Help, trying to install Vista on RAID 0, nF4

[DangeR!]

Hi all,

I'm having no luck what so ever installing :banana::banana::banana::banana:ster on my blank 2x150BG raptor RAID 0 (freshly created). I have tried MANY nvidia drivers for it, ranging from XP - 64bit vista drivers. It just will not take any of the drivers.

I have both 150 drives on slot 1 and 3.

I have looked on DIY forum and can't get suggestions to work for me either.

My system spec is in my sig.

Please, some one must of gotten this to work. I installed Vista fine on a single raptor. But now i bought a new one and try RAID and it wont bloody take the driver on boot install.

P.S.
ngfrjdesjhfsdjghfdhsghjfdagaAAAARRRHHHHHHHbawregtr jhigvjbtiksmjlgkfdmjlkafmkrdemjdmjakfm

I feel better now :D.

EDIT: Solved ... solution is on post number 24 http://www.xtremesystems.org/forums/showpost.php?p=2359022&postcount=24

[mustang9621]

When I installed Vista X64 the NF4 raid drivers were already included with the Vista install program. Did you set up a valid raid 0 configuration in the BIOS before attempting to install Vista

[sreedx2]

Yeah I had an NF4 raid 0 setup and Windows Vista has the necessary drivers as long as you set up the raid before booting Vista DVD you should be fine

[DangeR!]

in theroy :D.

I did create the RAID 0 in the F10 nVidia bios, but vista keeps insisting it needs a driver for the drive. This is why I am getting so peed off, as I know it has the drivers already on the disc lol.

When Vista asks me for the driver it gives me access to my other drives witch are on the same controller but not RAID'd (one is for XP and other storage), but doesn't like the array :/

I'm trying My friends Vista disk with my key and we'll see how that goes... maybe the disk is damaged or something.

Keeps the ideas coming though in case its not the disk. :)

[DangeR!]

Just WOW!!

I cannot believe I can't get this dame thing to install. what the hell do i have to do. do MS want blood as well as my :banana::banana::banana::banana:ing money. god dam :banana::banana::banana::banana: suckers. (thank god for the bananas :D)

I want vista on my raid as win xp, imo, is not as smooth in games. yes i said it, i think vista plays better in the games i play. Guild wars, CSS, Halo to name a few. And my download speeds reached max in vista compared to XP.

guys n girls, any ideas. cos this kids gone gaga.

[zanzabar]

u need to use the drivers for server 2k3 for 32 or 64, witch ever u have

on the drive format and select window tell it that u have a driver disk and want to select from list and pick the server 2k3 driver

[DangeR!]

i need to d/l server 2003 nf4 raid driver to get it to work?

[zanzabar]

yes

[sreedx2]

K you need to calm down .. breathe in .. breathe out .. ok we are calm :up:

If it is insisting it needs a driver .. give it the driver ??

[DangeR!]

is the silicon image controller 3114 better than nvidias on the DFI Expert? because if it is a could try them.

I have tried the drivers but it doesn't accept them (vista 32, 64 and xp)

I will try the 2003 server drivers now.

[zanzabar]

if that dosnt work get this

http://test.catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/ScopedViewInline.aspx?updateid=593ad19f-c57f-4eee-b421-5992167707e6

beta driver from microsoft i think its the rite one

[DangeR!]

it didn't work lol.

Thanks for all your help, I will try that link, thanks.

[DangeR!]

sry but how do i download it. I added it to basket but there isn't a link after that.

[mustang9621]

In the BIOS, I believe you have to specify which of the sata ports will be raid enabled

[mustang9621]

sorry, I just looked at your BIOS date. you might need to update the BIOS to support the VISTA install. IE the Raid rom in your current bios might not support Vista

[DangeR!]

Hi,
I did sepcify witch porst are to be RAID (1 and 3) in the bios. Windows XP sees my hard disks as 1 300GB disk, so the Array is definatly working, just vista doesn't like the drivers I have d/l'd.

I will see about updating the bios and see if that helps. good suggestion :D.

D.

[tiro_uspsss]

is the silicon image controller 3114 better than nvidias on the DFI Expert? because if it is a could try them.

I have tried the drivers but it doesn't accept them (vista 32, 64 and xp)

I will try the 2003 server drivers now.

*definitely* not! :nono:

[DangeR!]

really, that bad lol.

My bios was reported wrong in my sig, sorry. I remember changing it a lot to overclock my opty to 3Ghz, so must of lost track of where I was upto with bios. I actually had the 04/06 from DFI website.

I installed Merlins 11/06 bios, just to see if that would help and vista still didn't see my array in dos install mode.

I'm at a complete loss. I have no idea what to try next. Every single driver for nvidia sata raid alludes vista. A constant message of "cannot find any new devices" when pointed to the correct driver.

Is it something to do with the raptors? nvidia raid bios reports them as healthy and windows XP sees them. In XP I have set them to a primary disk named V. I can write files to it fine, nothing seems to be wrong with it.

If I installed XP onto the array then upgraded it with Vista Ultimate. do you think it would install then or have the same issues, I think the latter.

:/.

[tiro_uspsss]

really, that bad lol.

