Asus P5GD1-VM/L (Pundit-PE3) ICH6 SATA drive not recognized

[onixwj]

overview

 

My hard drive is not recognized by the installer.

 

I am using MacOSX_10.4.4DVD.iso (MD5 checksum: 072fba74662133c3212426d48f051b19).

 

hardware

 

CPU: Intel Celeron D 336

Motherboard: P5GD1-VM/L (bundled with Asus Pundit-PE3 barebones system) with the following:

• North Bridge: Intel 915GL
   
  
• South Bridge: ICH6
   
  
• Graphics: Intel Media Accelerator 900
   
  
• Audio: AC'97
   
  
• 1 x ATA 100
   
  
• 2 x SATA
  

I am using a 300GB SATA hard drive and have a DVD drive attached to the ATA100 interface.

 

partitioning

 

The hard drive is partitioned (via GNU/Linux) with four primary partitions: Partitions 1 and 2 are empty, 3 contains an ext3 file system, and 4 is swap space. I intend to install Mac OS X on partition 1.

 

what happens

 

I am able to boot from the DVD, select language, and accept EULA. The screen that asks user to select a target drive for installation does not show any hard drive.

 

what I've tried

 

In the BIOS setup, under Main->IDE Configuration, there is an "Onboard IDE operation mode" field with options: disabled, compatible mode, and enhanced. Depending on that selection, the "Enhanced Mode Support on" field offers various choices. I've tried booting with every combination of the above. No combination causes the hard drive to be recognized by the installer.

 

I know the hard drive is operational as I am able to boot from the third partition into GNU/Linux.

 

Any suggestions?

[thrunner]

overview

[*] South Bridge: ICH6Any suggestions?

This is confirmed supported SATA. Diskutil may be broken in 10.4.4 for some SATA drive types. Try format type AF in WinXP (search forum) the primary partition and try again (instead of using OSX diskutil.

[onixwj]

Try format type AF in WinXP (search forum) the primary partition and try again (instead of using OSX diskutil.

 

I never even had the opportunity to use OS X's diskutil, as the installer did not recognize my hard disk (or rather, it did not present it as an available target for installation).

 

I don't have Windows XP available, so I'll be doing any pre-installation work in GNU/Linux. (Windows is an expensive, bloated, buggy, security breach waiting to happen, published by a criminal monopoly. I haven't used it since discovering GNU/Linux in the mid-1990's.)

 

By "try format type AF" do you mean to set the partition type (e.g., 06 for FAT16, 82 for Linux swap, 83 for Linux file systems, A8 for Darwin UFS) of my target partition to AF (which I think is Darwin HFS) before booting the OS X installation DVD?

 

I'll assume that this is the case and that the OS X installer will handle creation of the file system (that's "perform a high-level formatting of the disk" in MS-DOS/Windows language) of the appropriate type upon installation, give it a try, and report back here.

 

Thanks for the tip.

[thrunner]

By "try format type AF" do you mean to set the partition type (e.g., 06 for FAT16, 82 for Linux swap, 83 for

Yes, it is not format but rather diskpart in WinXP, which I thought most users will be coming from.

[123steamn]

Don't know if this will help but I have the same motherboard.

If you have the instruction manual, this is what it says:

 

 

"When using the connectors in standard IDE mode, connect the primary (boot) hard disk drive to the SATA1 or SATA2 connector".

 

In other words, they want you to connect your boot serial drives to a specific serial port.

 

kaos

[onixwj]

[The motherboard's instruction manual] says:

"When using the connectors in standard IDE mode, connect the primary (boot) hard disk drive to the SATA1 or SATA2 connector".

 

In other words, they want you to connect your boot serial drives to a specific serial port.

 

You're probably looking at the manual for the P5GD1-VM, on which all four SATA connectors are available. On the P5GD1-VM/L, there are only two connectors on the board. (Also, mine has no floppy drive interface and only one parallel ATA.)

 

Regardless, the hard drive is connected to SATA1. Booting is not a problem. I am able to boot with the operating system installed on partition 3.

[onixwj]

I'll assume that [i should set the partition type to AF] and that the OS X installer will handle creation of the file system (that's "perform a high-level formatting of the disk" in MS-DOS/Windows language) of the appropriate type upon installation, give it a try, and report back here.

 

It did not work.

[123steamn]

You are correct, that is the manual I was referring to. I didn't know the difference between the two motherboards.

 

I also have a serial drive as 4 partitions. Running 10.4.3,10.4.4 and 10.4.5 on them. Never had a problem formatting them with any version of disk utility.

 

I'll see if I can come up with other suggestions,

 

kaos

[onixwj]

I also have a serial drive as 4 partitions. Running 10.4.3,10.4.4 and 10.4.5 on them. Never had a problem formatting them with any version of disk utility.

