Do you need to install sata during windows install? can i upgrade my pc with sata?

[gamingguy27]

Hello, I have a nForce 3 motherboard with built in SATA, i was wondering weather i could simply buy a SATA drive and install it within windows without having to start right from the begining with a fresh install.

I currently have a 20gb and 80gb on IDE and was wondering if i could simply just add a SATA drive to my system as storage (not OS drive).

Cheers,

Alex

 

[Peddant]

The simple answer-yes.The detailed answer- http://forums.pcworld.co.nz/archive/index.php/t-44095.html (ignore the bit a about drivers on floppies)

 

[SNGX1275]

On my motherboard Asus K8N-E Deluxe I could, it has 2 SATA on 1 controller and then 4 on another. If I put the drive on the controller with 2 SATA slots Windows will install without a problem, if I put it on the controller with 4, it won't, you need drivers.

 

[albatroz]

I read in a forum that it would be possible to have Windows
XP working with SATA, disabling SATA features from the BIOS,
installing Windows and finally installing SATA drivers, and
resetting Windows.