question about installing linux on sata hd on one chipset and switching chipsets
 

I am using a serial ata hd on a chipset that is unsupported in kernel 2.6.4, but my friend has a computer with the VIA VT8237 chipset, which is supported. If i were to install linux onto my hard drive using his computer, would i be able to simply apply the libata patch and then put the hard drive back in my computer with the SiS chipset and have it running just fine?

Sorry to break it to you, but i don't think it works that way. on the other hand its wierd that there is no support for your sata chipset as its RARE to see hardware totally unsupported in linux.

are you SURE-SURE that what you have is not supported? Did you try booting knoppix, whether it fails or succeeds, it gives you a good indication on whether its possible to get your hardware running on linux.