 

What was the state of the disk when you installed OS X -- empty, or already partitioned by some other operating system?

 

I've considered clearing the partition table and overwriting the MBR (so that the disk will essentially look brand new / empty) before attempting another installation. Does OS X offer a chance to partition the disk that has been targeted for installation? Coming from a Unix background, I'm very reluctant to make the entire disk one big partition. I don't think I can do anything about the fact that OS X wants to install system files on the same file system that users are able to fill (thus leaving them able to criple the OS). However, I'd like to dual boot and I want to leave a partition for OS X swap files so I can reconfigure the OS to write them there to avoid them becoming fragmented. It's strange that OS X doesn't use a separate swap partition like other Unix and Unix-like operating systems.

[thrunner]

Just a guess, perhaps OSX install couldn't handle 4 primary partitions. There are reported problems with extended partitions causing problems.

The other explanation could be that OSX couldn't handle large SATA HD (eg 300GB).

[onixwj]

Just a guess, perhaps OSX install couldn't handle 4 primary partitions.

123steamn described above installing OS X on a disk with four partitions. 123steamn, are all four partitions primary?

 

There are reported problems with extended partitions causing problems.

Yes, but my disk has no extended partitions -- only primary partitions.

 

The other explanation could be that OSX couldn't handle large SATA HD (eg 300GB).

Wow -- surely not. Is Apple shipping Intel machines with serial or parallel ATA drives?

[123steamn]

123steamn described above installing OS X on a disk with four partitions. 123steamn, are all four partitions primary?

 

Yes, but my disk has no extended partitions -- only primary partitions.

 

Wow -- surely not. Is Apple shipping Intel machines with serial or parallel ATA drives?

 

The serial drive was brand new, and I would have partitioned it with osx disk utility.

 

The 200gb serial drive has 4 primary partitions. It was formatted this way, back when 10.4.1 was out.

Since then, I just repartition the existing individual partition I want to use, when installing an updated os.

 

This way, I always have at least one or two bootable systems as a back up, so I can test the new updated versions that come out.

 

 

kaos

Edited, osx disk utility will let you multiple partition the drive at initial installation. Select macos "extended" as your formatting choice.

[onixwj]

Since then, I just repartition the existing individual partition I want to use, when installing an updated os.

For the sake of others who may read this thread, let's clarify what you meant and avoid the guesswork: It is not possible to partition a partition, only to partition a disk. You probably meant that you just [erase|reformat|create a new file system on] the existing partition. Repartitioning involves altering the disk drive's partition table.

 

Once you have partitioned the disk, you can alter one partition without affecting the others. For more information, see Mikhail Ranish's Partitioning Primer, the Linux Partition HOWTO, or Wikipedia's patition entry.

[123steamn]

For the sake of others who may read this thread, let's clarify what you meant and avoid the guesswork: It is not possible to partition a partition, only to partition a disk. You probably meant that you just [erase|reformat|create a new file system on] the existing partition. Repartitioning involves altering the disk drive's partition table.

 

Once you have partitioned the disk, you can alter one partition without affecting the others. For more information, see Mikhail Ranish's Partitioning Primer, the Linux Partition HOWTO, or Wikipedia's patition entry.

 

Very sorry about that mis-statement.

 

Yes, I reformat existing partitions and then install.

 

After you boot from your osx install DVD, disk utility is accessible from one of the main menu's.

 

 

 

kaos

[onixwj]

I acquired a USB mouse and was then able to start OS X Disk Utility, with which I was able to alter the disk's parition table. After that, the installer recognized the drive (it was listed as a possible target volume -- I mistakenly wrote of target disk instead of target volume above) and I was able to complete the installation.

 

Unfortunately, I can't boot from the disk. Suspecting this was due to my prior partitioning, I booted from the installer DVD and used Disk Utility to "erase the disk" (selected the disk -- not a partition/volume, then clicked erase), which seemed to repartition the disk with a single patition and create a file system on it (I selected something like "Mac OS journaled, case sensitive", which I think means HFS+), then rebooted to ensure the new partition table was recognized, then used Disk Utility to create a three-partition disk and went through the whole installation procedure again.

 

It still won't boot. Suspecting that the OS X installer didn't leave whatever is needed on the MBR I'm going to look into making a GRUB boot disk and then using it to specify that the machine should boot from the partition where OS X is installed.

 

Can anyone recommend a good technical reference on the OS X boot process and OS-X-specific information on partitioning?

[123steamn]

I acquired a USB mouse and was then able to start OS X Disk Utility, with which I was able to alter the disk's parition table. After that, the installer recognized the drive (it was listed as a possible target volume -- I mistakenly wrote of target disk instead of target volume above) and I was able to complete the installation.

