Hi,

How can I connect my SATA HD physically so that it is the First IDE Primary Master? I have an old HD that I would like to install Solaris 10 on but this old HD is added,under BIOS, as the Second IDE Primary Master once I connect it. My new SATA HD is currently connected as the Third IDE Primary Master.

Mainboard: MSI K8N Neo2

Hello!

The only possibility is to change the bootsequence. But changing third to first master is (as I known) not possible.

Greetings

Unfortunately the BIOS options in my case are limited and all that I can select is to boot HD, CDROM or others. BIOS does not give me the option to select which HD to boot first. Do you know the reason why my SATA HD was assigned to the Third IDE in the first place?

Do you think this problem has anything to do with the J8 Jumper settings which specify the Master/Slave relationship between HDs?
Is it possible to set my SATA HD as the Master and my old HD as Slave? According to the comments on the top of my SATA HD, the Master/Slave jumper is not required for SATA. Do I need to have any pins jumped on my SATA HD if I want to setup a Master/Slave relationship?
BTW, pins 5 and 6 are currently jumped on my SATA HD. My old HD is not connected yet.

I have also noticed the following option under Advanced BIOS Options: Hard Disk Boot Priority
I think I can use this option to select the first HD to boot If I can setup the Master/Slave relationship.

The following is also written on the top of my SATA HD:
"jumpered pins 1 and 2 disable SSC (Spread Spectrum Clocking)"
"jumpered pins 3 and 4 anable PM2 (Power-Up in Standby)"
Does anyone know what SSC and PM2 are for? Do I need them?

You might consider buying a SATA-to-PATA adapter (they run around US$30) and then physically connecting your SATA drive as a Primary PATA/IDE. You'll take a performance hit, but it should work.

Are you saying that I cannot have a SATA HD and an IDE HD on the same machine?

I have done that many times. It is possible to have the SATA set as the master, and primary boot device. But it will always be listed as the 3rd master/slave chain. That is just how they are. If you cannot currently set the SATA as the first boot device, you need to get a BIOS update from the manufacturer for your motherboard. It may be something that when shipped, it wasn't possible, and since it has probaly been 2 years since the bios was updated, it has old setting and standards. Updating the BIOS will probably allow you to set it as the first boot device.

If it does not, I would suggest calling the manufacturer, as it means something is not right with your board.

Okay, it worked with me after modefying the ' Hard Disk Boot Priority' option and setting the J8 pins for each HD. I have two more questions:
1. Do I need to have any pins jumped on my SATA HD? I don't want to remove the jumper and end up with a damaged HD.
2. What are SSC and PM2 good for?

SATA, doesn't exactly have multiple pinning. The only reason you would use pins in them...know what, I don't know of any, being as each chain is seperate and has a single drive...they do not chain like PATA...

SSC and PM2 are Spread Spectrum Clocking and Power Management 2. They allow for some higher functions, less power usage when not working as hard(like a minor hibernation...but no hibernation, just less power when it isn't needing it) and ability to read/write at multiple speeds if nessecary. For them to work, your SATA controller also needs to be able to use those functions, and you have to be using a real SATA power connecter, it won't work over normal power. You can read up on wheter you need them or not with a google search, there are dozens of sites listing their pros/cons, and requirements, and the rare occasions you should disable them(incompatibility)