I recently tried to help someone install Etch. Using a business card we
did it having first removed the IDE DVD drive and replacing it with a
SATA drive having found others having the same issues in google.

The problem he now has is that he must run his SATA in "compatible" mode
from the Asus P5k SE bios. He, for his own personal reasons, doesn't
want that as he is sure it is causing slow disk access.  (I can confirm
that disk access is dog slow for some reason). if he sets "Enhanced"
mode then the system (Etchy stable) hangs just after "mounting root" is
seen in the console.

What is the best way to debug and fix this problem? Do I need new
drivers?

--
Perdonamos fácilmente a nuestros amigos los defectos en que nada nos
afectan.
-- La Rochefoucauld. (1613-1680) PolĂ_tico y escritor francĂ©s.

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After takin' a swig o' grog, Hadron belched out this bit o' wisdom:

> I recently tried to help someone install Etch. Using a business card we
> did it having first removed the IDE DVD drive and replacing it with a
> SATA drive having found others having the same issues in google.
>
> The problem he now has is that he must run his SATA in "compatible" mode
> from the Asus P5k SE bios. He, for his own personal reasons, doesn't
> want that as he is sure it is causing slow disk access.  (I can confirm
> that disk access is dog slow for some reason). if he sets "Enhanced"
> mode then the system (Etchy stable) hangs just after "mounting root" is
> seen in the console.
>
> What is the best way to debug and fix this problem? Do I need new
> drivers?

Sort of, I think.

Here's an article I found yesterday, trying to get a disk-on-chip to
boot as per M-System's instructions:

http://www.berabera.info/oldblog/le...sata/index.html

It's not specific to your mobo, but it might be helpful.

--
Tux rox!

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