Yeah i have them in AHCI mode now. I tried IDE, and that produced the same results with it being detected just fine by the DVD, but waiting for root device after install.

Is it controlled by the applenforceata.kext or appleviaata.kext? I see via ata loading when the DVD is booting, and it sais "VIA SATA", but that kext doesn't seem to ever load on the boot from the drive despite my having selected it during the install.