Nforce4 RAID wont' install on WinXP

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Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

Greetings:

I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on my new
a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly appreciated.

System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.

I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is reported
healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I boot off the XP
CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested. When the blue and
white text based portion of the setup gets done installing all the
manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting windows' just before it should
start copying files, the screen goes blank, the keyboard flashes, the screen
comes back on, and then it reboots.

I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a STOP
error that says something like 'machine check exception'.

If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run Windows
fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.

I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and this
results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading logo stuck
in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine lock. Booting with
last known good config, fixes it.

I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single PCIE
X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(

I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.

Help?

Thanks!!!

Peace,
Pen
--------
Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
http://www.pawbreakers.com
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 09:15:38 -0500, "Penelope Baker"
<penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote:

I just installed winxp pro on same board 2 days ago. I have 2X250
SATA drives installed on Nvidia RAID 1&2. Be carefull that when you
create the drivers disk, you have to be in the
\Drivers\Chipset\WINXP_2K\Driver_Disk folder and then start
"Makedisk" this is for the Nvidia RAID. The support CD also has
the other RAID drivers here :\Drivers\Sil3114

>Greetings:
>
>I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on my new
>a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly appreciated.
>
>System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.
>
>I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is reported
>healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I boot off the XP
>CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested. When the blue and
>white text based portion of the setup gets done installing all the
>manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting windows' just before it should
>start copying files, the screen goes blank, the keyboard flashes, the screen
>comes back on, and then it reboots.
>
>I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a STOP
>error that says something like 'machine check exception'.
>
>If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run Windows
>fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.
>
>I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and this
>results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading logo stuck
>in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine lock. Booting with
>last known good config, fixes it.
>
>I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single PCIE
>X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(
>
>I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.
>
>Help?
>
>Thanks!!!
>
>Peace,
>Pen
>--------
>Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
>http://www.pawbreakers.com
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

I finally gave up and used the SI controller. When I did so, everything
went flawlessly. I think there's a hardware level conflict of some sorts
between the NVIDIA controller and my video card somewhere.

"Harry" <harry_wz@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
news:1pk0v0hgesd2jq8i6bb9g7mpt2bmtjlvhi@4ax.com...
> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 09:15:38 -0500, "Penelope Baker"
> <penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> I just installed winxp pro on same board 2 days ago. I have 2X250
> SATA drives installed on Nvidia RAID 1&2. Be carefull that when you
> create the drivers disk, you have to be in the
> \Drivers\Chipset\WINXP_2K\Driver_Disk folder and then start
> "Makedisk" this is for the Nvidia RAID. The support CD also has
> the other RAID drivers here :\Drivers\Sil3114
>
>>Greetings:
>>
>>I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on my
>>new
>>a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly
>>appreciated.
>>
>>System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.
>>
>>I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is reported
>>healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I boot off the
>>XP
>>CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested. When the blue and
>>white text based portion of the setup gets done installing all the
>>manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting windows' just before it should
>>start copying files, the screen goes blank, the keyboard flashes, the
>>screen
>>comes back on, and then it reboots.
>>
>>I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a
>>STOP
>>error that says something like 'machine check exception'.
>>
>>If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run Windows
>>fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.
>>
>>I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and this
>>results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading logo stuck
>>in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine lock. Booting with
>>last known good config, fixes it.
>>
>>I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single PCIE
>>X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(
>>
>>I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.
>>
>>Help?
>>
>>Thanks!!!
>>
>>Peace,
>>Pen
>>--------
>>Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
>>http://www.pawbreakers.com
>>
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

I had the same problem.
Turned out I had to use the Kingston 1-gig ram sticks shown in the manual.
These boards won't take any old ram.
It would fail to copy files during windows setup...like a dirty cd.
Previously I thought ram errors always resulted in BSOD.....not file copy
errors.
Live & learn.
Also noted the Win64 install driver disk is missing the *.cat files.
Just hit ESC & it will install fine.


"Penelope Baker" <penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news😛87Id.982$jY.518@fe04.lga...
>I finally gave up and used the SI controller. When I did so, everything
>went flawlessly. I think there's a hardware level conflict of some sorts
>between the NVIDIA controller and my video card somewhere.
>
> "Harry" <harry_wz@NOSPAMhotmail.com> wrote in message
> news:1pk0v0hgesd2jq8i6bb9g7mpt2bmtjlvhi@4ax.com...
>> On Thu, 20 Jan 2005 09:15:38 -0500, "Penelope Baker"
>> <penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote:
>>
>> I just installed winxp pro on same board 2 days ago. I have 2X250
>> SATA drives installed on Nvidia RAID 1&2. Be carefull that when you
>> create the drivers disk, you have to be in the
>> \Drivers\Chipset\WINXP_2K\Driver_Disk folder and then start
>> "Makedisk" this is for the Nvidia RAID. The support CD also has
>> the other RAID drivers here :\Drivers\Sil3114
>>
>>>Greetings:
>>>
>>>I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on my
>>>new
>>>a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly
>>>appreciated.
>>>
>>>System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.
>>>
>>>I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is reported
>>>healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I boot off the
>>>XP
>>>CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested. When the blue and
>>>white text based portion of the setup gets done installing all the
>>>manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting windows' just before it
>>>should
>>>start copying files, the screen goes blank, the keyboard flashes, the
>>>screen
>>>comes back on, and then it reboots.
>>>
>>>I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a
>>>STOP
>>>error that says something like 'machine check exception'.
>>>
>>>If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run Windows
>>>fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.
>>>
>>>I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and
>>>this
>>>results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading logo
>>>stuck
>>>in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine lock. Booting with
>>>last known good config, fixes it.
>>>
>>>I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single PCIE
>>>X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(
>>>
>>>I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.
>>>
>>>Help?
>>>
>>>Thanks!!!
>>>
>>>Peace,
>>>Pen
>>>--------
>>>Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
>>>http://www.pawbreakers.com
>>>
>>
>
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

