[Forge]

Bah such a simple fix, thanks Ponch, I feel stupid for not knowing it.

I successfully slipstreamed and tested my first CD -yay!- and everything looks good. I'm still a little nervous -but excited- so if you don't mind me taking up yet a little more of your time with my noob questions I'd like to confirm a few things before I wipe my HD.

• I know a VM uses it's own drivers so you can't test out the ones included in an UI but I checked the device manager on my VM and there were unknown devices (monitor, LAN and some others) Is it normal for a VM to show such unknown devices or did I screw up?
  
• During set-up it still asks me to confirm my PC's name, is that because I should've chosen a different option in unattended? I left it on the default "hide pages" because with this being my first UI i didn't want to chance changing it, it's not a big problem just a little annoying.
  
• Does the "classic start-up" option remove the select user screen at start-up allowing Windows to boot straight into the system without having to choose a user first? If not is there some other way for me to set that up with Nlite?
  
• Is there any merit in removing components beyond simply making the install disc smaller and using less HD space? (e.g. any performance gains?)
  
• The SATA controller Tomaz gave me (which I'm sure was the right one based on the info I gave him but I'm not sure if I left the following info out and if it's important enough to change anything) lists these
  controllers:

AHCI Controllers:
- Intel® Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® Mobile Express Chipset SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® 5 Series/3400 Series SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® 5 Series 4 Port SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® 5 Series 6 Port SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® ICH10D/DO SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® ICH10R SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® EP80579 SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® ICH9M-E/M SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® ICH9R/DO/DH SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® ICH7M/MDH SATA AHCI Controller
- Intel® ICH7R/DH SATA AHCI Controller

When I look at my device manager though this is what my PC is currently set to:

• Do I have the right controllers ready to use in my new install, if I put those files just as Tomasz packaged them in his link on a flash drive could I use them for a F6 install and will I need to? I know Tomasz said Nlite will install them and I'm not doubting him I'd just like to confirm I understood him correctly, that I have it right in my own mind and that I'm fully ready before I start the new install, I don't want to get stuck with an unreadable drive!
  
• Does it seem that I have all the correct drivers that I should need?

Attached -hopefully for real this time- is my last session ini. I think I uploaded it but forgot to press the attach button before /facepalm. I'd been reading forums all day trying to sort my own fix out so my brain was a bit syrupy when I posted.

Thanks again for giving me your time and expertise.

Attached File(s)

•  LAST SESSION.INI (36.27K)
  Number of downloads: 4

[-X-]

C:\Documents and Settings\Troy\Desktop\Slipstreamed XP\Addons\OnePiece_Microsoft_Silverlight_v5.0.61118.0_For_Win2K_Post-SP4_UP_v5.0.2_AddOn_ENU_0AAED4E86401C982F7FF6A919ED3B883.7z?

[Forge]

Are you asking what that file is? I got it from OnePiece's Skydrive when I downloaded .NET and some other things. I wasn't sure about that one myself, what I was looking for was a coppy of Silverlight to include in my install disc. I'll take it out and just install Silverlight post OS.

[-X-]

I was just bringing it to your attention because in the filename it says for win2k and you are on XP. Maybe he modded it or something.

[Forge]

I probably just downloaded the wrong one thanks for pointing it out. Does the rest look ok, right drivers for my PC and all that?

[-X-]

Oh, I don't know. I'll let those that have been helping you continue to do so.

[cdob]

Forge, on 19 April 2012 - 04:07 AM, said:

I tried installing my iso in Virtualbox but it gets stuck in a loop.

VirtualBox dosn't match real hardware.
Use a old iastor.sys 7.8 for fake VirtualBox hardware. http://www.msfn.org/...d-raid-drivers/

iastor.sys 7.8 works fine at a real ICH7

Or use IDE mode at VirtualBox.

[Ponch]

Forge, on 20 April 2012 - 08:12 PM, said:

I don't want to get stuck with an unreadable drive!

As said before, (it seems you miss big chunks of my answers), if your install disk does not see the drive, for that exact reason, it won't make it unreadable because it won't touch it.
-Install might ask you for computer name when you set same "Owner" and "Computer Name" in Unattended maybe this is the case.
-You ticked "Skip OOBE" i Unattended-> that is what causes no prompt for "User"names.
-removing components makers install disk smaller, install time shorter and final install smaller. Only "Services" removal can make your system very slightly faster but then again removal of some services might make your computer slower so better know what you are doing (and better safe than sorry).

