How to set up optimally?

Christer -

I didn't intend to build an array but I can remember that I was forced to do this because of the info "no array" or so. No, I don't have a RAID configuration. Nothing is plugged to the RAID slot. However, this was the only driver package available at Asus site and on the Asus MB CD which could be used when building SATA/RAID.
As previously mentioned, my MB has an onboard sata.

I'm unsure if I should delete the RAID array, because I don't know what I can loose by doing so.

 

My new WesternDigital Caviar SATA didn't want to install on MB A7V8X (AMD Socket A). Windows XP Pro with SP 2 integrated wasn't able to detect the HDD and kept claiming there would be no HDD. So, I had to load appropriate drivers from the floppy made by given instructions.

I also have no much knowledge of RAID so I don't know how to handle it.

 

Christer-
Yes the Asus setup re: removable HDD's can confound anyone because you have to return to BIOS to select HDD Boot order and over-ride the default of 1st IDE HDD being the boot drive. Seems to happen every time so get used to it if you're moving IDE HDD's in and out of the current configuration.

As to SATA controller drivers and/or RAID controller drivers - one must load the mfg's approved drivers at the beginning of an XP installation. Anything less is a recipe for disaster.

 

I would check if there are new chipset/motherboard drivers available and install those. No change, uninstall the IDE and SATA controllers in Device Manager.

I have had two new harddrives that were totally unrecognized by Fdisk, Partition Magic or Norton Utilities. I put it down to that they were "factory formatted" or complete blank. The only way I got them partitioned and formatted was to use the HDD manufacturer's setup utilities. Ralfska, I think you may end up having to remove the RAID setup(??), and that may result in reinstalling Windows, although now it has been partitioned you should be able to get Win XP installation to partition and format it correctly without the RAID. If there is some sort RAID setup, I think it should be removed (everyone agree?).

Matt

 

Mattman:
I fear that I have to stick to using this array. I tried and removed it a minute ago and I was not able to boot, because there was no "array" detected.

I have following settings in Bios|Boot tab:

1. Removable [Legacy Floppy]
2. Other Boot Device [SCSI/Onboard ATA Boot Device]
3. ATAPI CD-ROM [Lite-On LTR-48246K]
4. IDE HDD [Disabled]

As previously mentioned: there was no way for Windows XP (SP 2 integrated) to find appropriate drivers for the new SATA HDD so I had to use the MBFastTrak376 utility by Promise which was on my Asus installation disk (as my MB is an Asus). I had to prepare a floppy and to install the Promise Drivers by pressing F6 during Windows installation.

 

ralfska

No arguement that you need drivers for the SATA to be recognized and yes, they have to go on befoe your HDD is recognizable and that means during the early part of your XP installation. However, also believe that mattman is correct in that you are not running a RAID array, you are running just one drive. As I believe I said much earlier in this thread (no, not going back to check at this point in time) you probably have two options for setting this drive up - 1. RAID - 2. No RAID. Now, I'm not sure how the second option is identified but you are also correct, when you remove the RAID array, you will more likely than not, lose your OS installation and become unbootable from the HDD until you go back and reinstall using the correct configuration and drivers.

 

Terminology issue only.

One in the same - actually controller drivers but the controllers in this case are on the MoBo. If one had a seperate I/O card - then they'd be controller drivers only because the controller would be on a seperate card. Only question or confusion here is with the terminology.

 

Success

Hi,

I've solved the problem!! It was a result of my stupidity or something I don't know how to express. I wanted to disconnect possibly the most media while loading Windows on the new sata hdd. And when I was plugging them again, I damaged one pin of the DVD-ROM device while I was putting the ribbon cable into the dvd slot. So one pin was kicked off and the device was plugged enough to work and that's why it took so long to determine the failure. **** it!
Thanks to all who were trying to help.