Absolute nightmare.....

[the-void]

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

 

[the-void]

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.

 

[the-void]

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???