Need help installing vista on Raid 0 array

[SocceRich20]

System specs:

Q6600
Abit AB9 QuadGT
2x 2GB Geil
8800 Ultra
2x 500GB Samsung SATA
1000w PSU
Samsung SH-S203B SATA DVD-RW

Basically, when I go into the BIOS and set SATA mode to RAID, it shows me the Itel Matrix boot screen where it lets me set up my raid 0 array as usual. However, it then refuses to recognize the SATA DVD drive and therefore I can't boot from it to install Vista. When I set the SATA mode to IDE, I can get the Vista setup started, but it shows me the two SATA drives as separate drives rather than RAID. I've tried using an IDE DVD burner, as that's what I used to install Vista on my Q6600 system with an IP35 Pro motherboard, however, I ran into problems that way too. When I have the JMicron controller enabled, it does not even bring up the Intel Matrix raid CRTL-I option after POSTing, it skips right to the JMicron controller that only shows my IDE DVD burner, and when I go to install Vista it shows me no available hard drives to install on. The only way to get the Intel matrix raid thing to load and see my two drives is to have the JMicron controller disabled, but that makes it so that the system doesn't see my IDE DVD burner and therefore I once again can't boot from the install CD. Maybe I'm missing something obvious, but if someone could help me resolve this I'd greatly appreciate it.

 

[imported_Baloo]

you need to download drivers for you raid controller and install them when you get to that screen where vista can't find the drives - theres a button there to browse for drivers.

 

[Laputa]

Yup, Baloo is right. Nice hardware setup:B. I wonder what the MTBF figures are for those Samsung hard drives. It will be very interesting to find out if these can out perform the Western Digitals.

 

[boomerang]

I'll try to give some helpful advice.

I looked briefly through the manual for your board. Under Boot Order, I'm seeing a reference to picking the type of Optical drive you have. I'm assuming that's referring to IDE or SATA.

Also, at the Abit Forums I'm seeing references to AHCI issues in their latest BIOS releases.

Thread is here. If you're enabling that option, perhaps the BIOS issue is contributing to your problem.

My last piece of advice would be to post in the Motherboards forum here. Another AB9 owner may have dealt with the same issues already.