GA-p55a-ud3 only found 6 out of 7 sata drives in the bios when I use a PATA HD

[eurobeat]

Hello all,

Hope you can help me! 

I have purchased two GA-p55a-ud3 to use as server. Because of a special reason, one of the server have to use the PATA hard drive to store the server OS.

Here is my configuration
1 PATA 500MB hard drive (OS Drive)
7 SATA 2TB hard drives (Storage)
1 SATA DVD drive

However, only 6 out of 7 SATA hard drives can be detected in the bios. How I can use all 8 SATA ports when a PATA drive is used?

Also, I would need to have the PATA drive to be the disk 0 instead of disk 1 in Disk Management in Windows because of a security software only can use the disk 0 drive as the OS drive.

Tried different setting in Bios but so far nothing work. I haven't check bios update but will do that next. Please let me know if this is a limitation of the motherboard.

Thank you for your help

[Dark Mantis]

Hi and welcome to the forum.
It would help if you could explain why you have to use a PATA drive as opposed to a SATA drive to boot from.
The latest BIOS update is F11 you didn't say which BIOS you were running currently so I don't know if you need to update it.

[eurobeat]

The reason is because I am upgrading the server hardware and must use the existing PATA hard drive, the software is registered to the hard drive serial number for security purpose.

[Dark Mantis]

I have been tryiong to confirm it in the manual but without success that the reason for your problem is that because you are using the IDE connection. It is using up the resources of two drives even though only one is installed. So basically you have maxed out your ports. How about using the optical drive as an external drive through the USB connection instead . That would free up the extra port needed.

[F5BJR]

*With no big money you can try with a Sata to IDE adapter similar to this



http://www.amazon.fr/Convertisseur-IDE-vers-Sata-II/dp/B000REZSHY

i have many similar adapter for recycle my old big IDE disks --> 2 * 300Go + 2 * 500Go  and may others  

Pierre

* exist model can used in IDE to SATA or reverse mode SATA to IDE for your DVD ( found 3.99 $ !! )

as this :

http://www.meritline.com/ide-to-sata-or-sata-to-ide-adapter---p-36542.aspx

[Dark Mantis]

Yes Pierre's way might work also.  He never fails to amaze me with these adapters and connectors that he finds.

[eurobeat]

I have never seem that connector before so that is a great idea

this may work. Thank you very much for your help. I just have to not use the SATA DVD.

[Dark Mantis]

Well good luck and let us know if it works ok.

[F5BJR]

*
Also another solution :

Install a little PCI or PCI-Express with SATA or IDE card or SATA/IDE ports !!

Exist low cost cards some 20 $

*


Pierre

**