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Has anyone seen Microsoft's answer on to how to identify SATA which is really a bridged PATA: Identifying Emulating Parallel ATA Mode and Native Serial ATA Mode Controllers Driver support for Emulating Parallel ATA mode and Native Serial ATA mode controllers is separate and distinct as these modes appear as two different and unique ATA interconnects. There will be some Serial ATA controllers that will want to implement both Emulating Parallel ATA and Native Serial ATA modes on the same device, which is acceptable. It is not acceptable to use both modes at the same time in Windows. Additionally, loading parallel ATA drivers on a Serial ATA controller in Native Serial ATA mode and vice versa will have disastrous results. The solution to identifying the Serial ATA mode problem is using the correct PCI Sub-Class code. Appendix D of the latest PCI specification lists all the Sub-Class codes for Base Class 01h, mass storage controllers. Sub-Class code 01h, IDE controller, should be used by Emulating Parallel ATA mode controllers. A new Sub-Class code 06h, Serial ATA controller, should be used by Native Serial ATA mode controllers. Sub-Class codes should not be changed while Windows is running. Serial ATA controllers that wish to support both modes should provide a method during the system boot process, preferably in the BIOS, to allow a user to select Emulating Parallel ATA or Native Serial ATA modes. For the whole article refer to http://www.microsoft.com/whdc/hwdev/tech/storage/serialata_faq.mspx
