P55A-GD65 Can not see Sata III drive

[weht]

I can not get the bios to see my 250gig sata III. I have it connected to sata#7 white connector.

I tried to first see it, no go. I am trying to fresh install w7 hp upgrade 64bit to my new sata III drive. I can not find the drive. I do not know if it is bad or what?

I set Integrated peripherals- sata 6g/s controller mode to ahci, and in on-chip ata devices raid mode set it to ahci. I tried to install w7 from disc. It just Says I have made a hardware change. Try to do a repair start or start as normal. Then said my boot sector was messed up. I pressed  reset and got into bios and set it all back to ide mode.

It would not start normal. But from page it says try w7 disc etc. I told it to start windows normally it did, I have rebooted So I guess it fixed the boot sector..

I am not sure what to do. I can not find the drive, and no place in my bios can I find the sata 7-8 connectors. they are listed as 1-6 and 9.. everything skips 7-8. I am in w7 now. I could do the reg tweak. I want to fresh install w7 upgrade on my new sata III drive. then nuke this sata II and make it a storage drive..

Maybe I need to press a key with w7 disc in  during restart. I can not figure out how to make Let me reinstall w7. I did press F6 but I did not know what to do. Upgrading from xp was pretty easy. This sata III and  mobo and w7 is a head ake. It is no simple instructions no place to make this stuff work right. Ha ha the manual is no help either.

I do not know if maybe the drive is bad or not. I never had to do this stuff in bios just to install a drive, and then controllers 7-8 show no place. I do not know what to do..

 

[HU16E]

If anything like the BB Xpwr board, the SATA III 6Gb/s drives will show up on a black info screen during the transition from bios to Windows booting. In BIOS 'Integrated Peripherals', go ahead & set SATA 6Gb/s Controller Mode to IDE or AHCI (AHCI prior to loading of Windows OS). The HDD (or HDD's) in port(s) 7 (& 8), won't show up in BIOS 'Standard CMOS Features' screen. But it (they) should show up in 'Advanced BIOS Features' 'Boot Sequence' after 'Press Enter'.

 

[Jack the Newbie]

They should also show up in the BIOS Boot Menu (press F11 right after start-up).  It is another way to see if the drive is detected on the BIOS level.

Regarding Windows Setup:  You may have to integrate the Marvell SATA Controller Drivers on the Windows Setup level when you attempt a Windows Installation in AHCI Mode.  Otherwise, Windows will not be able to handle the controller and will consequently not see the drive.

 

[weht]

Thanks guys.

I figured it out, well mostly.

I disconnected my sataII with os on it. And connected my sataIII to sata1 connector after setting AHCI support in bios. W7 disc fired right up. Ya I see black screen saying- cpu ahci during boot, and have ahci support in windows. I was not sure if the drive worked or not. I have another setting here. I tried the other way first, put it on sata1.

But I guess or hope to move my sataIII to sata7, and hook up my sataII to sata1 connector, and reformat my sataII for data storage. I am not sure how w7 will act. I might have to use wd tools and delete it in dos or something. Maybe just making sure the boot order is right will skip it. Its just I am not sure the drive will show up on sata7 connector. I am not certain how that works or if I have other drivers to install. It shows up now as a normal ahci drive on sata1. I do not know what it will do on sata7? I will find out .

W7 upgrade would not let me register it. I will figure that out. I am still not sure about all the drivers. I installed the marvell tray. I do not think I need it. I think the download page has same drivers a few times or something. I am not sure I need intel matrix. I did install marvell sata3- jmicron- usb3 and sound video etc. It is a driver I got from my download page, says intel p55 ahci raid drivers. I look in the file it says it is intel matrix storage. But I have another driver that is name intel matrix storage.

If I use msi live update4 it gives me 2 different lan drivers. I am not sure what to get. I used windows for the lan drivers- I installed everything else from my disc I burned, or from off of the disc the marvel sata6, I think it gave me this tray thingy . See that is part of the problem. So many drivers and some multi same, or just worded different maybe. Being new to this rig, I do not know right from wrong.

It is working me. I am figuring it all out. Gees.

Thanks.

 

[weht]

Thanks jack.

