Missing SATA driver

Yeah, sounds like the same issue; getting the yellow exclamation point in the device manager.  I recently tried to install an additional SATA optical drive but the machine can't see it.  At first I assumed there was a problem with the drive itself, but I now suspect it has more to do with this missing driver.

I have the same exact issue. Recent I had to reinstal the OS and raid configuration.I am useing the Intel Rapid Storage Utility everything seems to be working fine but do se the same issue as you in device manager. I too have had no luck finding the driver and I don't want to try some of the other drivers on Dells drivers page as I would hate to mess the OS or raid configuration up and have to go through the reinstall process all over again.

jeffcmfrt 

When I got done with the format and re-install..... I use external laptop drive in a Transend USB elcolsure and it also would not reconize when I pluged it in.  I had to go to the Transend site and install their drivers which then it reconized the drive. I  never had to do that before and have used it on many different systems before it always searched and found the drivers I guess.

I am leaning twords it is not a acual HD driver but the bus/interfaze the hard drives use hope that makes sence it's the best way I can discribe it. I am going to contact a friend with the same system and see if she can go into device manager and get details and possible driver date/discription and any info.

I would think with system that has the drivers installed it will then Idenify the device in which it is hopeing anyway.

jeffcmfrt

After clean installing Win-7 on an Area-51, from support.dell.com, you have to install:

SIL-Silicon Image (External eSATA Driver)
JMicron Sata Controller (For optical drives)

... among others ... like the Intel Chipset driver (which must be installed FIRST, before any other drivers).

 If their is a special order the drivers need to be installed can you tell us in detail which order to install? At this point I am kinda weary about re- instaling again but would do this on factual information. No disrespect or anything but how sure are you that this would solve our issue? At this point as long as this system been out I would think that this would have been adressed by now and specific instructions posted. Reason being  many people like to preform a clean install of windows which I used to do myself on all systems purchased from Dell to get rid of bloatware.....The only reason I did not do it on this system is because I have never configuired RAID before.

No disrespect or anything but how sure are you that that is our problem? Have you done a reformat and fresh install and share the order which you done it?

The only reason I had to re-install is because I got a error when trying to update to service PK 1  64 bit OS. When I got the error I followed the directions by microsoft (big Mistake) I was told to insert the OS disc and when it ran and all I wound up with a fresh install on ( C ) drive but it generated a ( D) drive also which was just my data and it automatic switched from  RAID to SCHA or whatever it is in the bios .....I know it's crazy but beleive me I was blown away.

Much Thanks

jeffcmfrt 

If their is a special order the drivers need to be installed can you tell us in detail which order to install?

This is how I rebuild an AW desktop system:

Unplug everything except keyboard, mouse, and monitor.

If the Alienware F12 Diagnostics Partition is missing from boot drive (and you want it)
- Restore as first hidden partition on boot drive: Hidden Primary 40mb OEM Partition.
- Get Alienware Diagnostics from Dell. Use it to restore partition.
- Or, just run it from Bootable-CD when you need it

Install Windows-7 (64 bit) first.

Install latest Dell drivers (from support.dell.com ... for your Service Tag)
This order is important:

Intel Chipset Drivers (must be installed first)
Video Drivers
Audio Drivers (Realtek on-board or Other)
Broadcom Gigabit Ethernet (optional if using Microsoft bundled drivers instead)
SIL-Silicon Image (eSATA External HDD Driver)
JMicron Sata Controller (For optical drives - Area51 Only)

Ignore driver updates from Windows Update. Drivers should some from Dell.
- Or they can come OEM manufacturer (ie. Creative for X-Fi audio card).

Install any missing Microsoft .Net Frameworks versions 1.1, 2.0, 3.0, 3.5, and 4.0 (just Frameworks not SDKs)
- Use Microsoft Update. If you need them, they will be offered. Also get the .Net Service Packs.
- Or, see http://webtrickz.com/checking-net-framework-version-installed-on-your-windows/

Install AlienWare Command Center

The Intel Storage (RST) software is optional in a single "spinning drive" environment.
If running a RAID HDD setup or SSD some say it's recommended. Install Intel RST 9.6.0.1014 (or newer).
Once installed, it replaces the Microsoft HDD driver and CANNOT be un-installed or removed.
The Intel ICH-10 SATA hardware RAID solution works from the BIOS. Intel RST software is just a way
to monitor and change RAID parameters from inside Windows (but not required for RAID operation).
If trying to use external eSata drives with port-multiplexing, (due to incompatibilities) you
should probably skip it. Other RAID controllers might also have a problem with it installed.

Install Microsoft Security Essentials (or your favorite Anti-Virus/ Anti-Spyware)
Windows Firewall is handling the software firewall duties
- If not already done, put machine behind a hardware router/firewall ASAP.

Go ahead and install all the missing Important and Recommended Windows Updates.
Use Acronis (or similar) to make a complete Image Backup of your drive or partition.

Now, it should be safe to visit websites other than dell.com and microsoft.com .
- To prevent problems stick to legitimate websites.

If their is a special order the drivers need to be installed can you tell us in detail which order to install? At this point I am kinda weary about re- instaling again but would do this on factual information. No disrespect or anything but how sure are you that this would solve our issue?

My way is just an abbreviated version of Dell's way (more targetted to AW desktops):

http://support.dell.com/support/topics/global.aspx/support/kcs/document?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&docid=DSN_362048&isLegacy=true

I don't know if it will fix your problem. I DO KNOW it is the proper way. Yes, I have done it my way (so have many other users on this forum).

