How to *Hot-Swap* SATA Hard Drives?

Big.Wayne

Big.Wayne

Big.Wayne

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I want to be able to plug/unplug a SATA-II hard disk into the system while it's running, is this possible and if so how do I set it up properly?

I'm thinking the drives have to be SATA-II, the motherboard has to be able to support this feature and maybe you need to set-up the disks using AHCI?

Thanks in advance! :)
 
Just make sure you don't try to hotswap your system volume...

Been there, done that... Kind of reminiscent of accidentally formatting my C:\ "mounted" drive in my VMWare Linux box to EXT3...

Windows gets most upset...
 
Thanks for replies all!

Hmm so I may have a problem, there may be a chance I will be using WinXP Pro or MCE2005 on a machine with no floppy, as I see it that means I won't be able to load AHCI drivers?

Slight chance I may use VISTA which has AHCI drivers built in? or perhaps I can sus out how to slipstream AHCI drivers into the WinXP/MCE2005 installation.

I guess if I don't use ACHI it just means *Hot-Swap* is out the window?
 
Big.Wayne said:
Thanks for replies all!

Hmm so I may have a problem, there may be a chance I will be using WinXP Pro or MCE2005 on a machine with no floppy, as I see it that means I won't be able to load AHCI drivers?

Slight chance I may use VISTA which has AHCI drivers built in? or perhaps I can sus out how to slipstream AHCI drivers into the WinXP/MCE2005 installation.

I guess if I don't use ACHI it just means *Hot-Swap* is out the window?
Click to expand...

nLite will solve all your problems. :)

Edit: Beaten!
 
First thing that popped into my mind was the USB SATA docking station which was posted here a while ago. Works for both 3.5 and 2.5" drives too so that might be the most ideal for you.

For WindowsXP you'll need to either slipstream the AHCI driver using nlite or have a floppy drive to hand for loading the F6 drivers during the initial windows setup loading screen.

Chipset providers will usually provide software utilities for installing drivers onto a floppy disk.

*EDIT* here's a review for the docking station:
http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleID=2267
 
Paracelsus said:
nlite
Click to expand...
AbsenceJam said:
nLite
Click to expand...
steve258 said:
nlite
Click to expand...
Lol thanks guys, I heard about this nLite thing for years but never got around to trying it? I think I fear what I don't understand! :o

Can one of you please roughly outline how I was use this software? I have slipstream my Original WinXP disk to include SP/2 in the past but that was following a large set of instructions.

So would would nLite rip my WinXP disk to hard-drive, modify it with all the drivers I needed and then burn me a new CD? or would I need other tools to complete the job?

Um also which drivers whould I slipstream? just the latest INTEL ICH9/ICH9-R ones from INTEL?

steve258 said:
First thing that popped into my mind was the USB SATA docking station which was posted here a while ago. Works for both 3.5 and 2.5" drives too so that might be the most ideal for you.
Click to expand...
Hey I got something very similar to that, its called the Magic-Gate-II and allows me to connect 2.5"/3.5" SATA/IDE drives to my PC via USB or eSata. I don't see how that would help me Hot-Swap though?

[edit] oh wait I see what your getting at! Sorry I should have said the drives I intend to hot swap will be integrated into a caddy inside the case!
 
Alternatively, install XP under standard non-AHCI and then change it once installed. It's a bit tricky but if you Google about there are numerous guides on how to do it.

Basically XP disables the AHCI drivers as they're not required and you have to re-enable them before switching the mode over on the mobo. In Vista it's a single registry entry but on XP it's a bit more involved. Still might be easier than slipstreaming prior to installation?
 
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