Quote:

I can index F12 at bootup, go into the BIOS Setup and change the ATA setting to ACHI and I see that it recognizes the external HD at that point, but then when I exit out of that, it won't go ahead and boot on into the initial Windows screen. It just cycles through the Windows boot up screen repeatedly until I stop it.



This is a driver issue. Because Windoze was installed without ACHI support it won't recognise the controller if you subsequently switch to ACHI. Clearly you need ACHI for your rmachine to recognise the eSATA device - catch-22.

A possible way out is to clone your existing drive ( in case of problems ) then enable ACHI and perform a repair install from the Windoze install CD. You will probably need to have drivers from the motherboard CD on a floppy OR you could make a "slipstream" copy of your CD and include the required drivers. nLite is an excellent tool for doing this. At the same time you could add the latest service pack - you SHOULD have at least the same service pack on your repair CD as you are currently running.

By performing the repair install it will find the "new" hardware and update your current install accordingly.

--=-- My credo: If it's worth doing, it's worth overdoing - just ask my missus, she'll tell ya laugh --=--
You're only paranoid if you're wrong!