Re: SATA problem with x86_64 install CD

[Jo Shields <jo.shields@comlab.ox.ac.uk>]

Nima Talebi wrote:

> Gday,
>
> I've downloaded and attempted to install debian from the debian-31r0a-
> amd64-netinst.iso image. Everything is fine up until the point where my
> SATA device is not detected. Fedora and ubuntu detect it, and they also
> seem to have additional modules available, so I copied those over and
> loaded them with no errors, however that made no difference, I still
> cant see /dev/sda, fdisk -l comes back with zilch.
>
> While trying to detect the hardware I also get this message which
> supports the available list of modules...
>
> The unavailable modules and devices that need them are: ide-mod, ide-
> probe-mod, ide-detect etc
>
> I can quite happily compile a kernel that does support all the devices
> on this box, but what would the next step be? Surely there is an easier
> solution?
>
> Nima
>  

There's no such thing as SATA support. What there is is support for 
specific SATA controllers - since there's no SATA equivalent to 
ide-generic.ko

This means drivers like sata_nv.ko (nForce), sata_via.ko (Via boards), 
sata_mv.ko (Marvell SATA cards), sata_sil.ko (Silicon Image add-on 
chips), and so on.

Sarge has a 2.6.8 kernel - meaning some of the modules either lack 
support for recent hardware, or don't actually exist yet.

Chances are, you need an installer with a more recent kernel - Len 
Sorensen has a 2.6.12 installer, Kenshi Muto has a 2.6.15 installer, and 
there's always an Etch installer (which can install Sarge in expert 
mode) - but without specific knowledge of your hardware, it's hard to 
make a definite statement

--Jo Shields