SATA and IDE problems

eryn_kathleen

I've recently installed a 500gb SATA hard drive on a computer that had been running from a 120gb IDE hard drive.

I had some problems with WD's Data Lifeguard Tools, which I used to clone the IDE hard drive in order to run Windows from the SATA drive. The process failed (due to power failure) half-way through. This meant that I had to repair the Windows installation on the IDE drive, and although my files are all safe the Windows OS on that drive is not 100% stable.

I have now set Windows up as a fresh install (rather than a clone) on the SATA drive. I have partitioned the SATA drive so that I have a 55gb drive (C) for OS and program files and a 410gb drive (D) for data. I would like to configure the IDE drive to become the E: drive for more storage and/or partial backup (I also have an external hard drive for full backup).

My ideal plan is to move all the files from the IDE drive to the D drive, then remove Windows from the IDE drive.

My problem is this: when I have both hard drives plugged in, I can't get the computer to boot to the SATA drive. I only have one option for a HDD boot in the BIOS, and it is the SATA drive, so I don't know why this is happening.

Once the system boots, it has no problems recognizing the SATA drive in Device Manager and Disk Management. The IDE drive is currently showing as the drive when it boots up, with the second partition on the SATA drive showing up as G: (behind two DVD drives).

I've tried putting the IDE drive jumpered as slave (and it does show up as such in the BIOS). It's listed as primary IDE slave, with the DVD drives on secondary IDE.

So basically I need to find a way to get the SATA drive to boot up and recognise the IDE drive. If I have to, I'm willing to transfer all files from the IDE drive to the second partition on the SATA drive and then format the IDE drive and start again, but if anyone has a simpler/faster solution I'd very much appreciate it!!

eryn_kathleen

And here are some relevant stats - let me know if anything else would help!

Motherboard: ASUS AV8-VM
SATA drive: 500gb Western Digital
IDE drive: 120gb Maxtor

Current IDE configuration:

Primary Master: none
Primary Slave: Maxtor IDE drive

Secondary Master: DVD RW
Secondary Slave: DVD R

Floppy Drive (A)

Raid drivers were installed when the Windows installation was completed on the SATA drive.

Western Digital Data Lifeguard Tools will no longer work on IDE Windows setup. It does run on SATA drive setup, but that's of no help because I can't run the SATA drive and recognize the IDE drive at the same time. Same goes for Disk Management.

irnbru_2

eryn_kathleen wrote: »

My problem is this: when I have both hard drives plugged in, I can't get the computer to boot to the SATA drive.

Try enabling

Advanced->OnChip SATA Boot ROM

in the BIOS?