So can the drivers that run sata7-8 6g/s ports be activated after w7 install and install the drivers? And change my sata III from sata1 to sata7 and work right?

I hope so. Or I will have to nuke the os again. I seen the option during install to load drivers from floppy or cd/dvd or flash drive. But I am not sure Which are the right drivers? And I guess w7 will pause. Let me remove its disc if I have drivers on disc. Maybe need 2 opti drives. Guess I could put it on a flash drive.

For some of these drivers up grades. Should I have protect bios setting turned off. Maybe 1 of these drivers need to make changes.. I read after a bios flash what ever you want to set to on and protect the bios. I read over clocking etc. I think you want to turn it off to oc and then back on. Or something like that. Will it block installing drivers?

I will hate it, but I will nuke it again if need be.. I am going to take a nap, and mess with it laters..

Thanks again.. 

 

[Jack the Newbie]

So can the drivers that run sata7-8 6g/s ports be activated after w7 install and install the drivers? And change my sata III from sata1 to sata7 and work right.

I don't know if that'll work or not.  Make sure that the SATA-III controller is set to AHCI Mode and install the Marvell Drivers available on the product site before you swap the driver over to the other controller.  If it won't work, you will have to re-install the OS and this time integrate the drivers on the setup level.

 

[weht]

Ok thanks..

 

[weht]

Sending me to the driver home page helped a lot. That is the driver I was not sure about, now I know where it is on the msi install disc. But I am almost sure it runs the sata7-8 ports. I guess I have to live with the marvel tray. That is fine if all my hardware works. It seems that the marvell has added a lil thing to my task bar, that controls- it is safe to remove hardware or media or something. Seems to be like the thing built into windows that pops up when you connect a flash drive. Just now , I have a icon hidden on my task bar with the marvel tray icon.

This is the driver page and is the se9128 drivers. I can not find acual downloads tho. I think I have to join the site. But from in the marvell tray thingy is a link that carries me to a log on screen- name/domain- pass word etc. I was not sure what it is for? Maybe joining marvell will explain it. I should be able to down load the drivers. I will update the drivers from the marvel site if newer.

http://www.marvell.com/products/storage/storage_system_solutions/sata_controllers_pc_consumer

I am ready to open my box and change out the drives. Put my sataIII on sata7 , see if I can boot to w7. Then shut down and reconnect my sataII to sata1. I will check and make sure the boot order is right and boot from my sataIII on the sata7 connector. Maybe it will be right, and get back to w7. Then reformat my sataII for storage.

Hope so..

Thanks again.

 

[HU16E]

It seems that the marvell has added a lil thing to my task bar

The Marvell Controller is an 'external' controller, different than the SB/ICH10R, & when AHCI is set for the Marvell Controller, essentially ports 7 & 8 are 'hot plug' & show up in the Sys Tray as 'Removable' drives. Please, anyone out there more sharp on this than me, feel free to make corrections.

 

[weht]

Ya what HU16E said.

Maybe I have to think of my sataIII as a ssd drive. I have read folks have similar problems and near same steps I am going through to get their ssd drives set up right and on the sata7-8 connections. I should have set up for ahci support my first install. I am learning tho. Completely took my system apart. put the lil washers on the cooler back plate and have nuked and re installed w7 with AHCI support this time dag it.. I have pulled out a lil hair. But I would not trade it for anything. It is fun and pleasing to build my own stuff. Its just I do not do this often and tech has advanced etc. You guys helping, makes it better, and I am working it out.. Thanks.

Seems marvell does not let us download drivers from its site. Best I know we have to get them from the mobo site. I guess the ones on my disc with mobo are the latest. I see no more on my mobo download page and msi lu4 does not offer more to date marvell drivers.

I was reading that a giga mobo has sata3 turbo boost or something. I have not seen anything like that on my mobo and my mobo has an extra chip so my mobo can run sataIII and usb3 at full speeds and not put load on the cpu or pcie or how ever it is worded. Maybe it is auto and no setting for it in my bios or on my mobo?- or I have missed it. But my mobo is near the same as the gd85, we have the extra chip other mobos do not, These mobos and the msi hydra mobos are unique really.

