VIA 8237 SATA problems

I'm trying to install 5.2.1 on a machine with a VIA 8237 SATA controller.
Although the controller is detected on boot the same is not true for the drive
(a 200GB Seagate Barracuda). According to the man page the controller is fully
supported and having STFW I can't find anything useful to aid my cause. Having
looked through LINT I can't see that there's anything that would be useful to
pass at boot time, so does anyone have any suggestions?
  
All advice or pointers to docs etc appreciated. If anyone wants a test subject
for stuff then I'm also game for that too. :)
  
Regards,
  
Greg

-- 
I dreamed that I had written Lord of the Rings.
Sadly, I was only Tolkien in my sleep.