eSATA and Windows 7?
Having read about how fast eSATA external drives are, compared with USB, I lashed out on one for my Win 7 desktop. Since both internal SATA connectors on the motherboard are already in use, I bought a PCI-to-eSATA card for the PC, which it says it sees OK, is working correctly, has the right drivers, etc.
However, the eSATA drive won't work. If I boot without the drive connected, all works OK. It I boot with it connected and switched on, the PC freezes at the "flying windows" stage. It also flashes up the "bootable SATA card" message at bootup if there's a drive connected, and not if there isn't.
If I boot without the eSATA, and then connect it, the PC freezes.
I've contacted Verbatim, who made the drive, and they are "looking into it". However, a friend of mine has had an eSATA drive and the same problem for months with no response from the manufacturer so I'm not hopeful.
I've connected the drive as USB and it works fine, but that defeats the point of paying the higher price for eSATA.
So, the questions:
1. Has anyone got an eSATA external drive to work with Win 7?
2. ... via a PCI card?
3. Does anyone know of a PCI card that will work with eSATA? I don't have PCI-E so those are no use to me.