topic Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS? in Archive

What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:40:12 GMT

What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

Hi there,

I am trying to install windows 7 professional x64 on a system using motherboard Intel S5520SCR.

Windows itself should be installed in a

160Gb Intel X25-M Mainstream Sata Solid-State Drive

and I want to install 2 other Seagate Barracuda Hard Drives I have as internal hard drives. In the future I might install a third Seagate Barracuda, that I would still buy, but that's it.

I want to use the hard drives as simple additional storage. I don't need to create any special partitions, I don't want to RAID or anything.

Would you please be so kind to tell me what Mass Storage Controller Configuration to use? I listed below the options in the Bios, with the explanations offered in the Bios.

Thank you very very much, I can't even start to list how many tries I have already tried to do this.

(if it makes any difference my graphics card is a Nvidia FX1800)

Hard drives:

-Intel 160Gb Intel X25-M for windows 7 x64

-Seagate Barracuda 7200.12 ST31000528AS 1Tb for additional storage only, single partition-Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 ST3500320AS 500Gb for additional storage only, single partition - potentially a new Barracuda someday (for additional storage only, single partition).

Options in the BIOS

Enhanced - Supports up to 6 SATA ports with IDE Native Mode.

Compatibility - SUpports up to 4 SATA ports [0/1/2/3] with IDE Legacy mode and 2 SATA ports [4/5] with IDE Native Mode.

[AHCI] - Supports all SATA ports using the Advanced Host Controlled Interface.

AHCI Option ROM - Enable or Disable the onboard Advanced Host Controller Interface (AHCI) option ROM. Note: For AHCI capability in EFI, the AHCI Legacy Option ROM should be set to [Disabled].

[SW RAID] - Supports configuration of SATA ports for RAID via RAID configuration software.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 16:59:15 GMT

You want AHCI mode as this will be the best setting for you.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 03:35:43 GMT

Hi Peter,

thank you so much for your answer! Do you think I should have the AHCI Option ROM enabled or disabled?

Many thanks!!!

Eric

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

Edward_Z_Intel — Fri, 22 Oct 2010 09:24:21 GMT

Yes so that you can boot OS from one of the AHCI drives.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 07:18:38 GMT

Hi guys, thanks for the help.

I took out the seagate drives and tried to install windows only with the SSD in the machine. No success.

I used AHCI with AHCI Option ROM Enabled.

Should I use any other Configuration?

Many thanks, Eric

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

Edward_Z_Intel — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 08:26:28 GMT

Could you provide more details about "No success"? In which step did you encounter the error? Do you have the exact error message?

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 14:26:17 GMT

I used AHCI with AHCI Option ROM Enabled.

I have not seen a BIOS setting that allows this AHCI & AHCI Option ROM configuration but I think all desktop motherboard have this AHCI Option ROM disabled when only setting AHCI.

Or for it to work with the AHCI Option ROM you need drivers that you load in the Win setup:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18861&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel®+Rapid+Storage+Technology+(Intel®+RST)&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18861&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Rapid+Storage+Technology+(Intel%c2%ae+RST)&lang=eng

or ones listed for S5500 Based Servers that work on desktops anyway.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18667&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18667&lang=eng

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 00:24:18 GMT

Thank you very much for the help.

I will try with with the drivers. thank you for the link , did not find it before. Did look for it.

I case you could help this is what is happening:

Let me know if you know additional details.

Basically I used the Intel Deplyoment Assistant to update everything motherboard drivers. Installed windows 7 pro x64 successfully. Updated on the internet. Working fine.

Decided to put in two SATA Barracuda Seagate drives I have. The drives were previously running in another machine with Vista Ultimate x86.

Windows crashed/froze after loading the desktop.

I tried to reinstall, not working. Windows freezes install process at the second stage of its process "2 Installing Windows". After it expands the files. After the first boot on the SSD. The progress bar in the bottom is frozen. Mouse frozen, BUT "Completing installation.." in Bold still cycle the dots . .. ...

I tried several options to install both, alone and together.

Memory has been tested.

First Barracuda 1T has been "clean all"'ed in the disk part. (no partition was created.)

Teste reinstall with AHCI.

Now, I just tried again to reinstall the SSD alone after "clean all" with BIOS on its original settings: "ENHANCED"

Installation is always interrupted in the same place as mentioned before. 2/3 into, give or take, the green progress bar in the bottom of the "2 installing windows"

Many thanks, any help is very welcome.

Eric

System details:

Windows 7 Professional x64 OEM Motherboard: Intel S5520SCR 2 Processors: Intel Xeon X5650 Thermal Solution: Intel BXSTS100A Active Thermal Solution w/ Fixed Fan. Graphics Card: Nvidia Quadro FX1800 PCIE16 768Mb GDDR3 (PNY) Memory: Kingston 12GB PC3-10600 DDR3-1333MHz ECC Registered w/ Parity CL9 240-Pin DIMM Single Rank, x4 Memory (Kit of 3) w/ Thermal Sensor (Intel Validated) Internal Disk: 160Gb Intel X25-M Mainstream Sata Solid-State Drive additional storage:

1TB Baracuda 7200.12 Sata 7200 RPM 32Mb 3.5in (ST31000528AS)

500Gb Barracuda 7200.11 (ST3500320AS)

Chassis:

Intel SC5650WS

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 01:24:41 GMT

Thanks for the link. I did find it before.

