[Solved] Installing a SATA driver with no floppy disk

[Azimuth]

I've spent the entire day fixing my sister's machine. It's an Intel SE7505VB2 server board, with dual Xeon CPUs. After a nightmare with the goddamned SATA drives taking boot priority EVEN THOUGH THEY'RE LISTED AFTER THE IDE DRIVES IN THE BOOT SEQUENCE (RAAAAARGGHHHH), I finally managed to get Windows XP Pro reinstalled and running again, and installed Service Pack 2 for good measure. Only problem, Windows doesn't see the SATA drives.

And, of course, there's no such thing as a SATA controller that doesn't need a ****ing floppy disk (IN 2009, FFS) to install, apparently. Please someone tell me this isn't so.

[EDIT] I'm not using a RAID array setup, by the by. Just running them regularly.

[Cleric]

I've got only SATA drives, and they haven't had a problem picking up in either Vista or XP. HAve you downloaded the latest mobo drivers?

[Azimuth]

Yeah, unfortunately this is an old board, and Intel hasn't updated the drivers since 2004. :<

[Cleric]

And if you connect to the net and perform a "search for drivers" through windows?

[Azraphael]

Install SP 3, on some machines that I've set up the SATA drives don't pickup until it is installed. I always run my primary drive off of an IDE and the rest are SATA. Also, check your BIOS (sometimes it's the small things we overlook) and check a) that your SATA ports are enabled and b) your boot sequence. Sometimes if there is an issue with the boot sequence when you get into Windows only the primary drive will show.

[Azimuth]

I'm busy downloading/installing SP3 now, actually. Here's hoping that works.

The drives are definitely enabled, and I see them both during boot.

[Azraphael]

Is the machine a branded PC? I have a Dell dual Xeon PC here in the office that I might be able to check and see if there is some weird setting somewhere.

[Azimuth]

No, it's a workstation built to spec. :/

[Azraphael]

I have the same board here, busy looking for driver disc at the moment to upload to an FTP for.

[Azimuth]

The trouble is, I've got a driver from Intel's website. But as soon as I run it, it asks for a floppy disk. Stupid floppy disks. :<

[Azraphael]

Try this one, I cant find our damn CD anywhere.

http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/driverslist.aspx?os=WW1&osl=EN&catid=41&impid=-1&servicetag=&SystemID=WRK_PNT_P4_450&hidos=WW1&hidlang=en&TabIndex=

The Dell Precision 450 that we have uses the same board as yours.

*EDIT* If you are seeing the drives on booting but not in Windows then that suggests to me that it is a management issue. Have you checked in your system manager to see if the drives are showing there?

[Azimuth]

No need, looks like installing SP3 did the trick. SUCCESS!

Thanks so much anyway. :)

[Chevron]

Well there's an app that fools your board into thinking that a usb flash drive is actually a stiffy drive. Will post a link tomorrow evening.