 

Unfortunately, I can't boot from the disk. Suspecting this was due to my prior partitioning, I booted from the installer DVD and used Disk Utility to "erase the disk" (selected the disk -- not a partition/volume, then clicked erase), which seemed to repartition the disk with a single patition and create a file system on it (I selected something like "Mac OS journaled, case sensitive", which I think means HFS+), then rebooted to ensure the new partition table was recognized, then used Disk Utility to create a three-partition disk and went through the whole installation procedure again.

 

It still won't boot. Suspecting that the OS X installer didn't leave whatever is needed on the MBR I'm going to look into making a GRUB boot disk and then using it to specify that the machine should boot from the partition where OS X is installed.

 

Can anyone recommend a good technical reference on the OS X boot process and OS-X-specific information on partitioning?

 

Your partitioning choice is correct.

 

When you installed, did you use custom install and make sure the Hacks Group box was checked on?

I just reinstalled 10.4.4 with the same checksum, and it's fine.

What features does your cpu support? ie: PAE,NX,SSE2 or SSE3

We'll go from there.

 

kaos

[onixwj]

Your partitioning choice is correct.

 

Uh... which choice? I've tried it several different ways. I really hope that I can move forward with one partition for OS X, one for swap, and then leftover space that I can eventually turn into two more partitions for use with another OS.

 

 

When you installed, did you use custom install and make sure the Hacks Group box was checked on?

Yes, and yes. I also enabled X11, disabled extra languages, and on the second attempt disabled printers.

 

What features does your cpu support? ie: PAE,NX,SSE2 or SSE3

 

It is an Intel Celeron D 336 model BX80547RE2800CN, which supports PAE, NX (a.k.a., execute disable or XD), SSE2, and SSE3.

 

Specifications:

Brand					Intel
Series				   Celeron D
Model					BX80547RE2800CN				 
CPU Socket Type		  LGA 775
Core					 Prescott
Multi-Core?			  Single-Core
Name					 Celeron D 336				   
Operating Frequency	  2.8GHz
FSB					  533MHz
L1 Cache				 12KB+16KB
L2 Cache				 256KB
Process Type			 90 nm
Hyper-Threading Support? No
64 bit Support		   Yes
Multimedia Instruction   MMX, SSE, SSE2, SSE3
Voltage				  1.25-1.4V
Cooling Device		   Heatsink and Fan
Manufacturer Warranty	3-Year

[onixwj]

Oh yeah -- at the end of POST, I see the message "Intel uCode loading error". I have seen this since the first time I booted the machine, and I have no problem booting with Linux. I don't know what it means. I thought about updating the BIOS, but the machine has no floppy controller and I haven't checked whether I can provide it on CDROM or USB device yet.

 

Hmm... uCode... micro...

 

I found a little bit about CPU microcode. It sounds like it's an update to the CPU that can be loaded while it's running and does not persist across reboots.

 

When I try to boot from the hard disk, the screen goes blank except for a cursor. I have let it sit like this for hours, and nothing seems to happen (no beeps, no hard drive activity). I am still able to reboot with ctrl-alt-del when it reaches this state.

[thrunner]

May need IOATAFamily.kext from 10.4.3

Try installing with IDE only (even if you have to put Master/slave with a DVD drive for the install), without the SATA. You could image the install from the IDE to SATA later.

[123steamn]

Oh yeah -- at the end of POST, I see the message "Intel uCode loading error". I have seen this since the first time I booted the machine, and I have no problem booting with Linux. I don't know what it means. I thought about updating the BIOS, but the machine has no floppy controller and I haven't checked whether I can provide it on CDROM or USB device yet.

 

Hmm... uCode... micro...

 

I found a little bit about CPU microcode. It sounds like it's an update to the CPU that can be loaded while it's running and does not persist across reboots.

 

When I try to boot from the hard disk, the screen goes blank except for a cursor. I have let it sit like this for hours, and nothing seems to happen (no beeps, no hard drive activity). I am still able to reboot with ctrl-alt-del when it reaches this state.

 

Found these results from the hardware compatibility lists.

 

This result is for 10.4.3 compatibility. I know your motherboard is not a 945 series, still might need a CPUID patch.

Celeron D 336 Intel CPUID patch needed for 945 series motherboard.

 

 

 

This result is for 10.4.4 compatibility

 

P5GD1-VM Asus Sound works (Line In doesn't), 10/100/1000 NIC, SATA, PATA, USB, QE/CI on internal video, PS/2 kbd/mouse, PCI-E video cards (check compatibility), Minor BIOS tweaking needed for CPU settings (depending on CPU)

 

kaos

[onixwj]

May need IOATAFamily.kext from 10.4.3

Try installing with IDE only (even if you have to put Master/slave with a DVD drive for the install), without the SATA. You could image the install from the IDE to SATA later.

