Sata Hdd + PCI SATA Adapter Problem

[prashantmaxsteel]

I have a 8235 VIA chipset motherboard with no sata controller or port.
However I own a Western Digital-WD3200AAJS(320GB,SATA-II,7200rpm,8.9 ms Avg Seek, 8 MB buffer)Hard Disk.
Hence I bought a PCI-SATA Controller Card (VIA VT6421 based)

I have a Windows XP OS

After a few months of use, i started getting I/O Errors and data corruption with messages to scan Disk for error. Then the partitions on the SATA HDD stopped getting detected.

Now if I simpy connect the PCI card, Device manager detects it as a SCSI & Raid Controller showing no errors

However, when I connect the HDD data cable and power cable and start the computer, The Device Manager displays a CODE 10 error
Microsoft Help page was saying it is some enumeration problem with the HDD. However when i connect the HDD to my friend's computer which has SATA controller on the motherboard itself it worked nicely!

What can I do to make my HDD get detected ?

[tcsenter]

Originally Posted by prashantmaxsteel

However when i connect the HDD to my friend's computer which has SATA controller on the motherboard itself it worked nicely!

You forgot the part where you confirm that the PCI card is working with the HDD connected in a different computer.

[prashantmaxsteel]

I did actually put the PCI card on my friend's PC to check it.
There too same problem.

However today I obtained latest drivers from VIA for VIA VT6421 SATA adapter and then tried the PCI SATA Adapter + SATA HDD.

The BIOS check up took a half a minute.
It was getting stuck at Detecting Drives.

Then Windows got loaded as it is on my PATA HDD.
From the Login Screen, regular intervalled hang ups (comp freezes). In between the SATA HDD would rotate fast accompanied with the rotation noise associated with Restart. Then the computer would work for a second and then again freezes !

I checked my Device Manager, there was no error message for the SCSI Controller.

BUT still not detecting the HDD

[tcsenter]

Originally Posted by prashantmaxsteel

I did actually put the PCI card on my friend's PC to check it.
There too same problem.

There is your answer then. The card is shot.

You can try setting the drive to SATA 1.5Gb/s compatibility due to a known bug in VIA SATA 1.5Gb/s controllers that prevent proper detection of SATA 3Gb/s drives.

See the last jumper setting labeled OPT1 on this illustration from Western Digital, showing the SATA 1.5Gb/s compatibility jumper position.

Otherwise, I would replace the card.

[prashantmaxsteel]

thanks. yesterday i plugged my IDE cable of my DVD writer onto the IDE slot on the card. It got detected and worked properly.

Hence I imagine the card's SATA controller is the culprit.

How can i get it repaired ? I mean entire card replaced or just the chip. Also whom should i contact to get it repaired under warranty ? (the shop from where i bought it or the via fellas in my city)

[tcsenter]

The place of purchase or the company who markets the card.

VIA doesn't make or market these cards. VIA only sells the chips, which other companies then use in their products.

[prashantmaxsteel]

thanks a lot. Man!
i am grateful to you.