There is a chance that Dell Slip-Streamed some of the drivers (namely the Intel X-58 Chipset driver) onto the special Win7-64 discs they sent us. Or, that they get downloaded with "Dynamic Update" during initial install (if the Microsoft ethernet driver loads first). I don't take a chance (I always load the Chipset drivers right after Windows install). As far as the others (eSata or JMicron), well ... they are obviously missing from the DVD (that's why they are in error and are available for download at support.dell.com).

As for RAID, you are on your own there (I don't run RAIDs on desktop systems) ... especially not when we have SSDs now. The directions do include some info about Intel RST though.

I'll post it again in a minute.

Thank's a lot I guess I will build up the courage to re-install.  I don't think it is efecting performance or anything but i will know it's not right and that would drive me crazy. I am just unsure as this RAID configuration is new stuff to me. And I could swear that the way you posted is what I done as I have done many installs on Dell systems in the past but never useing RAID.  I always instal chipset first then always system software then vidio and audio then most important drivers useing comon sence. If I did not do it exact it was very close and I downloaded all the latest updated drivers from dells driver section. I never let windows install drivers and I did not use the Dell CD as most of the time they are always old drivers so I always download from the drivers update page on another computer and use a flash drive. The only thing that is holding me back is the RAID stuff then the Intel rapid storage utility takes hours to migrate the drive. I would hate to go through this process and have the same outcome.   Thanks for all your help   jeffcmfrt

I posted all that because, well ... you asked me to.

When you "accidentally" re-installed Windows-7 ... I got the impression the system got restored or setup improperly (to your liking). If you want to re-do it, I would do it as above. There really shouldn't be any questions about the steps... follow directions and make notes.

The RAID is a non-issue really. It runs from the BIOS (see explanation above).

ONLY IF you think your partitions are ok, and you want to run with what you have now ... please re-state your current problem. I think you might be confusing an error-ed SATA device with the RAID, when actually ... there are 3 different SATA controllers on the Area-51 ... and only one has anything to do with the RAIDed drives.

Thank's a lot I guess I will build up the courage to re-install.  I don't think it is efecting performance or anything but i will know it's not right and that would drive me crazy. I am just unsure as this RAID configuration is new stuff to me. And I could swear that the way you posted is what I done as I have done many installs on Dell systems in the past but never useing RAID.  I always instal chipset first then always system software then vidio and audio then most important drivers useing comon sence. If I did not do it exact it was very close and I downloaded all the latest updated drivers from dells driver section. I never let windows install drivers and I did not use the Dell CD as most of the time they are always old drivers so I always download from the drivers update page on another computer and use a flash drive. The only thing that is holding me back is the RAID stuff then the Intel rapid storage utility takes hours to migrate the drive. I would hate to go through this process and have the same outcome.

Thanks for all your help

jeffcmfrt 

Thanks for all your time and help.

Oh looking into Device manager closer the yellow exclamation mark is showing up under other devices not the Disc Drives so that just may be for a external device and nothing to worry about? Under Disc drives it is showing RAID 0 as it should. Maybe it is showing up because when I first pluged in my external USB hard drive it would not show up and I went to the Transend HD enclosure site and had to install the drivers which I never had to do before windows always auto installed the drivers for my USB external HD i'm thinking it had somthig to do with this?

jeffcmfrt 

Maybe it is showing up because when I first pluged in my external USB hard drive it would not show up and I went to the Transend HD enclosure site and had to install the drivers which I never had to do before windows always auto installed the drivers for my USB external HD i'm thinking it had somthig to do with this?

Possibly. Some drivers will install a permanent "virtual device" that appears in Device Manager (even when the Device is disconnected).

Do you have a link for the Transend HD enclosure? Is it connected via USB or eSata?

Update: I reinstaled as Sugested by TESLA1856 advised and the same thing when I go into Device Manager I show under Other Devices a question mark then when I expand it shows a yellow exclaimination mark on Serial ATA controler. I was wondering if someone with a Alienware Area 51 ALX with similar system specks configuired with RAID 0 can check and see if it shows up the same on their system? I am at a loss! System is stable and runs fine but it is just bothersome as for years if I seen a yellow question or exclamination mark in Device manager I was always able to figuire out the driver issue but in this case their is no information to even know what hardware has the issue and adress it.

One thing I can think of is they have a Matrix storage controler a pre OS only Driver) on Dells site but when I look into the directions for installing. It gives regular download and instal directions but it specificly says it must be installed before OS. Kinda disapointed with Dell as they did not help and offer special install instructions as I feel they should have.  

TESLA1856 I want to thank you again for all your help it is greatly apreciated !

jeffcmfrt    

I have a RAID setup on my area 51 and after a clean install of win 7 I had the Other Devices listed in Device Manager just as you have described. The driver for this device is R235001 Silicon Integrated Systems SIL3132 1.0.15.6 A02 as TESLA1856 told you in the beginning of this thread. If you follow TESLA's install instructions you will be golden.

Yes i followed TESLAS advice to the T.It still shows up in device manager under Other Devices. As for the other theory of the Transend Hard Drive Enclosure  I checked Device Manager right after installing by TESLAS advice before [luging in the USB Hard Drive.

Thanks

jeffcmfrt

Yes i followed TESLAS advice to the T.It still shows up in device manager under Other Devices. As for the other theory of the Transend Hard Drive Enclosure  I checked Device Manager right after installing by TESLAS advice before [luging in the USB Hard Drive.

If you installed these drivers:

Intel X-58 Chipset (Intel ich10r SATA AHCI Controller)
SIL-Silicon Image (eSATA External HDD Driver)
JMicron Sata Controller (For optical drives on Area51)

... and all 3 show up in Device Manger (not in error)

and the Transend is not connected (nor has the driver been installed yet) , and you don't have anything else connected externally ...

I can't imagine what SATA device or controller could still be in error.