Question - SCSI Controller with Win XP

vlad1966

Member
May 12, 2001
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It's been a while since I've had to deal with SCSI. I recently won a new 15k RPM 18GB SCSI HDD on eBay for $95 so I decided to order an ATTO UL4S SCSI controller to support it for a new PC I'll be building.

My Question - when installing XP, it asks you to hit F8 during the install if you need to install SCSI drivers for your controller. Fine, but the problem is (as far as I know) XP only searches your floppy drive for the driver, but since most drivers these days come on CD . . .

I could copy the drivers from the CD to a floppy on another PC I have - assuming they can fit on a floppy. If they can't fit . . .

I'll have a DVD & CDRW drive in this new PC, if that matters.

Is the XP install able to search another CD drive for drivers if you have one during the install? If so, how?

TIA!
 

cloudchief

Senior member
Dec 1, 1999
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I asked this question awhile ago (though pertaining to Win2000) and got no response. Spent quite a while with no luck trying to get a Tekram card installed without a floppy. Finally just attached a floppy just for the installation, kind of a pain so I hope someone has a solution for you.
 

Tarmax

Member
May 14, 2002
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I don't know how new the SCSI adapter is, but it should work none the less. WinXP has generic SCSI drivers shipped with it.

So when u install XP (on a new partition.. doesn't have to be pre-formatted), don't worry about pressing F8. Everything should work fine.

I know this worked for mine, but then again the current SCSI card in this machine is somewhat out-dated. An Adaptec 2940UW...
 

andrey

Diamond Member
Oct 9, 1999
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You will need to install drivers only if your SCSI controller is not recognized, but since Windows XP has very good list of supported hardware, most likely you won't need to install any additional or special drivers. I installed Windows XP on Seagate Cheetah X15 36LP + Adaptec 39160 Ultra160 SCSI controller and I didn't have to install a single driver. Everything worked out-the-box =)

By the way, here is the link to Windows XP HCL (Hardware Compatibility List): http://www.microsoft.com/hwdq/hcl/search.asp

--Andrey
 

cloudchief

Senior member
Dec 1, 1999
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After rereading your post I realized you probably have a floppy installed on the computer you are installing XP on
I could copy the drivers from the CD to a floppy on another PC I have - assuming they can fit on a floppy. If they can't fit . . .
so all you have to do is put them on a floppy and hit f8. I did not see the Atto listed at all on the Microsoft site so you probably will have to load the driver. The drivers should fit on a floppy.
I'm curious, why did you get an Atto scsi controller?
 

dszd0g

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2000
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vlad1966, mind giving a review of the ATTO SCSI controller after you get it working?

I've been looking for a cheaper alternative to Adaptec, but haven't found an acceptable one yet. Tekram isn't worth the hardware conflict headaches and worse performance for me. I want a cheaper SCSI controller that performs within 2% of the Adaptec or better than the Adaptec controllers, is cheaper, and is just as easy to install and get working. Is that too much to ask? :)
 

dszd0g

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Never mind, the ATTO cards are more expensive than the Adaptec cards (About $75 from a quick check of the ExpressPCI UL3D). They seem quite popular in the Mac community as they seem to be the main brand that supports Macs. Mac users seem to be willing to pay a lot more.

vlad1966, I hope you found a good deal?
 

vlad1966

Member
May 12, 2001
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The Atto cost me about $250 from www.sparco.com - it's a UL4S Ultra320 X-PCI (backward compatible).

See:

http://www.attotech.com/scsi.html

The thing I like about Atto cards is that the same card can be used in a Mac as well as a PC - I'm Bi-platform :)
They also I believe tend to be fasted that Adaptecs.

About 6 months ago I got one of the Atto cards - UL3D - & one of the channels on it was defective. I called them for an RMA
& they were very helpful & friendly. I had a new card within 3 or 4 days. No Muss or Fuss.

They may be more expensive than Adaptec, but for me they're worth it.

Thanks everybody!
 

dszd0g

Golden Member
Jun 14, 2000
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Originally posted by: vlad1966
The Atto cost me about $250 from www.sparco.com - it's a UL4S Ultra320 X-PCI (backward compatible).

$255 is their price without cables. $361 is the price with cables. I take it you already had an Ultra320 cable? The UL4S doesn't appear to have a narrow connector, so one needs an adapter with high-bit termination and the narrow cable for your DVD and CDRW drives too.
 

WalkingDead

Golden Member
Jul 28, 2000
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You should check out Symbios/LSI Logic and Initio. I have SCSI cards from those two brands as well as ATTO. They all work fine for me.




Originally posted by: dszd0g
vlad1966, mind giving a review of the ATTO SCSI controller after you get it working?

I've been looking for a cheaper alternative to Adaptec, but haven't found an acceptable one yet. Tekram isn't worth the hardware conflict headaches and worse performance for me. I want a cheaper SCSI controller that performs within 2% of the Adaptec or better than the Adaptec controllers, is cheaper, and is just as easy to install and get working. Is that too much to ask? :)

 

Dug

Diamond Member
Jun 6, 2000
3,469
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81
Tekram isn't worth the hardware conflict headaches and worse performance for me.
First time I've ever heard this. In fact I mostly hear this about Adaptec.
For instance our instructor just bought a Dell server and the Adaptec scsi card only works in slot 3.
Performance doesn't match what it should using ATTO benchmark.