eSATA hard disk drive not detected when hotplugged

[ischglhanna]

Hello,

my situation is the following:

I'm still using Winxp x64 (SP2). My external WD hdd is connected via esata and I regularly switch it on while the computer is running. It is detected by windows within a few seconds. My SATA controller is configured to work in AHCI mode in the BIOS. When I want to switch it off again, I use the HotSwap! Utility to safely remove it (because it is not shown in the native Windows list of removable drives). So far, so good.

Now I installed Windows 7 x64. I try the same thing, but Windows just doesn't detect the drive when I switch it on while the OS is running. It's not even present in the device manager.
It is correctly detected when I switch the external hdd on before powering up the computer.
It is also correctly detected when the following sequence is followed:
1. unplug esata cable and switch off hdd
2. switch on computer and wait until win7 is up and running
3. turn on hdd
4. wait for hdd to spin up (can be heard)
5. plug in esata cable

Then I can also remove it in the Windows removable drive list in the tray icon bar. HOWEVER, when i switch it off again, unplug it, switch it on and plug it in, it is not detected anymore. I have to reboot then. Very strange behaviour.
I also tried the Hotswap! utility and its feature "scan for hardware changes", but it doesn't help.

FYI, the standard microsoft sata ahci driver is currently installed. I searched for an AMD driver, but I can't seem to find one. (It's a SB600 southbridge, the northbridge is amd 770)

Any suggestions would be great.

edit: View my system specs on the lefthand side for more information

 

[SailingNut]

Just a wild guess, maybe need new firmware for the external enclosure or drive?

 

[pbcopter]

Have you looked here for the driver?

GIGABYTE - Motherboard - Socket AM2+ - GA-MA770-DS3 (rev. 1.0)

 

[ischglhanna]

Concerning the first question:

My enclosure can be seen here: HD + Ext. Geh easyNova 3,5 Zoll PRO-35SUS (PRO-35SUS / 4250287200082) - Produkte | easyNova (only in German, I guess)
No firmware update is available, only a win98 driver.

concerning the second question:

Yes, I've been on the Gigabyte site. However it doesn't really help. There are 3 downloads listed that sounded interesting but proved to be useless:

- "Chipset Driver (include sata raid driver)" is just the AMD RAID Xpert Utility and doesn't install a SATA driver
- "AMD Chipset Driver (include chipset\sata raid driver)" only contains Northbridge Filter Drivers but no stuff for the southbridge
- "ATi SATA2 RAID Driver (Preinstall driver, press F6 during Windows* setup to read from floppy)" contains a *.sys, *.inf and *.cat file, but Windows says the drivers are not compatible with the sata ahci controller.

so i'm still a bit clueless

 

[pmc]

All the software you need is here :

Software Posting

 

[Dave76]

Sounds like it's in IDE mode, Check your BIOS and confirm it's in AHCI mode.

 

[ischglhanna]

@pmc: the drivers on the site you posted don't update the sata controller either. the installer just tells me that all components are up-to-date

@Dave76: It's definitely in SATA -> AHCI mode, I've double checked it.

 

[GeneO]

What SATA controller? Is this the onboard sata? Can you open up the device manager and display the sata controller information and post it here? When the drive is plugged in and working, can you display its device properties and post them here? The following is sorta what I am looking for for a start. I am assuming this is a SATA channel and not a SCSI one (like a jMicron or Marvell chipset). If it is the atter then post the SCSI device properties policcy tab.

 

[ischglhanna]

yes, it is the onboard controller. (AMD 770 chipset with SB600 southbridge)

you mean something like this? it's in German but I think the structure of the dialogues should be the same.

 

[GeneO]

You are using the standard Microsoft AHCI drivers that apparently have a known problem detecting hot-plugged hard drives. I was going to suggest you use the AMD AHCI drivers but came across the thread linked below. This thread also discusses the failure of MS AHCI drivers to detect hard drives that are plugged in.

You can try the AMD drivers - you could always revert back to the Microsoft drivers if they are a problem.

Avoid AMD AHCI driver at all costs - AnandTech Forums

 

[ischglhanna]

i would really like to try the AMD driver, the problem is that windows just won't let me install them. I suppose the problem is the following:
The device class of the MS driver is "IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers" (Class GUID 4D36E96A-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318) and the class of the AMD AHCI SATA driver is "SCSI and RAID controllers" (Class GUID 4D36E97B-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318)
I'm not quite sure why this is the case. I wonder if it is possible to modify the *.inf file (AMD driver) or the registry (MS driver) to make them matching.
It's strange, because in Winxp x64, I had no problems installing the AMD driver.