ASUS P5W DH - Problems + Fixes Thread

[WeldZilla]

Don't make setting up a raid on the ICH7 harder than it is. It is absolutely easy to do this. For those about to try this there is nothing to it!!!
First if you have no other computer around to put the driver onto a floppy it's ok.
just put in your CD that came with your board and it will give you the option to use "Make disc" This will load the raid drivers onto the floppy

Now enter bios. On the "Main" page scroll down to "IDE Configuration"
High light it and hit enter. This will open up a sub box. You are only concerned
about the first item click on it and switch from IDE to RAID. Your done
Hit F10 and enter. As your sytem starts to boot get ready and when prompted hit CTRL + I both together. This will open up your raid builder
First name your raid setup. Mine is "Welder" then decide on the block size and so on. When finished hit the Y and enter. When it restarts this time have your windows disc in and your floppy at the ready.
Windows will look over your configuration then you will be prompted to hit F-6
if you have any 3rd party devices . you now hit F6 i always give it a few taps.
Probably not necessary but I do. Soon you will be prompted to decide whether you want to install any 3rd party devices. YOU DO!, so hit "S" the insert your floppy disc and hit enter. A list will come up for you to go through. you want the ICH7 but there are 3 to choose from!!
The first is ICH7 for Notebooks
The Second is ICH7 (RAID) for Desktops
The Third will say ICH7 AHCI for Desktops..
MAKE SURE you Choose "ICH7 RAID for Desktops" and hit enter As the windows loading process continues I do the slow format. You can do the quick.

you will while installing windows get a couple alerts that your software does not meet Microsoft's BS just hit ignore and keep installing. Then another will come up saying that your raid drivers has not passed window's BS just ignore and keep loading Windows and soon you wioll be validating and putting on over 100 updates including SP2 and IE7 and WMP11 and you will need WME to run PCmarks and don't forget your Virus scanner. And it will all be good.
I have this fresh in my mind cuz i just set up a raid and finished the last update about 30minutes ago.
Remember, Don't over think this stuff. It is all very easy. I have installed all the necessities off the P5W DH disc now I need to put on some utilities and do a little straigfhtening of this little baby's files

Good luck to you and Remember to chose correctly between 32bit and 64bit drivers

Keep it Simple!!

WZ