Linux does not find Hard Drive on Install

First, I use Mandrake 9.2- but in regards to your situation regarding SATA, my comments are:

-SATA services are relatively new in the 2.4.xx kernel
-should review your kernel version and configuration, since SATA support DOES require enablement (it's NOT a default)
- have you reviewed your 'syslog' output for: start-up messages, specific errors, and module options?

For me, I'm waiting till the 2.6 kernel is formally issued (and Mandrake 10.x as well). I decided to go exclusively IDE short-term and migrate to SATA late next year or after.

Regards,

Is there any way to check what kind of controler I have. I am trying to verify the manufacturer of my controller but cannot find it.

 

1) You could check the documentation which came with your PC: there could be a driver floppy (needed by Windows installer) and a controller guide.
2) Check under Windows: there could be controller configuration/monitoring sw (at least for RAID controllers). You can also check in the list of your hardware devices.
3) Boot from a linux CD that allows to open a console (in DOS/Windows language: a command prompt). You can use any LiveCD (Knoppix, Morphix, SuSE) or Mandrake installation CD. I don't remember if RedHat installer has this feature.
The command 'lspci' lists all your PCI peripherals. On my PC it states

[root@maciste root]# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2578 (rev 02)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 2579 (rev 02)
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (Hub #1) (rev 02)
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (Hub #2) (rev 02)
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB (Hub #3) (rev 02)
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB EHCI Controller #2 (rev 02)
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB USB EHCI Controller (rev 02)
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corp. 82801BA/CA/DB PCI Bridge (rev c2)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corp. 82801EB ISA Bridge (LPC) (rev 02)
00:1f.1 IDE interface: Intel Corp. 82801EB ICH5 IDE (rev 02)
00:1f.2 IDE interface: Intel Corp.: Unknown device 24d1 (rev 02)
00:1f.3 SMBus: Intel Corp. 82801EB SMBus (rev 02)
00:1f.5 Multimedia audio controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB AC'97 Audio (rev 02)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation: Unknown device 0322 (rev a1)
02:03.0 RAID bus controller: Promise Technology, Inc.: Unknown device 3371 (rev 02)
02:08.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corp. 82801EB (ICH5) PRO/100 VE Ethernet Controller (rev 02)

You can see the line which states that I have a Promise RAID controller (device 02:03.0).
Check yours and post the results.

If you haven't got a RAID controller (just normal SATA) try a newer distro than RedHat. It could support your controller (you can use it only to identify your controller in order to download the correct RH drivers). Probably Mandrake 9.2 is the best choice (the newest 'major distribution' out there, and probably its kernel has some backports from the 2.6 version to support SATA drives) but a real support should come with 2.6 kernel.
There's a Gentoo LiveCD using 2.6-test11 kernel. I heard of people able to access their SATA drive with that. You can use it just to identify your controller with lspci (or by checking the contents of /proc/ide/). You can find the iso (75 MB) on any Gentoo mirror (list at http://www.gentoo.org/main/en/mirrors.xml) (file experimental/x86/livecd/livecd-2.6_11-29-2003.iso).

One direct link:
http://gentoo.chem.wisc.edu/gentoo/experimental/x86/livecd/livecd-2.6_11-29-2003.iso