eSATA help needed

[noyb]

I'm still thinking the problem may be in the caddy.
I don't trust the interface electronics in a caddy ..
I've had trouble cloning using eSATA to a caddy .. But not directly via SATA ??

My computer cannot Hot-Swap eSATA ... so I avoid using my externals connected via eSATA.

My neighbor has a Promise (I think) eSATA card and he can hot swap ..
but since he cannot get a safe disconnect verification, he's afraid to use eSATA.

I'm thinking the previous comments about F6 and Floppys only applies to installing XP in an SATA computer .. I slipstream around the F6 > Floppy requirement when doing this.

 

[theog]

Hi whest

Antman is correct, as we have OS to play with.

You be correct, if we had no OS to play with.

 

[Roo7s]

I'm still thinking the problem may be in the caddy.
I don't trust the interface electronics in a caddy ..
I've had trouble cloning using eSATA to a caddy .. But not directly via SATA ??

My computer cannot Hot-Swap eSATA ... so I avoid using my externals connected via eSATA.

My neighbor has a Promise (I think) eSATA card and he can hot swap ..
but since he cannot get a safe disconnect verification, he's afraid to use eSATA.

I'm thinking the previous comments about F6 and Floppys only applies to installing XP in an SATA computer .. I slipstream around the F6 > Floppy requirement when doing this.

Maybe but i can not see 2 caddies being faulty but they are both the same caddies (Sumvision) plus they work in XP 64 bit via a eSATA bracket which are then connected to the purple sata ports on my motherboard.

Will maybe purchase another caddy when i receive my retail copy of windows 7, will go for one with more of a reputation too.

 

[noyb]

.. but I can not see 2 caddies being faulty but they are both the same caddies (Sumvision) plus they work in XP 64 bit via a eSATA bracket which are then connected to the purple sata ports on my motherboard.

Are you saying that they can Hot-Swap when connected to the Mobo SATA ports ??
Just some wild guessing here (WAG) ...
But this is beginning to sound like a driver problem for the eSATA card.

 

[Roo7s]

.. but I can not see 2 caddies being faulty but they are both the same caddies (Sumvision) plus they work in XP 64 bit via a eSATA bracket which are then connected to the purple sata ports on my motherboard.

Are you saying that they can Hot-Swap when connected to the Mobo SATA ports ??
Just some wild guessing here (WAG) ...
But this is beginning to sound like a driver problem for the eSATA card.

Not in vista or windows 7

 

[whest]

My apologies to antman - but i was only reacting to what i was seeing - after going to the intel site i found the truth, a raid /ahci driver will be installed automatically with vista and Windows 7, as long as you have either raid or ahci enabled in the bios prior to installing the OS - my info was coming from the read me file in the driver package - however, if you want the latest driver the F6 method is the way to do it.

 

[Antman]

... if you want the latest driver the F6 method is the way to do it.

Please provide a screenshot/photograph/video/pencil sketch of where the F6 option appears during the installation process of Windows 7. Or Vista.

It doesn't occur.

Of course, I know, and other experienced persons also know, what you are trying to say. It seems though, as if you have never performed the process yourself. At least not in the two most recent Windows desktop operating systems. And if you have, you are not correctly describing the process you performed.

All I ever asked you to do was to gather yourself. Persons who turn to this forum for guidance expect and deserve to be instructed from a valid point of reference.

 

[whest]

Your shout mate !

 

[CGA1]

Contributing to the "F6 discussion", this pic shows where in the process you can load custom drivers.

 

[theog]

Hi CGA1

Windows is already installed; your picture is for installing windows.

I think all of us are waiting for whest new way of install drivers with F6 in side of windows.

 

[CGA1]

Hi CGA1

Windows is already installed; your picture is for installing windows.

I think all of us are waiting for whest new way of install drivers with F6 in side of windows.

Ah, didn't catch that, all the F6 talk made me totally convinced we where talking installation.

 

[Antman]

Hi CGA1

Windows is already installed; your picture is for installing windows.

I think all of us are waiting for whest new way of install drivers with F6 in side of windows.

Ah, didn't catch that, all the F6 talk made me totally convinced we where talking installation.

The "F6 method" was applicable from NT4 thru XP. In Windows, the F6 key moves the cursor through different sections of Explorer and some other programs. Many programs utilize the F6 key for different functions.

Beginning with Vista, the F6 key has nothing to do with drivers during the installation of Windows. The F6 key has nothing to do with drivers from within Windows.

whest simply afforded too much credit to a poorly written readme file. The snapshot provided by CGA1 is accurate.

All driver installations performed from within Windows are accomplished the same way they always have been.

F1 – Help
F2 – Renames selected file
F3 – Opens the file search
F4 – Opens the address bar in Explorer
F5 – Refreshes the screen in Windows Explorer
F6 – Navigates between different sections of Explorer
F8 – Opens the start-up menu when booting Windows
F11 – Opens full screen mode in Windows Explorer


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/F6_disk

 

[Dave76]

My eSATA externals must be connected and turned on Before I boot the computer ...
and cannot be shut down until after I shutdown the computer.

Does your computer work OK with this procedure ???

This is how my computer was when 'SATA mode' was set to IDE. I switched it to RAID (this can be done with out re-installing the OS) and added the 'HotSwap' program, Now I can plug and play my external hard drives.

Check these sites:

How to enable AHCI in Windows 7 RC after installation

HotSwap

And this Seven Forum Thread:

What is the correct setting in BIOS for eSATA?

"In order to hot swap or plug and play an eSATA external hard drive you need to be in AHCI or RAID mode, this will enable the SATA hot swap function. IDE will not allow you to safely plug and play, you can always 'yank' them but it's not recommended, and will not be recognized when plugged into a running OS."
If your controller still won't allow the "safely remove hardware" for the external hard drive then download the 'HotSwap' program from the above site. It works and looks like the MS 'safely remove hardware' program. I am using it and it works fine.

There is a great tut in the Windows Vista Forum that works the same in Win7 and will explain How to Create a Task in Vista Task Scheduler. You can create a task that will start the 'HotSwap' program at log on.
In step 6 enter 'HotSwap'
In step 11 select ‘Run with highest privileges’ which is the same as ‘Run as Administrator’
In step 13 choose "At Log on"

See the other Seven Forum thread for more information.

I loaded the RAID drivers, when re-booting go to BIOS and switch 'SATA mode' to (ACHI if desired) RAID and continue booting. ACHI drivers must be loaded to switch to ACHI and RAID drivers must be loaded to switch to RAID. It's not exactly that simple but, that is the general procedure.
This worked for me.
If you load ACHI or RAID drivers and re-boot while still in IDE mode, you will get a blue screen.

If you want more details or reference, please reply here.

 

[whest]

The f6 method is used to install the drivers at the beginning of installation - i apologised to antman after reading info from the intel site - it simply states you can use the drivers w7 installs, or install the latest drivers from the intel site using the f6 method, both ways need ahci or raid enabled in the bios prior to installation - i never stated you could install drivers using a f6 method inside windows (please read again theog)
If you didnt have ahci enabled when you installed w7 this can be fixed - read daves post.