eSATA help needed

[Roo7s]

Hey guys first post here


I am in need of some help, i have just installed a eSATA PCI-E card hoping that it would solve my eSATA problem. Now my problem is that when turning my external hard drive on via eSATA it will freeze my PC for about 5 mins and will not appear in my computer, disk management or BIOS. Have also tried turning the Hard drive on about 30 secs before starting my PC in which freezes at the welcome screen. Have also enabled AHCI in which is still not visible.

Anyone has any ideas they will be appreciated thanks.

 

[Antman]

Is the drive formatted?

 

[Roo7s]

Is the drive formatted?

Yup! Hard drive was being used via USB.

I have used this hard drive with eSATA on an old xp install but could never get it to work in Vista or Windows 7.

 

[Antman]

Well, that begs the question - how does it perform connected via USB?

Your words...

...hoping that it would solve my eSATA problem. Now my problem is ...

...seem to indicate a change in problems.

 

[Roo7s]

Well, that begs the question - how does it perform connected via USB?

Your words...

...hoping that it would solve my eSATA problem. Now my problem is ...

...seem to indicate a change in problems.

USB works without any problem, drive is detected straight away and getting an average of about 15MB/s


Sorry for confusing you

I have used the same drive on an XP install by a esata bracket but have upgraded OS to Vista & Windows 7 build 7100 in which i could never get esata to work so just used the drive via USB.

Now i have purchased a esata PCI-E card thinking it would work simply by installing the drivers needed but all i keep getting is my PC freezing and no Hard Drive detected.

Hope that is a little clearer for you

 

[Antman]

Your mobo has 8 SATA ports. Why do you need a card? Anyway - are any of the ports configured as anything other than SATA - like AHCI?

To rule out drivers, connect the eSATA bracket directly to a SATA port on the MOBS - a SATA port configured as SATA.

 

[whest]

Yes make sure you have it configured in the bios under sata configuration - sata as ide -dont use AHCI as that requires a driver installed via a floppy drive at start of install where it asks - have you any SCSI devices and press f6, if so. I also think to make the troubleshooting easier connect the drive via the esata port. Turn everything off at the power - power up the external drive - next power up the pc. Ok if your happy you have done all that try updating your bios to the latest version.

 

[Antman]

Yes make sure you have it configured in the bios under sata configuration - sata as ide -dont use AHCI as that requires a driver installed via a floppy drive at start of install where it asks - have you any SCSI devices and press f6, if so. I also think to make the troubleshooting easier connect the drive via the esata port. Turn everything off at the power - power up the external drive - next power up the pc. Ok if your happy you have done all that try updating your bios to the latest version.

F6? Floppy? Windows 7? Please, gather yourself.

 

[whest]

I was just briefly explaining that you need a driver if you enable AHCI in the bios as he said he tried AHCL, and may not realise it needs a driver - dont you think we are answering these questions to help others, which isnt easy in any case, without
unnecessary antagonism - quote "Have also enabled AHCI in which is still not visible".

 

[Antman]

I was just briefly explaining that you need a driver if you enable AHCL in the bios as he said he tried AHCL, and may not realise it needs a driver - dont you think we are answering these questions to help others, which isnt easy in any case, without
unnecessary antagonism - quote "Have also enabled AHCI in which is still not visible".

What I am saying to you -

You are describing a process that DOES NOT OCCUR IN WINDOWS 7.

"...as that requires a driver installed via a floppy drive at start of install where it asks - have you any SCSI devices and press f6..."

 

[whest]

Well, from my experience i would say it does require a driver, as it did with vista. I tried AHCI with vista and you have to use the same install process as installing a raid driver otherwise it wont work. I'll just dig up the read me file for installing AHCI driver and post back.

 

[whest]

If you are installing the operating system on a system
configured for RAID or AHCI mode, you must pre-install
the Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager driver using the
F6 installation method described in section 5.3
1. Extract all driver files from the installation package.
See section 7.2 for instructions on extracting the
files.
2. Create a floppy* containing the following files in the root
directory:
iaAhci.inf, iaAhci.cat,
iaStor.inf, iaStor.cat,
iaStor.sys, and
TxtSetup.oem.
* Note: For Windows Vista you can use a floppy, CD/DVD or USB

 

[Antman]

whest - your help is appreciated.

Yes, a driver is required.

No, you do not need to Press F6. Not even in Vista.

Yes, you do install the driver early in the install process.

Get your current, applicable readme files, et cetera, and gather yourself.

Then, continue to be as helpful as possible. With valid instructions that accurately reflect what the user will actually experience.

 

[whest]

Those extracts above are directly from the driver readme with the install instructions to install the driver -which needs to be installed specifically that way, anyone who suggests anything else can take it up with intel - I appreciate your comments but they are unfounded.

 

[Antman]

Stand by.

 

[noyb]

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 ???

 

[CGA1]

Regarding enabling AHCI after Windows is installed, I found this guide useful. At least it worked for me.

 

[Roo7s]

thanks for the reply everyone, some good info

I have already applied the registry fix for AHCI and have turned the Hard drive on before booting my PC in which won't go any further than the Welcome screen.

I have got the eSATA drive working but not eSATA to eSATA, have connected the drive by SATA and then into my eSATA card (eSATA to SATA)
in which works great. Have also tried another caddy with eSATA but get the same problem so can not be my caddy.

Many thanks for all the help

 

[noyb]

..have connected the drive by SATA and then into my eSATA card (eSATA to SATA) in which works great.
Have also tried another caddy with eSATA but get the same problem so can not be my caddy.

I'm confused ... Am I reading this correctly ???
The drive works if installed directly to a mobo SATA port .. or a card SATA port ... But not in a Caddy connected via eSATA ????

 

[Roo7s]

..have connected the drive by SATA and then into my eSATA card (eSATA to SATA) in which works great.
Have also tried another caddy with eSATA but get the same problem so can not be my caddy.

I'm confused ... Am I reading this correctly ???
The drive works if installed directly to a mobo SATA port .. or a card SATA port ... But not in a Caddy connected via eSATA ????

Hard Drive is fitted inside my caddy but not connected the wires only the power supply, than i have a eSATA to SATA cable going from my eSATA card and direct to the Hard Drive

Hard Drive will not boot past the Welcome screen when connected eSATA to eSATA ..... strange but true Have followed all advice from here, changed cables and a different eSATA caddy and had no luck.