SATA Connection and Terminology Questions

Slacker7 · 10-15-2009, 10:13 PM

Wasn't sure if this was a the right form or the General forum but since this has to specifically due with the motherboard SATA ports I figured this was the better choice.

I am trying to help someone with an 0x9C error issue without actually being able to see his PC (he lives in Turkey and I live in the States). We have narrowed it down to his harddrive SATA connection. The harddrive passes all diagnostic tests and it works in another computer but when it is attached in his PC he is getting contant restarts regardless of the SATA ports he is connected to.

His mother board is an MSI MS-7360 P35 Neo-F and it has 7 SATA ports.

Numbers 5 and 6 are ICH9R only and SATA 7 is controlled by Marvell 88SE 6117.

Pardon my ignorance but what is the significance of ICH9R and Marvell 88SE 6117 as compared to the standard SATA connections? If he happened to connect to 5, 6, or 7 what would be the result or issue.

Thanks for the help. It is much appreciated because I need it.

**johnb35** · 10-15-2009, 11:31 PM

The only difference is that on some boards the sata ports are split up between sata controllers. That way if you have Raid and regular native ide mode Sata drives, you can split them between the 2 controllers if you want to.

Slacker7 · 10-16-2009, 12:17 AM

Thanks TONS for the reply. So if he happened to connect his SATA HD to #s 5, 6, and 7 he shouldn't really experience any issues per se, correct?

**johnb35** · 10-16-2009, 12:20 AM

As long as the drivers were installed or windows won't recognize the drives.

Slacker7 · 10-16-2009, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by johnb35

As long as the drivers were installed or windows won't recognize the drives.

I was able to have him link to his motherboard manual as we attempt to ascertain why the system reboots when the HD is connected. I thought it might be the cable but he has tried different ones and in another system it is fine, but in his own system it is restart after restart.

Thanks again.

**johnb35** · 10-16-2009, 02:37 AM

I think i just realized whats going on....

You said the hard drive works fine in another system. Did you by chance install windows on this drive in that system first and then transfer it to his system? You can't do that and expect it to boot up normally. The install is looking for certain hardware that is on the old install, not in his system. If this is the case, then he would have to do a fresh install with the drive in his own system.

Slacker7 · 10-16-2009, 05:45 AM

Good question but, no, he had the OS installed on his sytem and he installed his harddrive in his friend's system all by himself. I didn't direct him to do so and according to him it ran fine without restarting for 5 hours straight. But as soon as he attached it to his system the restarting began.

I had him run Memtest for 7+ Passes. He ran it on individual sticks as well. They passed.

I had him run a harddrive diagnostics. He ran SeaTools S.M.A.R.T., Short DST, and Long DST tests and the harddrive passed all.

I had him switch out SATA cables and he still had restart issues.

So since 0x9C errors can be due to any hardware I had him do the old tried and true and sometimes tedious work of uninstalling every piece of hardware except PSU, CPU, and RAM. It started up and remained so without restart. (I have been wondering if it might not be his PSU but everything else is running and there is no way I can explain to him how to use a multimeter)

I directed him to shut the system down and add another piece of hardware and restart and so on. So far from what he reports the restarting begins when the harddrive is attached to the motherboard.

Now I've got to walk him through the BIOS to see if his SATA is enabled and to have him set up the Boot Sequence.

If I could physically get my hands on the system it would not have taken me more that 2 days to walk him through everything but he is in Turkey and I am in South Jersey... *Joy*

Edit Update: BIOS sees the harddrive but it still restarts. He borrowed his friends PSU and it still restarted and they bot essentially have the same system and psu.

10-15-2009, 10:13 PM	#1 (permalink)
Slacker7 Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern New Jersey Posts: 153	SATA Connection and Terminology Questions Wasn't sure if this was a the right form or the General forum but since this has to specifically due with the motherboard SATA ports I figured this was the better choice. I am trying to help someone with an 0x9C error issue without actually being able to see his PC (he lives in Turkey and I live in the States). We have narrowed it down to his harddrive SATA connection. The harddrive passes all diagnostic tests and it works in another computer but when it is attached in his PC he is getting contant restarts regardless of the SATA ports he is connected to. His mother board is an MSI MS-7360 P35 Neo-F and it has 7 SATA ports. Numbers 5 and 6 are ICH9R only and SATA 7 is controlled by Marvell 88SE 6117. Pardon my ignorance but what is the significance of ICH9R and Marvell 88SE 6117 as compared to the standard SATA connections? If he happened to connect to 5, 6, or 7 what would be the result or issue. Thanks for the help. It is much appreciated because I need it.

10-15-2009, 11:31 PM	#2 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,630	The only difference is that on some boards the sata ports are split up between sata controllers. That way if you have Raid and regular native ide mode Sata drives, you can split them between the 2 controllers if you want to. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

10-16-2009, 12:20 AM	#4 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,630	As long as the drivers were installed or windows won't recognize the drives. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

10-16-2009, 02:37 AM	#6 (permalink)
johnb35 Moderator Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Near Joliet Illinois Age: 39 Posts: 3,630	I think i just realized whats going on.... You said the hard drive works fine in another system. Did you by chance install windows on this drive in that system first and then transfer it to his system? You can't do that and expect it to boot up normally. The install is looking for certain hardware that is on the old install, not in his system. If this is the case, then he would have to do a fresh install with the drive in his own system. __________________ Motherboard - Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R CPU - E8400 Memory - 2GB Corsair XMS2 (2x 1gb) Graphics - ATI HD3870 Hard Drives - 250GB Seagate DVD Drive - Lite-On DVD Burner - Lite-On Power Supply - Rosewill RP600V2-S-SL 600W 22" Acer widescreen AL2216WBD

10-16-2009, 05:45 AM	#7 (permalink)
Slacker7 Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern New Jersey Posts: 153	Good question but, no, he had the OS installed on his sytem and he installed his harddrive in his friend's system all by himself. I didn't direct him to do so and according to him it ran fine without restarting for 5 hours straight. But as soon as he attached it to his system the restarting began. I had him run Memtest for 7+ Passes. He ran it on individual sticks as well. They passed. I had him run a harddrive diagnostics. He ran SeaTools S.M.A.R.T., Short DST, and Long DST tests and the harddrive passed all. I had him switch out SATA cables and he still had restart issues. So since 0x9C errors can be due to any hardware I had him do the old tried and true and sometimes tedious work of uninstalling every piece of hardware except PSU, CPU, and RAM. It started up and remained so without restart. (I have been wondering if it might not be his PSU but everything else is running and there is no way I can explain to him how to use a multimeter) I directed him to shut the system down and add another piece of hardware and restart and so on. So far from what he reports the restarting begins when the harddrive is attached to the motherboard. Now I've got to walk him through the BIOS to see if his SATA is enabled and to have him set up the Boot Sequence. If I could physically get my hands on the system it would not have taken me more that 2 days to walk him through everything but he is in Turkey and I am in South Jersey... Joy Edit Update: BIOS sees the harddrive but it still restarts. He borrowed his friends PSU and it still restarted and they bot essentially have the same system and psu. Last edited by Slacker7; 10-17-2009 at 01:27 AM.

10-16-2009, 12:17 AM	#3 (permalink)
Slacker7 Silver Member Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Southern New Jersey Posts: 153	Thanks TONS for the reply. So if he happened to connect his SATA HD to #s 5, 6, and 7 he shouldn't really experience any issues per se, correct?

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