Abit NF7-S drive problems - please help!

[odh]

My working Abit system has reached the stage where I can boot up but not find my 2000 installation. I can see all of my drives but get an unable to find nt\config\system-type message or a disk i/o error in safe mode.

I've ran chkdsk /r on both my OS SATA drive and my IDE drive running through SATA converter. I'm unable to repair my windows installation and unable to complete a fresh installation - reach the stage where installer tries to copy files from cd (or floppy if using via 3rd party SATA) and is unable to complete.

I've tested my IDE drive in a good PC and it works fine. I've tested a good OS IDE drive in my bad PC and can't get it to detect it AT ALL. I haven't tested my OS SATA drive in the good pc because it doesn't have SATA but I suspect it may be ok i.e. if I'm getting drive problems with SATA, IDE and floppy drives but at least 1 of which works ok with other pc...

My current thinking is that it's either the motherboard or the power supply. I've not ran FIXBOOT or FIXMBR on any of the drives and I've not tried using an XP recovery console (drive checking/fixing options look more comprehensive?) - the warning message I get saying non-standard or corrupted drives scared me too much to continue - is this warning because of SATA? Should I carry out one or both of these FIXs?

I've checked and re-checked all connections, the mboard seems fine in all other ways, I'm confused by that one good login I got and I'm not sure whether to just buy a motherboard or continue testing: try different power supply, try SATA drive in good PC, try XP recovery on bad PC, continue checking/fixing drives...

Any help or advice would be greatly appreciated, many thanks

odh

 

[FatRakoon]

Im sorry, but I missed half of what you are saying on that one.

Ok, it seems to me that you are NOT boot from ID Ebut rather SATA

Are you booting from the IDE thats on the SATA adapter?

IF so, you can take the Adapter off and use the drive on a normal IDE line.

Are you using one of the supplied SERILLEL adapters that came with the board? Get rid, they are not very good... I got 7 that are dead to prove that one.

Anyway, the NF7S uses the SIL3112 SATA, so get yourself a SATA floppy sorted... The number of times I have tried and failed to get the Windows installation to recognise the SATA properly, is immense... I ended up using one for my PCI SATA CARD that is also a SIL3112.

What I think has happened, is simply that Windows has a very easy to fix issue, but as oyu are running on SATA, you are now paying the price in not having the ability of being able to fix it.

One other thing... Is there any reason as to why you have even bothered to use an IDE Drive through the SATA ?

There is absolutely not speed benefits at all.

 

[VeNT]

One other thing... Is there any reason as to why you have even bothered to use an IDE Drive through the SATA ?

There is absolutely not speed benefits at all.

I use mine on a DS4 as its only got 1 IDE chan.

 

[FatRakoon]

Yes, the DS4 like the DS3 and many other Boards only have the one IDE Channel, so maybe a Serillel adapter is on the menu there, but the NF7S has 2 IDE Channels, plus the NF7S is one of the Many boards that dont properly support booting off SATA withotu a Sata Driver Floppy, and its among the most awkward boards to sort out when it does need the windows CD to get it fixed.

Unless he absolutely HAS to, then using a Serillel adapter is not really a good thing to do.... As In, the user has 4 DVD Drives for example.

If he / she has 3 or less, then they need to get that IDE drive connected to the IDE Channel. If its the drive used to boot, then all the better and he can get Windows to repair any file system errors without the need for a Floppy.

 

[odh]

Thanks for your reply FatRakoon. My description of problem's a little confusing - trying to mix what I've done with what I've concluded in as concise a post as possible. Not very successful

Only using my IDE drive through the SATA converter because it's a legacy drive that I still use and it frees my IDE for my two DVDs to run as Masters - not necessary? I intend to replace it with another matched SATA drive soon anyway.

I've been unable to install 2000 on my IDE drive running on the IDE channel. Installtion fails at the actual copying of files from CD to drive - unable to find/copy file. This happens despite 2000 checking disc etc. Looking at the drive on a good PC I noticed that each of the installation folders and subfolders are there (i.e. 2000, W2K) for each attempt, but no files in any of the folders. 2000 manages to create folders but not to copy files from cd.

So, although I have had problems using the SI floppy to get my SATA drivers loaded - intermittent floppy failures - this may be because of my drive (old drive connected but not installed in case) or age/condition of floppy itself.

I hope this helps clear up any gaps/inaccuracies. Thanks for the comments, I really appreciate the support - got a bid for a replacement NF7-S on the go and not sure whether I've been bit hasty!

odh (he)

 

[FatRakoon]

Not being able to copy files over is a sign of bad RAM.

If oyu have more than one stick, try taking one out, and swapping the RAM over etc and re-trying the install.

Floppy Drivers are real pains in the rs so I would ( if you can ) intergrate them into the Windows CD.

I have done this for 2K and XP for my NF7S boards ( I still got 2 and they are my babies )

DVD Drives as masters?
Not necessary these days, and not been necessary for some years actually.