Absolute nightmare.....

the-void · 31 Dec 2006 at 22:17

Ok. I wanted to install windows on my SATA drive. It did, but it kepts setting the SYSTEM (ie, ntlbootloader) on my PATA drives. In a random partition.

I decided to go back to installing windows back on my PATA drive. Only I had transferred all my data onto the PATA drive. However to boot into Windows I had to disable my Primary PATA drive in the BIOS. Windows recognises it, but only as multi-word DMA2. (3.2Mbs)

Anyway, I was using Acronis Disk Director to move the partition so I ould install windows again.... BAD MOVE... Just as I clicked commit I released it would have been quicker to install on the small partition, then move the data, and then move the delete the whole disk.... I hoped Acronis would reboot to commit the action in DOS mode.

It didnt. Now its going to take 5 hours for Acronis to move the partition in Windows. I guess that teaches me... Im using my G/Friends laptop at the moment.

Does anyone know why my SATA disk kept putting the System Files (all 4 of them) on a different partition????

Life is ****

I am a pathetic p r i c k

Carter · 31 Dec 2006 at 22:22

I know it's a bit late now but I always disconnect all other drives when installing windows or creating/resizing/deleting partitions on the primary drive.

the-void · 31 Dec 2006 at 22:29

The thing i, I installed a fresh copy of Windows on the SATA drive. It kept putting the system file on a different partition. Finally manager to solve this with just the SATA drive.

As soon as I put in the PATA drives then it puts the SYSTEM (ntl boot loader) files on a different partition. For the life of me I cannot get Windows to keep the C: partition on the SATA drive as both BOOT and SYSTEM. It's really cheesed me off. Now I am stuck with a 5 hour mess.

I think I might sell the PATA drives and buy aother SATA.

squiffy · 31 Dec 2006 at 23:07

Disconnect power to all drives except the one you want to boot to.
Power up, set primary boot to CD-ROM, then the HD you want to install to.
Boot from CD-ROM, install onto the HD.

Easy. I have had no problems installing to PATA or SATA drives, no problem. If the boot has no partition it'll usually call that drive designation as the next letter, so if you have several hard drives it could be G:

If the drive is already partitioned you don't need to disconnect power to any drive, just select that drive (will still be C

but only quick format, do not delete partition.

the-void · 1 Jan 2007 at 19:31

I guess I should have changed my PATA drive from master to slave.
Seems my mobo doesn't like booting from the SATA drive with a primary PATA master attached.

In the end I am back on the Seagate 160gig. I have my swap file at the start of the 320g hitatchi.

I had to remove the MBR records from all the drives. Seems like it was sending windows crazy. Even when I installed on one of the PATA drives it was sending the system files to a different parition. (ntloader)

I had to completely format the PATA 160G. I then installed windows on one partition. I then resized the disk. Added the other PATA and SATA (with MBR records removed) disks one by one.

24 Hours later I am back where I started. And luckily - no data loss.

Are the PATA to SATA converters any good? Perhaps this is one way I could overcome this problem. (The cable run in my chassis wouldn't allow me to link one the PATA disks on the secondary IDE channel as secondary slave - with my DVD burner)

How does the system know which SATA disk to boot from anyway if there are no jumpers on SATA disks???