not be able to detect the Serial ATA controller or drive(s). You must press "S" in order to load the appropriate controller driver.

5. Once "S" has been pressed, you will be prompted to insert the floppy disk with the drivers for their controller. This prompt is given even if they have already inserted the floppy.

7. After copying the files, Setup may return to the mass storage device installation screen (refer to step 4 for the verbiage). The only difference now will be that the driver selected from the floppy disk will replace the "<none>" seen previously. Press ENTER to continue with Windows Setup.

8. The operating system will continue the loading process and provide an option for selecting a "New Installation" or "Repairing a Previous Installation". Select "New Install" and the Serial ATA drive should then be correctly detected.