Opinions on version 2 of Highpoint RAID BIOS/driver with Abit KT7a-RAID motherboard?

[rockethead]

I am running an Abit KT7a-RAID motherboard under Windows 98SE. I am currently using Abit BIOS version ZT, which includes v1.03b of the Highpoint RAID BIOS.

I am thinking about upgrading to the latest Abit BIOS which has been hacked to include the latest Highpoint BIOS (v2.0.1019 or 2.0.1024). However, I wanted to see what kinds of experiences people have had with those BIOSes before I updated my system. Anyone got a story to share?

Please include what OS you're running, and whether the RAID array is stripped, mirrored, or both.

Thanks!

-rh

 

[dj4005]

I'm running a KT7-RAID (no A) over here under 98SE - RAID-0.

I tried moving up to the 2.0.1019 version of the RAID driver for the upgrade to XP (once I found the damned thing - it's NOT on Abit's, nor HighPoint's sites). Just a quick note - the documentation and instructions for loading the driver are only slightly better from Windows than it is on Abit's site.

WITHOUT that driver, I experience a lockup about 45 minutes into the proceedure - every time I tried it (and there were several).

Abit reports that:

.The Highpoint HPT3XX drivers have been embedded into Windows XP already. It means that users do not need to download driver 2.0.1019 if the embedded driver works well.

Just how you are supposed to know if the embedded driver "works well" before you have loaded it isn't explained.

And Windows reports that the embedded driver is NOT the same as an externally loaded one.

Non driver related problems caused me abandon the XP installation for now.

 

[Yoshitoshi]

I upgraded my KT7A-RAID (V1.1) BIOS to version KT764 which has the HPT 370 RAID BIOS version 1.11.0402. Just prior to installing (fresh) XP from 98SE.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you are running RAID 0 make sure to back up any data you don't want to lose because the BIOS update will see your RAID 0 array as 'incomplete', and render it useless. I had to backup 10GB using lots of CDRW's. FUN. However, I beleive RAID 1 will survive the update, but check Abit's BIOS update comments about that.

I asserted the RAID 0 config and partitioned the array using Fdisk from a WinMe boot disk (to handle the disk size), but I beleive you can partition your array in the XP installation. I installed with 'Fail Safe' BIOS settings, and changed only the CPU speed to the correct value and the boot order. I also removed any unecessary hardware components.

So good so far, the XP install did not require me to 'F6' a driver for the HPT 370. and worked without a hitch. Formatted OK with NTFS too.

Hope thats some help. Yoshi.

 

[Brian48]

Yeah, but have you guys benchmarked your drives using the embedded WinXP HPT370 drivers? They absolutely s*ck. I went back to v1.0.512.

 

[NeonFlak]

Just one bit of info...On my KT7-Raid I could not get xp to install using it's built in drivers.

 

[rockethead]

ttt

 

[rockethead]

ttt

 

[rockethead]

ttt

 

[rockethead]

ttt

 

[sharkeeper]

HPT 2.1019 bios along with 1019 drivers works the best in most scenarios.

Check out Binary's BIOS page here.

Cheers!

 

[rockethead]

ttt

 

[goog]

I haven't been able to install XP on my KT7-RAID win 98se system.
I haven't gotten around to updating the BIOS not convinced it'll help and over 50GB at risk (and no its not pron).
Check out Paul's FAQ pages linked from VIAHardware