Problem setting up RAID...need help

[JulesMaximus]

I have been trying to get this thing to load Windows but after the format I get an error message saying my drives are not set up correctly or they aren't working properly. Anyone?

I have Asus K8V Deluxe using Promise controller on board with 2 Western Digital 36GB Raptors.

 

[mechBgon]

Did you (duh) already go and set the Promise controller to RAID mode and define a RAID0 array on the two drives? Are they for sure plugged into the two SATA plugs that the Promise controls, and not the upper pair that the southbridge itself controls?

If it were me, I would start with the drives running off the southbridge because it isn't riding the 132MB/sec PCI bus, it's riding the 533MB/sec V-Link to the northbridge. That leaves the PCI bus free for your PCI-based gigabit NIC, PCI-based Firewire controller, and whatever other PCI stuff you might plug in.

By the way, what RAM do you run on that board? I've got one on order, and what I've got is some Corsair XMS 3200C2.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Originally posted by: mechBgon
Did you (duh) already go and set the Promise controller to RAID mode and define a RAID0 array on the two drives? Are they for sure plugged into the two SATA plugs that the Promise controls, and not the upper pair that the southbridge itself controls?

If it were me, I would start with the drives running off the southbridge because it isn't riding the 132MB/sec PCI bus, it's riding the 533MB/sec V-Link to the northbridge. That leaves the PCI bus free for your PCI-based gigabit NIC, PCI-based Firewire controller, and whatever other PCI stuff you might plug in.

By the way, what RAM do you run on that board? I've got one on order, and what I've got is some Corsair XMS 3200C2.

No, I haven't tried running it off the southbridge. Makes sense though, I'll give that a try. I am running 1GB of Corsair XMS PC3200.

Yes, I did set the Promise controller to RAID and I did define the array. I even got the drivers loaded and the drives partitioned and after Windows runs through the format it tells me that there is a problem and it won't let me load Windows. Says one of the drives may be bad or the hardware may not be set up correctly. I've been messing around with this since last night. My wife is barely speaking to me now because of my persistence and frustration in dealing with this.

 

[mechBgon]

Hmmm. If you do try the native SATA, I see they have a "Select Boot Array" shown on page 5-24. That might get it over the hump.

 

[stardust]

When installing windows... press F6 (i think, or was it F2?) and insert the floppy (that you made or was supplied that boots RAID) to boot up RAID drivers with windowsxp. Otherwise, it's a configuration problem.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Well, I have my system up and running now. Still having some issues with Windows though. Occasional BSOD and reboots. I loaded the latest mobo, usb, video & via4in1 drivers. Seems better now but I'm still getting internet explorer errors every now and then.

Sucka is fast though. Time to update my sig.

 

[JulesMaximus]

Okay, how long should it take to format a 70GB SATA RAID array? Windows XP Pro CD seems to buzz through an NTFS format in about 8 seconds. Something isn't right? This is not the quick format either.

Also, tried 2 different installs and both failed with BSOD on one and a fatal error on the other.

WTF?

Is something fried in my system? Video card? Memory? This is a new motherboard and cpu with new HDDs.