Usual disclaimer: Linux newbie, but experience with other OS/platforms.

My system has drives connected only through the onboard S-ATA RAID controller (details below). Auto install, as expected, did not work. When I tried a manual install, selected "partition," both drives showed up (as hde and hdg). However, when attempting to partition either of these drives, I get these two messages:


(then, after hitting enter)


Note: the primary master was previously partitioned/formatted NTFS with WinXP installed. The secondary master has never been partitioned or formatted.

Did a number of searches of the forum but couldn't find this specific problem. This thread http://mysettopbox.tv/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?t=1113&highlight=sata prompted me to confirm that I had a primary master set, which I do. My thought is that the kernel KnoppMyth uses doesn't (fully) support the S-ATA RAID controller I have.

The obvious workaround is to put an IDE drive in and install there, but I don't have one lying around. Any tips on installing KnoppMyth to S-ATA? (BTW, I'm not concerned about getting RAID working in Linux.) Do I perhaps need a newer BIOS version for the controller? Or do I need to install Myth "the hard way" on a distro with a kernel that supports the controller, if there is such?

Details:
Albatron KX18D ProII (nForce2 chipset, BIOS ver 1.03)
onboard Silicon Image SiI3112A SATARaid (BIOS ver 4.2.12)
2x Seagate 120GB ST3120026AS

EDIT: OK, some more research: Silicon Image's support site says a kernel of 2.4.18-14 or later will support the 3112A controller. With KnoppMyth using 2.4.25 this should not be the issue. (I failed to mention above I am using R4V3.) Silicon Image does provide a precompiled kernel with a proprietary driver integrated, but it supports only versions of RedHat, Suse and United.

Also according to the support site, since the controller is integrated into the motherboard I can't flash its BIOS separately, but must update the mobo BIOS. Albatron's later motherboard BIOSes don't mention an update to the SATA. I may update the mobo BIOS anyway (latest version is 1.07, I have 1.03).

EDIT: corrected controller designation (SiI, not Sil)

For the benefit of anyone who finds this with a search: turns out I was going in the wrong direction. Seagate SATA drives have a known issue (at least with Silicon Image controllers).

At boot prompt:



"no scsi" necessary to avoid CD boot hang (I was already doing this)

"ide=reverse" maps first SATA drive to hda

"ide=nodma" necessary due to Seagate bug

More info on Silicon Image site: http://12.24.47.40/display/2/kb/article.asp?aid=10485

After using these boot options, AUTO install works, but system won't boot until I do a lilo.conf fix. Will post to Tier 2 when complete.