Bump edit: windows just updated- so I re started after and now I am going to defrag this install for the first time. Then shut down, and move my sataIII around to sata7 see if it boots to w7 etc. If so, I think I am good to go on drivers etc.

I am not sure [if] it shows up as a flash drive on my task bar is a good thing. I just have to remember to never tell it to disconnect ha ha.. Or if as HU16E says any way?

See ya. Thanks..

 

[weht]

I am in windows now, so it works, cool.

When it started, it seemed to start my anti virus and stuff slow. I did not know if it froze, but I could move the mouse etc. Then windows popped up and said it install some driver for my wd sata drive. I have read some of them need or get a driver update to work with Windows 7 or something.. But said I have to reboot. It is done. I can not find what it installed. I think I can check pop up message log?

Now. I will shut it down and add my sataII to sata1, boot to bios set order and boot to Windows 7 and try and reformat the sataII and make it a storage drive..

I am not trying to mess with anything marvell on my task bar. Ha ha do not want to disconnect my drive maybe. I dont know.

This mobo has a chip like the gd85 mobo where the mobo can run sataIII and usb3 at full speeds and not put a hit on the pcie or cpu what ever it is. Said can game what ever using usb3 sataIII with no or lil hit in graphics performance, is why I bought them, well that and 3 year warranty. I am  not sure what sata9 is for. I hope I am set up on the chip that runs sataIII at full speeds, I do not know. I am going with it like it is tho.. I think the marvell and sata7-8 are the only sataIII 6g/s connections on the mobo?

I will update my sig after I get the other drive right and my box closed up..

I think I got it all straight. Thanks..

Thanks a lot..

 

[Jack the Newbie]

I think the marvell and sata7-8 are the only sataIII 6g/s connections on the mobo?

Yes.

I am  not sure what sata9 is for.

There is no special purpose.  It is just an additional SATA port hosted by the JMicron 363 Controller (which also controls the eSATA port and the PATA/IDE port).

I think I got it all straight.

-----------------------

Just a couple of further remarks:

If I use msi live update4 it gives me 2 different lan drivers.

Please avoid MSI Live Update, especially when it comes to updating the BIOS.  A BIOS Flash from Windows is inherently dangerous and the most risky method of performing a BIOS Update.  You can find the latest BIOS Releases on the MSI Product page for your mainboard for download.  If a BIOS Update should ever be necessary, please >>Use the MSI HQ Forum USB flasher<< instead of MSI Live Update to be on the safe side.

Regarding drivers: You will find everything you need on this site:  http://eu.msi.com/index.php?func=downloaddetail&type=driver&maincat_no=1&prod_no=2043 ... including Marvell drivers. You do not need to go directly to Marvell for this stuff.

 

[weht]

Thanks jack.

Ya I had already got all the drivers from that page and burn them to disc. It says my bios should be 1.3 that is what came on the mobo. I downloaded nothing from lu4 other than maybe to read the zip or something. But lu4 said it is a bios 1.4 for my mobo. It is only 1.3 on the download page.

I was more testing out lu4. Ya I have read on the forum flash, and have a 512mb drive ready to go. I guess that is large enough? But I already have bios 1.3 and no problems I know of, I do not need the forum flash drive unless I do a bios flash. I could have it for back up with bios 1.3 might be a good idea. I might be ok..

I have memtest86 v4.10 burned to a cd- pass 11x so far, running the default 9 tests?- That was before I took it all apart that is. I will test it some more. I need to get it set up right and register it first tho. I will get it straight.

I got my sata II reformatted it is f: storage now. I am good to go- I think..

Thanks.. See ya

 

[weht]

Now I am happy.

I did the w7 reg work around and it worked. I followed the links to learn how to bring up cmd. after clicking on the reg file to merge it. I typed cmd into start search and from there got into cmd, typed in what was needed- reboot, add my code, its done..

Sweet.. Ha ha all of that. My drives will never run full speeds unless in a raid. Its funny, but its all working, and I am ready for some ssd drives when the costs come down.

Great holidays to all..

 

[weht]

Follow up.