My bios was reported wrong in my sig, sorry. I remember changing it a lot to overclock my opty to 3Ghz, so must of lost track of where I was upto with bios. I actually had the 04/06 from DFI website.

I installed Merlins 11/06 bios, just to see if that would help and vista still didn't see my array in dos install mode.

I'm at a complete loss. I have no idea what to try next. Every single driver for nvidia sata raid alludes vista. A constant message of "cannot find any new devices" when pointed to the correct driver.

Is it something to do with the raptors? nvidia raid bios reports them as healthy and windows XP sees them. In XP I have set them to a primary disk named V. I can write files to it fine, nothing seems to be wrong with it.

If I installed XP onto the array then upgraded it with Vista Ultimate. do you think it would install then or have the same issues, I think the latter.

:/.

ok it half-past midnight here, but i'll give it a shot.

1) just for the sake of narrowing things down i recommend u go to a 'normal' DFI BIOS

2) grab all the RAID drivers relevant to ur OS. I have had a nF4 RAID before - make sure u grab the right file(s)

3) in ur mobo BIOS, enable RAID function on the nF4 SATA ports

4) go into RAID BIOS, set it up...

5) this is where i got no love - i've never used Vista before, but i presume its similar to XP re: hit F6 to install ur RAID drivers...

hope i havent missed anything, its late - thats my excuse! :up:

[tiro_uspsss]

question: u got any other hdds?

suggestion: put ur SATA ODD(s) (& any other hdds) on the silicon image controller for now - hook up an 'old skool' ide odd if u can. just a suggestion to eliminate weird possiblities :D

edit: another question: how r u grabbing ur RAID drivers?

[tiro_uspsss]

btw, u may have to try *every* driver relevant to ur OS.. pain in the arse, i know...

also dont forget to update the RAID-rom like mustang9621 suggested.. uh & if u wanna eliminate all possibilities u could try every RAID-rom bios thats been released thats compatible with ur relevant OS :D

edit: aint trouble shooting a :banana::banana::banana::banana::banana:! :p: :D :up:

[DangeR!]

It sure is a whole bunch of dancing bananas :D.

I have tried a few bios's now and none change this problem. Wonder if i can flash the nvidia raid bios only?

I unplugged every HD, CD rom (except an ide one) and tried installing vista without any other HD in my case. I put loads of drivers onto a memory stick and went through each one and it still couldn't see my array.

God, XP could quite happily sit on this array and thats an old OS. Vista, cutting edge, cannot even recognize a WHQL Certified Vista nForce4 RAID controller/driver.

Thanks for your help tiro_uspsss, and have a nice sleep :).

[zanzabar]

sorry for the bad link

go to
http://test.catalog.update.microsoft.com/v7/site/Home.aspx

its microsofts beta catalog for windows update, search for nforce raid and it will come up, i had to get a bunch of drivers from there a while back when vista was new

[mean6]

Danger, I feel for you. I suffered the same thing, driver after driver, nothing seemed to work. I spent endless hours trying to figure it out, and I finally came across this on another website. Just download the link, and create a cd with it. It forces Vista to install the built in legacy drivers


http://rapidshare.com/files/4111183/NF4_legacy_sataraid_boot_mod.7z

here are the instructions from the forum I got it from:

How to use it:
For the floppy:
Use make_floppy.bat to make the boot floppy
configure your computer to boot from floppy first, and DVD next.
Insert the floppy, boot
When prompted, remove the floppy and press a key.
The computer will boot vista setup from DVD with legacy SATA support.
!!!! When setup reboots the PC for the first time, you need to use the trick again, or you will get a BSOD :
Configure your computer to boot from floppy first, and hard disk next.
Insert the floppy, boot
When prompted, remove the floppy and press a key.
Vista will boot from hard drive and setup continues.

For the CD-ROM:
Burn the ISO to a CD.
configure your computer to boot from DVD drive.
Insert the CD in the DVD drive, boot.
When prompted, remove the CD, insert Vista DVD and press a key.
The computer will boot vista setup from DVD with legacy SATA support.
!!!! When setup reboots the PC for the first time, you need to use the trick again, or you will get a BSOD :
Remove Vista DVD and insert the CD.
Boot
When prompted, remove the CD and press a key.

Good Luck, hope this helps. I know it was the only way to get mine to work with a similar setup!

[DangeR!]

OMG I could kiss you mean6, seriously :D.

This floppy disk, legacy driver thingy, worked like a charm :D:D:D:D:D:D

Thanks every one for there input, it was greatly received <3.

One more question, can I go ahead and install the WHQL nvidia 15.01 drivers for vista now. or do I have to keep these legacy drivers installed for the RAIID?

[mean6]

I just went to the windows update site and let it install the updated drivers from there. Do not install the 15.00 drivers, they are extremely buggy! Glad I could help

[tiro_uspsss]

mean mean he's our man, if he cant do it DangeR is :banana::banana::banana::banana:ED LOL :D:D:D

[bypolar]

I had to burn the drivers to a cd to get Vista to find them, I tried a USB drive but vista never found it.

[DangeR!]

hehe, mean to the rescue indeed.

Thanks again for everyone's help.

Could a Mod please edit the title of my thread to include "Solved" please. Hopefully this will help someone else out.