Promise SuperTrak EX8350 and Windows 7

superHARD

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2003
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OK, I'm having problems.

I have a EX8350, the card works like a champ in the bios.

But windows 7 will not load with the card plugged in.

It is an intel dp35dp mobo http://www.intel.com/products/desktop/motherboards/DP35DP/DP35DP-overview.htm

The pci express port is a 1x that I removed the back of the slot and plugged the 4x card in. I was careful, and bios sees and works with the card, so nothing was damaged.

So is there anything that can be done? A firmware flash? A driver I can install in windows ahead of time?


I am fine getting a mobo that will work with this card, but the compatibility lists are from 2008 on their site http://www.promise.com/support/download/download2_eng.asp?productID=156&category=all&os=100
so like a 3 pci and 2 pci express (16, 8) would be fine, but don't want to get a mobo that it won't work with...
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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But windows 7 will not load with the card plugged in.
What exactly does this mean? Error messages?

You mean you can't install Win7? Or a previously installed Win7 won't boot when the card is put into the PC?

The pci express port is a 1x that I removed the back of the slot and plugged the 4x card in. I was careful, and bios sees and works with the card, so nothing was damaged.
Sorry, but I don't understand this paragraph either. Can you elaborate?
 

superHARD

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2003
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With the card plugged it, it gets to the loading windows screen, the one with the windows logo, getting bright, then dark...it just cycles from bright to dark, forever.

I can't install the OS with card in. Also with the OS installed and with the card plugged in, I get the problem above.

PCI express, a 16x video card will work in a 1x slot, but it is limited to 1x speeds...same goes for 4x or 8x or whatever express cards/slots.
 

superHARD

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2003
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That is just because it won't fit in a 1x express slot...without modding the slot.

But since I am grabbing at straws at this point, I plugged the 16x video card into the modded 1x port, works fine, then that 16x express slot, I plugged in the 4x raid card...still freezes on boot :(
 

tcsenter

Lifer
Sep 7, 2001
18,947
572
126
Check for an updated mobo BIOS and card firmware. Don't connect any drives to it until the driver is loaded and everything in kosher in Windows.
 

superHARD

Diamond Member
Jul 24, 2003
7,828
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I've tried it with no HD connected, and WITH HD...still no luck.

I will check but intel doesn't update stuff so I'm sure it's the most recent bios on the mobo.

It is the newest on the raid card.
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
11,586
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As long as you aren't trying to boot to whatever's attached to a RAID card, there's no need for Windows drivers to do what you are doing.

I've seen RAID cards that were incompatible with the motherboard BIOS, but those were Dell server motherboards and the issues were apparent as soon as you got into the BIOS screens at the beginning. Either the RAID BIOS would lock up or the boot would just skip the RAID BIOS screen entirely.

What happens if you boot to an XP (or other) installer, instead of Win7?