I am using two Xeons 5650.

Do you know of any link that explains the F6 process. Do you think I should follow this route?

Many thanks.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

DSilv11 — Sun, 24 Oct 2010 06:03:21 GMT

Try this link http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Server+Products&ProductLine=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Boards&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Board+S5520SC http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Server+Products&ProductLine=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Boards&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Board+S5520SC

This is the driver page for your workstation.

This is the link to the AHCI driver http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18667&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=18667&lang=eng

and lastly here is the link to the network drivers http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3073&DwnldID=18388&ProductFamily=Server+Products&ProductLine=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Boards&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Board+S5520SC&lang=eng http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3073&DwnldID=18388&ProductFamily=Server+Products&ProductLine=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Boards&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Board+S5520SC&lang=eng

because of a bug in the Microsoft embed drivers, you will get a hang or what looks like a hang ( finishes in 4 to 8 hours) at the end of the install.

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-031086.htm http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/sb/CS-031086.htm

F6 displays the boot options menu. This is not the normal method for booting.

I would set you HDD as the first boot option followed by CD then network and last EFI.

If you want to boot to the CD to do an OS reload, F6 works great.

Just press F6 during the POST and select the CD\DVD.

One other hint is make sure the HDD you want to install to is the first HDD listed in the HDD boot order.

The TPS has most of the answers to all teh questions you have not yet thought of http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520sc/sb/CS-030231.htm http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520sc/sb/CS-030231.htm

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 00:40:58 GMT

Thanks a LOT for the the help.

I will try this as soon as I get be to my system.

Many many thanks, will post results asap.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:29:24 GMT

Windows is still not installing.

As per the read me file / instructions to install the Intel(R) Rapid Storage Technology, I copied the requested files to a USB key. The drivers where successfully recognized by windows when I clicked on "Load Driver" prior to the start of the installation process.

Installation process did no complete.

As of right now the installation process is in what could be classified as a hang.

The system is again at "2 Installing windows" at about 2/3 of the way of completion. Mouse is working, the three dots after "Completing Installation..." keep cycling.

I will leave the machine running overnight to see if it finishes installation.

Please let me know if there is another way of installing the updated NIC drivers before windows completes its installation.

Is there a way to run the Intel Deployment Assistant again?

ANY additional help is very welcome.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:31:55 GMT

By the way, I removed the additional hard drives for the installation. Only the SSD is in the machine. I did not set the boot order to boot the SSD first and the CD second.

I will try this if it turns out that the system did not install by the morning.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

Edward_Z_Intel — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 06:52:10 GMT

Seems that Doc_SilverCreek has pointed the right direction - most likely the issue is on the embedded Microsoft NIC driver. The issue is documented in the http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520sc/sb/e68106012_s5520sc_msu_2010_08.pdf Specification update, Errata 24.

There are two ways to workaround this issue:

1. During OS installation, make sure the ports are connected to a network, switch or simply back-to-back.

2. Update to http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=3073&DwnldID=19407&lang=eng BIOS 54

Make sure you install latest http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=3073&DwnldID=18388&ProductFamily=Server+Products&ProductLine=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Boards&ProductProduct=Intel%c2%ae+Workstation+Board+S5520SC&lang=eng Network Driver after OS installation completes. Check Errata 30 in http://download.intel.com/support/motherboards/server/s5520sc/sb/e68106012_s5520sc_msu_2010_08.pdf Specification update if you have problem installing the NIC driver.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 22:32:24 GMT

Sorry for dumb question, but at this point I don't want to short circuit anything.

When you guys say "connect a networkcable back to back" do you mean take one end of an ethernet cable and put it into one port and the other end in the other port (without any switchers or anything)?

Many thanks, I will probably try this with the machine connected to the internet through a regular cable modem home, but just in case it doesn't work I can try the back to back method.

Many many thanks for the help.

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

DSilv11 — Mon, 25 Oct 2010 23:20:23 GMT

Yes, just connect a networking cable between the 2 network ports until the install completes and you update the driver will avoid the network issues that appears as a hang.

Option 2 .

The same screen where you loaded the storage drivers, you can also load the NIC driver

(P.S. Edward - BIOS 54 does not have a work-around for the network issue. The "Fix" ended up being worst than the problem)

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

idata — Wed, 27 Oct 2010 06:58:47 GMT

IT'S WORKING!!!!

Thank you guys very very much for the help! I could have not done it without your help (and believe me , I tried 🙂

A special mention for

Doc_SilverCreek

I have been struggling for a month , yes a full month, with this system.

Thank you very very much for the directions provided.

Eric

Re: What kind of SATA mode to use in Mass Storage Controller Configuration in BIOS?

DSilv11 — Thu, 28 Oct 2010 03:09:01 GMT

You are mostr welcome