Reinstalling over corrupt OS

daler · 13 Apr 2011

My bad. I meant IDE.

Yes, I tried moving to all the SATA ports in turn. I realize that Windows will install their own AHCI drivers (and I did that with a previous Win install) but from my research I determined that the Asus m/b AMD drivers would be more compatible with this AMI BIOS. Meh, still made no difference, the HDDs are not detected in BIOS (or during POST) under AHCI but are in IDE mode ..and in Windows Device Manager.

I just no longer trust this system since the original controller-RAID failed.

I did a full slate of Seatools diags on both the Seagate 1-t HDDs and everything tok, including SMART.

Good point about sending along my product key. When I talked to them they said they use a Windows shop copy to test with but would also welcome my original

However, methinks I'll just skip it and they can do their own thing without my disk -- besides the comp is now disconnected and my laptop does not have a burner so...

Besides, my copy is still on the comp (sans product key) and I suspect the comp will probably be sufficiently tested by the time it gets back to me -- unless wrecked in shipping.

Update:

the shop called me back to say that it is normal for this (Asus M4A785TD-V EVO) motherboard to not show detectable drives when they are in ports 5&6 under AHCI configuration -- huh? ..so, I guess they are trying to toss it back into my lap

It's too bad I can find no guide on particulars of how to properly set this damn thing up -- the manual is really sparse on info.

gregrocker · 13 Apr 2011

I would succinctly title a post with your mobo model and problem and post it up in our Hardware forum to see if anyone spots it as an issue they are aware of - do a Google search for the same thing.

If you're under one-year warranty you can always RMA the mobo.

daler · 13 Apr 2011

Thanks, I may post to the hardware forum ..but my warranty is up in just a few days.

As for RMA direct to the manufacturer, once I know for sure it's the m/b then I can do that -- but from what I understand troubleshooting a m/b is very difficult without pro gear to test with. And the 1 year warranty runs the same as the builder's so it'll probably go to them once I know for sure what the cause is ..which may turn out to just be a brand-specific m/b anomally.

I did contact an old buddy of mine tonight who has the exact same board and we set his up with the same AHCI BIOS settings as mine (his was on default IDE) and it also came up with the same symptoms as mine

: HDDs not detected in either BIOS or during POST when set to AHCI. So, I now have more to go on with my hunt. Next, methinks there will be a phone call to Asus tech for an explanation..

gregrocker · 13 Apr 2011

How about running those drives in IDE mode?

All you really lose is hot-plugging which you may not need anyway.

daler · 13 Apr 2011

I may end up going to IDE. It's just that I read AHCI a better SATA subset performance-wise. As well, I'm the type of guy who has to arrive at a solution to a problem ..and this one bugs the heck out of me, especially when the RAID failed and left me hanging -- I gotta know if this is a manufacturer's anomaly or a fault that needs fixing before I load up Windows again and find the m/b now dead because I didn't track it down in the first place ..hah, am I still making any sense here