[Forge]

Forge, on 18 April 2012 - 01:10 AM, said:

@Ponch I'm planning to write 0 my HD before I reintall Windows so it's pine fresh for the new install.

That's why I think if I don't get things right before I begin I'll be left with an unreadable drive and why I'm so concerned with making sure I have everything just so. If I were just reinstalling normally I'd just give it a go and come what may, I usually learn by trial and error anyway lol. I do read carefully what everyone tells me and take it to heart mate so I'm sorry if it seems I'm not. I really appreciate the time you guys are taking to help me out and I wouldn't be so rude as ask a question and then not listen to the answer but I'm reading a lot of info most of it completely new to me, some of which doesn't yet make a lot of sense so I get a bit muddled and need to ask questions -maybe for a second time- to make sure I have it right in my mind so sorry if I'm getting annoying orz.

Thanks Cdob that was one of the first guides I read but because I couldn't find AHCI in my BIOS I disregarded it. Now that Tomasz has informed me SATA is AHCI in my case it makes more sense. When you know what your doing having things reffered to by an alternate term or arranged a little differently is easy to interprate but when you don't it's very confusing.

That guide says to make sure the HD is connected to the intel SATA port but how do I figure out which are the Intel ports and which are the Jmicron? Here's a pic of my MB:



I'm guessing the Intel one is port 0 and the rest are Jmicron is that right?

Also at the moment for some strange reason my SATA ports are set to IDE channel 2 and 3 and my HD is on channel 3 set as slave while my OD is set to master on channel one. Shouldn't my HD be on channel 1 as master and my OD on channel 2 as master? Should I change this in my BIOS and cabling before I install my Nlite disc? Will simply changing it in BIOS change the channel allocation? I've actually been trying to figure this out so I can update my OD driver (needs to be set as master on channel 2) but every guide, how-to or post I read says I should have 2 IDE ports on my MB and just to switch the cables but I can only see one on my MB.

Here are some pics of my current BIOS settings and if you check my earlier post you can see a pic of my IDE controllers in the control panel which only show 2 channels not 3 like in my BIOS.





I realise this is probably the wrong forum for hardware questions but this is related to what people have so kindly been helping me with so I thought I'd continue to post here. If you think I should still move this question to another forum let me know and I will do so.

[Ponch]

Ponch, on 18 April 2012 - 04:02 AM, said:

As for testing the Sata drivers, you can, of course, boot the cd before zeroing, to check if it sees your HDD.

This looks so obvious to me I'm afraid I'm missing something.

[Forge]

Ah my bad mate I did miss that one sorry, thanks for clearing it up. I'll look for a hardware forum and post my other question re the drives.

[cdob]

Forge, on 21 April 2012 - 08:59 PM, said:

SATA is AHCI

Not always. BIOS may map SATA to IDE, AHCI or RAID.

27DF: IDE controller
27C0: ICH7 at IDE emulation mode

Open stroage controller at device manager. Goto details and read HarwareId and compatibleId.
Don't you read *CC_0101 ? That's IDE emulation for SATA device.

Quote

I'm guessing the Intel one is port 0 and the rest are Jmicron is that right?

Read the manual. Don't you use a GA-EG31M-S2 http://download.giga...-eg31m-s2_e.pdf
There is no Jmicron controller. All SATA ports are connected to ICH7.

Quote

Also at the moment for some strange reason my SATA ports are set to IDE channel 2 and 3 and my HD is on channel 3 set as slave while my OD is set to master on channel one. Shouldn't my HD be on channel 1 as master and my OD on channel 2 as master?

That's BIOS remapped.
You may trial and error this part.
Or ignore this part. Don't worry about at two drives so far.

Quote

I should have 2 IDE ports on my MB and just to switch the cables but I can only see one on my MB.

There is one IDE port. But you can attach two IDE devicec at one cable.

Hardware dosn't support AHCI. All SATA ports are mapped to IDE emulation.

Classic hardware allows two IDE channels and four IDE drives.
IRQ 14 Primary IDE channel
IRQ 15 Secondary IDE channel
This refers to DOS layout.
At classic hardware you may add a additional PCI IDE controller.