I understand (and appreciate) the advice, but not the theory behind it. I'll try this as soon as I can scrounge up an extra parallel ATA drive.

 

Okay, so there's this thing I may need called IOATAFamily.kext. I'm guessing that it is a kernel extension, and I'm guessing that a kernel extension is a dynamically-loadable thingy for the kernel that lets the kernel do stuff for which it was not compiled with the smarts to do -- like a Linux kernel module -- for ATA I/O. Is IOATAFamily.kext on the bootable DVD (thus making the kernel that is running during installation -- the one from the boot DVD -- able to use the SATA drive) but not installed to the target drive by the installer? If so, how will it end up on the SATA drive if I simply install to a different drive (a parallel ATA drive) and then copy the disk's contents to the Is this thing that I may need -- IOATAFamily.kext, which I'm guessing is a kernel extension (dynamically loadable thingy for the kernel that lets it do stuff you might not always need; like a Linux kernel module) for ATA I/O -- going to be installed but not included on the bootable DVD, or is it not needed post-installation for a SATA drive?

[thrunner]

Apple didn't test their kernel extensions (kexts) on the myriad of combinations that is prevalent in the generic PC boxes. They only have to support a certain limited configurations. Therefore you will find that some 10.4.3 kexts are missing or not supported in 10.4.5. That is why some installations may require 10.4.3.extension kexts (search the usual places, but not here).

On some motherboard chipsets, 10.4.3 IOATAFamily.kext seems to support both SATA and PATA at the same time. The same chipset may not boot with 10.4.5 kexts if both SATA and PATA drives are connected.

[TranSport]

I have the same pundit and I had the 336 Celeron D. I too was getting the CPU Ucode loading error too.

 

I brought the system into the shop and the added the latest BIOS/ 0401.

 

It fixed the problem but I still could not use the 336 CPU. I had to buy a downgraded CPU 331. Then I had to load 10.4.5 twice to get a proper install.

 

I have PATA at the end of the line and the DVDRW in the middle. The PATA is master the DVD is slave.

 

I think the bios may be outdated on this barebones. Actually it kinda sucks you can't even tweak things out in this bios.

 

I have heard that people have had better luck using the SATA for other OSes and using a PATA for OSX86 in the same system.

 

Also avoid large exteneded partions. I think Macgirl wrote a good post about this.

 

I also read a post once about someone trying to intsall 10.4.5 on a 336 Celeron 775 and it was refused by the disk.

 

Personally I think there are many buggy Celeron D 336 chips out there right now.

 

This is all the info I have, hope it helped.....

 

PS Most shops will flash your Bios for $20~30. It is worth it because who really wants to bother and who needs a floppy?

[thrunner]

PS Most shops will flash your Bios for $20~30. It is worth it because who really wants to bother and who needs a floppy?

Asus has a windows flash utility called Asus Update: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-...e-Utility.shtml

You don't need to boot to DOS with a floppy.

 

QUOTE(thrunner @ Mar 7 2006, 05:41 PM) *

The other explanation could be that OSX couldn't handle large SATA HD (eg 300GB).

Wow -- surely not. Is Apple shipping Intel machines with serial or parallel ATA drives?

http://episteme.arstechnica.com/groupee/fo.../m/394002908731

This isn't an OtherHardware topic because it's specific to the G5 tower and the messed up SATA controller that Apple stuck in there.. Anyway, I'm looking for a ~400GB hard drive upgrade for a DP 1.8 G5. From reading reports, it seems that Western Digital drives just plain don't work, and Seagate drives sometimes don't work..

[onixwj]

Asus has a windows flash utility called Asus Update: http://www.softpedia.com/get/Tweak/System-...e-Utility.shtml You don't need to boot to DOS with a floppy.

Actually, a boot image that you can write to a floppy, burn to a CDROM, or copy over to a USB device would be great, whether it uses Linux, BSD, MS-DOS, FreeDOS, or any OS that can boot off very small storage. Asus's process does none of the above and requires you to boot into Windows from your hard drive -- there's no way I or anyone concerned with network security (and with not supporting the existence of a criminal monopoly) is going to do that. Who the hell runs Windows anymore besides stodgy businesses and people who use their computers only as glorified game consoles? Most everyone who uses a computer to do real work dumped Windows for Linux or Solaris or one of the BSDs or (more recently) Mac OS X years ago.

 

Asus providing a BIOS update as a Windows program is insulting to me like my neighborhood mega-chain grocery store trying to sell me People Magazine at the checkout counter.