Re: [PARTIALLY SOLVED] SATA drive probs: Knoppix OK, but nothing else

[Hugo Vanwoerkom <hvw59601@care2.com>]

steef wrote:
> Hugo Vanwoerkom wrote:
> > Hugo Vanwoerkom wrote:
> > > Hi list,
> > >
> > >
> > > I have a new SATA drive (WDC WD800JD-60LUA0) that I have problems 
> > > with getting recognized by Sarge.
> > >
> > > Knoppix finds it OK, I can partition the disk, write to it, no problems.
> > >
> > > The Debian3.1r1 Debian Installer, finds it, identifies it, but with 
> > > installation on another PATA partition the GRUB boot fails with 
> > > 99999's over the screen.
> > >
> > > Same with Debian3.1r1 Debian Installer using expert26 and lilo: that 
> > > boot also fails with 9999's on the screen.
> > >
> > > Booting into my normal Sarge with lilo hangs at the start with the 
> > > drive connected.
> > >
> > > If Knoppix has absolutely no problems, I believe my problems are all 
> > > software related. Knoppix finds it as /dev/sda. I created ext2 
> > > partitions 1-7, no problems. I was unable to run lilo from Knoppix: 
> > > got errors that he could not find the right device mapper.
> > >
> > > Anybody have a clue as to what to google for, or what to do next to 
> > > get a bootloader to run with the drive connected?
> >
> > The problem is twofold (I think):
> >
> > 1. Booting with any bootloader and the WD disk connected with the 
> > SII3112 HD SATA controller.
> > 2. The BIOS-check under that condition.
> >
> > I avoided (1) by using a lilo rescue disk and selecting "hard disk"
> >
> > I avoid (2) with the "suppress-boot-time-BIOS-data" global option of 
> > Lilo.
> >
> > Then I have a running system with the WD disk mounted as sda1-7.
> > Nothing wrong with the bootloaders. Something wrong with the BIOS of 
> > my mobo (EPOX EP-8VTAI), but I didn't see any upgrades mentioning this 
> > problem.
> >
> > H
>
> lectori salutem,
>
> had last summer a comparable problem when installing debian on an old 
> laptop using the usb_port ( /dev/sda-x ). a problem arose of which the 
> cause laid in the (too old) bios of this machine. could not sove it.

Steef, I agree. But checking the BIOS updates on the epox site I find:

EP-8VTAI        BIOS upgrades
*Upload Date*   *Version*       *Download File*         *Description*
2006-03-06      06.02.27        8vti6227.zip            Solve BIOS can't 
boot,after change CPU FSB166 to FSB200.
                                                        Support SB 
V8237R plus.
2006-02-13      06.02.07        8vti6207.zip            Add K7 Sempron 
3300+ CPU.
2005-08-16      05.08.15        8vti5815.zip            When On Chip USB 
control function was set all Enabled in BIOS setup
                                                        install WinXP 
will hang.
2004-11-12      04.11.10        8vti4b10.zip            Solve USB3 can't 
work in DOS.


and none of those seem to address a SATA or a SATA controller problem.
I think I have to try another mobo with that drive.

H