Your hardware support one IDE port and four SATA ports: that's six drives at all.
BIOS allows to configure DOS behavour.
Map four selectable drives to classic layout. Read four drives available at DOS. You don't use DOS.

You use two devices so far: a IDE DVD drive and a SATA hard disk.

The IDE DVD drive is connected to IDE Channel 0 and BIOS mapped to IRQ 14 Primary IDE channel
The SATA hard disk is connected to virtual IDE Channel 3 and BIOS mapped to IRQ 15 Secondary IDE channel.

This resembles a classic layout.

There is no need to include any mass storage controller driver.
Disalbe SATA at VirtualBox, use IDE at VirtualBox too.

Ponch, on 18 April 2012 - 04:02 AM, said:

As for testing the Sata drivers, you can, of course, boot the cd before zeroing, to check if it sees your HDD.

Yes, that's the obvious apporach.

[Forge]

Thanks for the quick reply Cdob but I'm not sure I understand everything your saying. Do you mind if I clarify it with you? Are you saying more or less that:

• My antiquated hardware does not support AHCI it is running the SATA ports as if they were IDE ports.
  
• Because my hard drive is connected to a SATA port emulating an IDE port and not a physical secondary IDE port re-mapping the BIOS so the hard drive is set as master on the primary IDE channel and the optical drive on the secondary IDE channel will make no performance difference as this only effects the system if your running it in DOS not Windows and so I should not bother including any SATA drives in my install either.
  
• All my SATA ports are Intel ports and none are Jmicron

Are those points more or less correct?

Judging from that link I don't think the paper manual that came with my motherboard is complete I've read it several times and I wondered why it made reference to sections it didn't contain.

Ah I thought there were Jmicron ports because I have Jmicron SATA drivers on my motherboard's installation disc as well as the Intel ones and the guide you linked in your previous post said Intel boards often have additional ports offered through Jmicron add-ons and to make sure to connect to the Intel one during installation.

I know I can have 2 IDE devices connected via the same port I was asking because I want to update my optical drives BIOS and as per the instructions -which I will attach in case you want to have a look- it has to be on the secondary IDE channel to do so. Since I just have the one do you think it'll be safe to just leave it as is (master on the primary channel) or do you think I should re-map the BIOS so it's set to the secondary channel?

Attached File(s)

•  Read me(ew).TXT (2.21K)
  Number of downloads: 3

This post has been edited by Forge: 22 April 2012 - 04:45 AM

[cdob]

Forge, on 22 April 2012 - 04:41 AM, said:

I should not bother including any SATA drives in my install either.

Yes, that's it.

Quote

I want to update my optical drives BIOS and as per the instructions

This is a historic manufacturer precaution. Ignore this part.
Run the firmware flasher anyway. DVD firmware is updated at primary IDE anyway.

Or goto BIOS. Read manual 2-5 Integrated Peripherals
On-Chip SATA Mode to Combined
PATA IDE Set to Ch.1 Master/Slave

SATA Port 0/2 Set will be automatically set to Ch. 0 Master/Slave.
Attach the SATA hard disk to SATA Port 0 or Port 2.

[Forge]

Thanks Cdob I'll do that. Got everything ready, tomorrow's d-day.

[Forge]

Hey everyone just wanted to let you all know the install went well, thanks to everyone that helped me along the way, your advice and info was invaluable!

It feels great having a nice clean system again now I've just got to remember to keep it this way and try to keep all the junkware off.

One thing though do I need the Ultra ATA Storage controller -27DF because I can't get it to install. I've run the Intel INF update utility again but still nothing. Here are pics of my device manager controllers before & after the new install:

Before (previous XP install)


After (new XP install)


I've checked Intel's download pages, knowledge base articles and forums, Gigabytes website, the forums here, looked through my motherboards install disc and the extracted archive from the INF updater for anything I might recognize as the driver but can't find anything. A Google search produced a lot of websites offering downloads but little information and I'm always dubious about downloading things from random sites. If anyone has any info that could help me or a trustworthy website that I might be able to download from I'd appreciate it.

PS. Anyone reading this thread looking for info on integrating SATA AHCI drivers on a motherboard with an ICH7 chip here is some great info that elaborates on info people have provided me here msi forum. Why couldn't I have found this before?!