For future references or for others that might follow, I will post a few screen shots and general instructions on how I installed my sata III drive on the sata7 connection. I think the set up is pretty much the same as when folks are installing ssd's or sata III ssd's that is. Raid or not, to get AHCI support, it is pretty much the same set up process, other than actual setting up raid arrays that is.

My second build, near same as the build in my sig is going well, and a lot faster. It seems as HU16E said. I do not get the safe to remove device or media thingy on my task bar, until I change the sata III from sata1 to sata7, and boot to w7 [just the 1 drive the sata III hooked up]. After I get into w7, It tells me I need to boot again for changes to take affect.

I also notice in the marvell tray. It says I can, or I guess have sata 1.5 3.0 and 6.0g/s abilities. I was reading on how the marvell and I think it is the jimcron work together. If I read right, the jimcron supports sata II and 1 sata and 1 usb connection. I wonder if the odd ball sata9 is a normal sata 1.5g/s slot? My manual etc says, I have sata II and sata III ?

Anyway, my system from this thread is running fine. I noticed in w7 maintenance , it said physx did not install right, maybe that is why my recorder in games was acting funny. I deleted my video drivers and physx and re installed it, it install fine this time. I have not tested in game yet. The maintenance tab is very handy. I am learning more about w7 for sure. 

Everything has installed perfect and running good on my second build, per what I learned during my build, has worked out fine. I ran memtest86 while I napped, it pass 14x. I need to add the sata II and nuke it, just like my set up in past posts, and install a few more programs. Then I will prime95 test it for 12 hours or more. I think it might be ok tho.

Well, Back to build #2. Oh ya I love the new large Lian Li PC-A70F case for my buds build. Its awesome.

Oh ya again. It seems my new msi mobos are running fine, both came with bios 1.3. I hope they at least last for the 3 year warranty, we will be happy. Seems good so far.

See ya.

 

[weht]

Follow up.

My cam batteries are acting up. Sorry not better photo'. The second photo. I changed out my speakers set up etc, and its photo was with our cam corder, it has no flash.. The top 5.25 bay filter is a test. I need better materials to make a better 1, but it works well, not so pretty tho. If I relax the pantyhose, It looks a lot better, is black. You can not see through it, but less air flow...

The blower box mod I made from a gutted opt drive, uses the rest of the 5.25 bay cage as the lower sides of the box. The top side, the actual gutted opt drive, I used my zig saw, cut along the sides from the top and back end. So it was free to bend down. You can not see from the photo, but it is down just above the top of the mobo tray, and extends out past the back side of the 5.25 cage. With both downward blowing air and is more compressed or moves faster because the top is bent down etc. I cut off the access on the side so not to go past the 5.25 cage. Made a face plate to mount the fan [can crank 103 cfm] to the other end of the gutted opti. It is easy in out, uses my normal case mounting gear, and is flush with the front of the case. The filter and or front cover are separate. I need to make a better filter frame. But it works. I like it for now.. My twin p160 case has the same set up, but using a 80mm face plate and fan, and being a normal 5.25 opti drive as it base, they can go case to case, most all cases have a 5.25 cage, so. I could use this on the lian li case below and just mount a normal fan filter right to the face plate..>>

Build #2, my buds rig, was a snap to build. Not 1 fault in the entire build from- view reliability history. The large case was nice to work in.. Both systems running great and with AHCI support.

Ha ha I got them running perfect in spite of ?

MSI P55A-GD65 v1.1 bios 1.3. I5-750. W7 64 bit.
Crucial 4GB kit CT2KIT25664BA1339 9-9-9-24 T1 1.5v
Corsair CAFA50. ASUS ML248H 24". Corsair TX 650w.
LIAN LI PC-A70F Black +120mm Intake Mod. EVGA 9800GT.
Samsung DVDRW IDE. LOGITECH X-530 BLK5.1. AC MX2.
WD2500AAKX Sata7C: WD3200AAJS Sata1E: Fios15\2mbps.

Good to go..>

See ya.

 

[weht]

Sorry, I am to late to edit my last post. I got a few batteries for my cam. I have a few better photos of my system.

In the last post, I would like to change photo 2 to this one..>

And I would like to add these 2 photos to the top photos of my system. Or this post is good, either way is fine with me..>

Thanks. Our systems are running nice. See ya..