Are you sure you are trying to load the 64 bit drivers and not the 32 bit
drivers?
The problem you describe would be what I would expect if the drivers loaded
by F6 were 32 bit.
- Tim



"Penelope Baker" <penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:w3PHd.916$nt1.365@fe05.lga...
> Greetings:
>
> I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on my
> new a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.
>
> I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is reported
> healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I boot off the
> XP CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested. When the blue and
> white text based portion of the setup gets done installing all the
> manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting windows' just before it should
> start copying files, the screen goes blank, the keyboard flashes, the
> screen comes back on, and then it reboots.
>
> I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a
> STOP error that says something like 'machine check exception'.
>
> If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run Windows
> fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.
>
> I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and this
> results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading logo stuck
> in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine lock. Booting with
> last known good config, fixes it.
>
> I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single PCIE
> X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(
>
> I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.
>
> Help?
>
> Thanks!!!
>
> Peace,
> Pen
> --------
> Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
> http://www.pawbreakers.com
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

Take a look at www.planetamd64.com

"Penelope Baker" <penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:w3PHd.916$nt1.365@fe05.lga...
> Greetings:
>
> I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on my
> new a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.
>
> I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is reported
> healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I boot off the
> XP CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested. When the blue and
> white text based portion of the setup gets done installing all the
> manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting windows' just before it should
> start copying files, the screen goes blank, the keyboard flashes, the
> screen comes back on, and then it reboots.
>
> I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a
> STOP error that says something like 'machine check exception'.
>
> If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run Windows
> fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.
>
> I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and this
> results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading logo stuck
> in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine lock. Booting with
> last known good config, fixes it.
>
> I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single PCIE
> X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(
>
> I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.
>
> Help?
>
> Thanks!!!
>
> Peace,
> Pen
> --------
> Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
> http://www.pawbreakers.com
>
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

"Penelope Baker" <penelope_baker@hotmail.com> wrote in
news:w3PHd.916$nt1.365@fe05.lga:

> Greetings:
>
> I've been unsuccessfully trying to install NVRAID for the past day on
> my new a8n-sli board. Here's a synopsis, any insight would be greatly
> appreciated.
>
> System setup is 2 75GB SATA Raptors, in Nvidia RAID ports 1 and 2.
>
> I have them set up in the NVRAID utility as a mirror, which is
> reported healthy. I've made my driver disk from the motherboard CD. I
> boot off the XP CD, and hit F6, installing both drivers as requested.
> When the blue and white text based portion of the setup gets done
> installing all the manufacturer drivers, and it says 'starting
> windows' just before it should start copying files, the screen goes
> blank, the keyboard flashes, the screen comes back on, and then it
> reboots.
>
> I tried the same scenario with XP 64 bit and at the same time, I get a
> STOP error that says something like 'machine check exception'.
>
> If I remove the mirror and turn off NVRAID, I can install and run
> Windows fine, on either drive. So the drives aren't hosed.
>
> I have tried installing Windows, and THEN installing the drivers, and
> this results in a lock at boot...with the Windows XP graphic loading
> logo stuck in a sort of 1/4 lighted (very very dim) and a machine
> lock. Booting with last known good config, fixes it.
>
> I'd almost swear there's something conflicty w/ my vid card. Single
> PCIE X300. No, I don't have anything else to test with. :-(
>
> I've tried Nvidia RAID ports 3 and 4 with the same problem.
>
> Help?
>
> Thanks!!!
>
> Peace,
> Pen
> --------
> Pawbreakers - The Candy for Cats!
> http://www.pawbreakers.com
>
>

I had this same maddening problem during one of my WinXP reinstalls.
For me, it turned out to be that the floppy I used as the Nvidia RAID
driver disk was going bad. What was happening is that the driver was
corrupt because of read errors on the floppy. But, during Windows setup
when it reads from the floppy, it doesn't seem to be very smart about
read integrity, and wasn't giving any errors. Reading the same floppy,
on the same drive, under WinXP gave many read errors, but during setup
it must have just faithfully copied the bad data with no complaints...

Note that I also used RAM specifically mentioned in the manual...
 
Archived from groups: alt.comp.periphs.mainboard.asus (More info?)

I ran into the same problem, simply by finishing the raid setup in bios
(F10) incomplete. So maybe you should check the raid setup in bios.