Problems configuring P4C800-E Intel Raid

[nnnnnpatel]

I have been experiencing difficulty for the past week on configuring Intel Raid Controller on my ASUS P4C800-E motherboard. I have been into the bios and have set the following values under IDE configuration:

Onboard IDE Operate mode = [Enhanced]
Enhance mode support = [S-ATA]
Configure S-ATA as Raid = [Yes]
Serial BOOTROM = [Enabled]

I also went and setup Raid 0 configuration in Intel?s Raid Configuration Utility using CTRL-I. When I started to install the Window XP operating system and hit F6, I put in a disk that contained WINXP raid drivers. Now I need to clarify that I found 2 locations on ASUS CD where Intel drivers exist.

1: under DRIVERS\CHIPSET\IAA there is a makedisk that puts driver on the floppy -- I didn't use this one.

2: under DRIVERS\VIARAID\DRIVER\ I copied the TXTSETUP.OEM, viaraid.sys, and WINXP folder to diskette 1. I used this diskette. I also ran Makedisk.exe from DRIVERS\VIARAID\DRIVER on another diskette 2.

When I hit F6 and Inserted Diskette 1 it found the WINXP raid controller. I selected the Driver and hit enter to continue installing the operating system. The operating system came back with a message say:

Cannot find Hard drive!!! (or something like that)

This has driven me nuts for a week now. ASUS is not answering my emails; I've posted this on practically all forums that can help me. But I am still stuck. First of all which folders should I be using the drivers from:

1: DRIVERS\CHIPSET\IAA using makedisk diskette

or

2: DRIVERS\VIARAID\DRIVER (which one: diskette1, diskette2 or both)

Has anyone experience this hassle and if you would so kind to help me with the setup preferable step by step, or if nothing else clue me into what I should be doing generally.

By the way the SATA cables are hooked up to SATA1 and SATA2. I am using Maxtor DiamondMax Plus9 (6Y120M0) SATA hard drives with both drives having jumpers set to master.

Also I have made the Promise Raid work after the Operating system threatened me that it was going become unstable several times. But I really want to us Intel Raid since that?s why paid the premium on this board.

All help appreciated
Thanks
Nick

 

[Zephyr77]

Hello Nick,

I'm using the same MB as you so let's see if I can help here. When I set up my RAID configuration on SATA1 & SATA2 I didn't use the VIA drivers. The drivers for the Intel Serial Controller are part of the IAA. I used the makedisk in the IAA folder to create the diskette and had no problems installing them using F6. Also, did you install the chipset inf files as well?

I use Seagate SATA drives and they did not have any jumpers. I was curious so I went to the Maxtor site and for the SATA drives, they mention not using any jumper pins. Now, I don't have the manual of course, but are you sure you need to set them both as Master's?

I think the problem you're having is that you need to use the IAA makedisk to get the proper drivers. BTW, I would check the ASUS site and download the latest versions of the INF & IAA drivers. As a matter of fact, I think someone posted a message here that there is a new version of the INF drivers that may not be on the ASUS site yet. Also, be sure to download the RAID version of the IAA drivers.

I'm not sure if you have read this or not, or for that matter if it would be of benefit, but there is a great Operating System & Software Installation Guide on the ABXZone Forum HERE. It's the sixth "sticky" post from the top. It helped me a lot getting the drivers installed in the proper order.

Hope that helps...

 

[nnnnnpatel]

Thank you very much. I finally got it to install right. If you happen to find the link for updated drivers for INF, please let me know. I appreciated your help.

Thanks
Nick