What are the issues with emulation?

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Sat May 14, 2011 1:12 pm

I have a Dell Dimension E520 here on my bench. It won't boot. Gets to the "Intel Matrix Storage Manger Option" and stops.

I slaved the drive to another pc and the files are there. In the BIOS, the options are:

SATA OPERATION
RAID ON (=SATA is confiured for RAID on very boot)
RAID Autodetect /ATA (=RAID if signed drives, otherwise ATA)

Currently RAID is ON, but the system has only 1 HD?

If I attempt to change this to RAID Autodetect /ATA, it gives a warning:

SATA Operation is being changed!
Attention! Changing this setting may prevent your operating system from booting or require a reinstall. Are you sure you would like to continue?

If I change it to the RAID Autodetect /ATA to try, will it scramble the files on the drive?

Things that I've tried:
1. I successfully installed XP on a fresh HD using the Autodetect /ATA option. With the other option enabled, it fails when it gets to the Starting Windows screen, then I get a BSOD.
2. Slaved the old HD to another PC and the files are there. I also ran check disk as an added precaution.
3. When I first got this to look at, it was reporting a floppy drive was installed, which prompted the press F1 to continue or F2 for setup. Pressing F1 will hang. Pressing F2 I'm able to go into setup. I've re-set the CMOS as instructed in the manual, but the default setting for the HD is RAID On when you go back into the BIOS to reset some of the settings.
4. The CMOS battery voltage reports it at 80% (I have a battery tester that puts a load and measures the percent of power). So I think its not a battery issue.

I just want to know if I change it to the Autodetect /ATA setting for a test, will it scramble the files?

Post by **FlyingPenguin** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:33 pm

All dells come with ATA emulation disabled and if it was setup that way, it probably won't boot with it enabled. However, it won't hurt anything so nothing to lose.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Sat May 14, 2011 3:34 pm

Got me on this one. I suspect though if the files are readable by another computer that it'll likely read just fine if you change it to ATA. It shouldn't mess with the files one way or the other unless you went into the RAID setup anyhow.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Sat May 14, 2011 4:17 pm

Just tried switching it over to ATA, and the HD is not recognized as a bootable drive.

Executioner · Post by **Executioner** » Sat May 14, 2011 7:01 pm

Doing a fresh install.

normalicy · Post by **normalicy** » Sat May 14, 2011 8:56 pm

Windows probably set something in it's drivers to boot from the RAID set. Probably didn't know what to do with the changeover. Probably could have fixed it, but a reinstall wouldn't hurt at this point.