can't install windows XP with sata drive

[chris2k4]

I have a brand new gigabyte 7NNXP with WD 160GB sata drive. When I try to install windows xp, everything goes well during the first phase. I also used the F6 key to install the driver for the sata interface without a problem but when the installation reboots and after the POST stage, I get a black screen and nothing happens. I waited 10 to 20 minutes to see but nothing. It seems like that it can't see the drive when it reboots but yet it goes through the first phase without a problem. I have checked all the BIOS settings and it looks fine for me. I really don’t know what the problem is. Does somebody would have a suggestion for my problem?

[Guest]

That sounds like a similar problem with the Abit KV7.  Apparently it doesn't like the usb mouse and keyboards....when I went into BIOS and selected USBkb & rodent as BIOS rather than OS control.....it wouldn't recognize the SATA controler on the board.  This of course means that until the os takes over you have no keyboard control.  Of course It could be something completely different.

[Guest]

My suggestion:

1) Remove all external devices(printer, scanner, etc) except monitor, mouce and keyboard.  Remove any device from PCI slots except a video card. Then try installation.  If still no go, then
2) Boot to W98 start-up floppy disk, format the hd in FAT32, execute smartdrv.exe(be sure to include smartdrv.exe in this floppy), then begin installation of WXP by executing

a:> X:\i386\winnt.exe

Note X: is the drive name of CDROM drive. Yours may be different.

If still no go, then

3) Suspect RAM.  If more than one module are used, try one at a time. Borrow one from other box which you may have, etc.


Kaz

[The_Unknown]

How you know its the SATA drive causing it

[Creodus]

might be obvious and you may have done this already, but have you told the BIOS that the SCSI drive is #1 in the boot order and not the HDD? The BIOS recognizes the drives in a different way and SATAs are often only seen as SCSIs...