2 Raptors R0 won't install XP Grrr!

[ghb70005]

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I've got an EVGA NF68 680i SLI board and two WD Raptors (74gb). I am trying to install Win XP on a striped raid, here's what I've done so far:

1. Got newest Bios version and SATA drivers
2. After POST, Used F10 to create a single striped drive from the two raptors
3. Entered XP setup and F6 to load NVRaid and SATA drivers from floppy
4. Created single partition
5. Selected normal NTFS format

6. After formatting, XP initial file copping begins, the floppy drive lights up again looking for NVRaid and SATA controller drivers, but this time , these drivers are not detected on the floppy and I get an error stating:

"Setup cannot copy the file: nvraid.sys"

Two days, lots of research, plenty of failed attempts and now I have to ask for directions…..




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[ghb70005]

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Ah yes and what does the only jumper setting (spread spectrum clocking) do?
Support doesn’t explain what it is.



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[SomeJoe7777]

You do not need spread spectrum clocking. That is a feature to avoid EM interference.

1. Make sure the RAID array is set as the boot device in the BIOS.
2. Make sure you're loading the correct RAID driver during text-mode setup. Many manufacturers put several similar drivers on the same driver floppy. Also, be aware that even though the text-mode setup only shows 4 driver selections at a time with no scroll bar, the down arrow key on the keyboard can scroll down to reveal other drivers that may be present on the floppy.

 

[michaelahess]

Try a new floppy.

 

[sandmanwn]

I agree, new floppy for loading the controller driver.

Also, I have troubles installing XP from a dvd drive on occasion. I usually have to swap out to a standard CDrom sometimes.

 

[BuffaloFan]

Greeting, my friend,
I went through the same thing. Here is what turned out to be the issue and resolution in my case (the problem turned out to be sloppy documentation):

My Asus mb has 4 SATA ports and proclaimed on-board Promise RAID. I wanted to create a RAID-0 C-drive. The ports were named thusly:
SATA1
SATA2

SATA_RAID1
SATA_RAID2

Naturally, I assumed that the latter pair was where I should connect my drives to create a bootable RAID-0 C-drive. At F6, I duly installed the RAID driver from the floppy. My results were identical to yours. Ultimately, I called ASUS tech support.

It turns out that to make my C-drive a RAID array, I had to connect the drives I wanted in the RAID array to the FIRST set of ports, SATA1 and SATA2. Then, I had to navigate to a folder on my motherboard CD where the correct RAID driver for these ports resided.

You see, the RAID driver on the floppy was for the OTHER two ports, the SATA_RAID1 and SATA_RAID2, which are meant as ADDITIONAL RAID support should you want a second array. Alternatively, these can each be used to support a single drive.

Thus, my current setup is this:
* RAID-0 C-drive on SATA1/SATA2 (working boot drive)
RAID driver came from ASUS mobo CD
* Single drive on SATA_RAID1 (backups, and temp workspace, etc)
* Single drive on SATA_RAID2 (used for Ghost image ONLY)

Oh, one more thing: don't be freaked if the IDE configurartion in your BIOS does not show your RAID array or says "not detected." I don't recall excatly the reason for this, but I seem to remember that the RAID array is detected during the boot sequence, and only then does the system know that the C-drive is a RAID array (on my mobo at least).

hope this helps.

mike