a few questions concerning a ds3p

ethan · 14 Apr 2007 at 19:40

I am trying to set up a new system using a ds3p only with this system I do not intend using a floppy drive. The thing is the manual indicates I need to use a floppy and a floppy disk to enable Sata and so the first question is whether I really need to use a floppy to enable my Sata drives?

Secondly, I only have one Sata drive until my other one arrives in the week. Is it possible just to connect the sata drive hoping windows xp will just automatically detect it like it did on my other board? If this is possible, I suppose this would answer my first question.

Thirdly, two sata drives do not necessarily have to be run in a RAID configeration do they?
Thankyou

Jaaay · 14 Apr 2007 at 21:35

Well, you only need to use the floppy to use RAID, but if your not using RAID your SATA drives will work fine.

And no, the drives do not need to be run in RAID if you don't want to.

Jay

WJA96 · 14 Apr 2007 at 21:48

If you want to run SATA II then you need a floppy drive to install the XP drivers I think. For SATA I you just plug-in and go.

Why not just hang the floppy out the side of the case for the 30 seconds you require it and then unplug it?

ethan · 14 Apr 2007 at 22:20

WJA96 said:
If you want to run SATA II then you need a floppy drive to install the XP drivers I think. For SATA I you just plug-in and go.

Why not just hang the floppy out the side of the case for the 30 seconds you require it and then unplug it?

It's an idea! Thanks for the input

IAmATeaf · 14 Apr 2007 at 23:43

You could do what I did as I didn't have access to the floppy drive when installing my DS3P.

Do the install of the GigaSATA2 ports running in IDE mode, set the Intel ICH8R to AHCI, once Windows has booted up then install the Intel Matrix drivers and then move the drive over onto the ICH8R port.