SCSI RAID can't see ATA array on P4T533 Help!!

[Marine]

Hi,
I've worked on this topic before without success. I'll try again incorporating the advice I was given before.
To summarize, I have an Adaptec U320 SCSI adapter and two IBM U320 Hdds with an XP install. Very fast, very stable.
I wanted more storage, so I got two cheap WD 120GB ATA drives and hooked them up to the on-board Promise RAID controller. No problem with the install and I had an extra 240GB of storage.
But a HUGE problem exists as I can boot to either the ATA array using the Setup option to boot to the ATA RAID first, in which case I can see and access the files on the SCSI disks -- OR I can boot to the SCSI array by choosing "No" to boot to ATA first. But in this case, I can only access the SCSI disks. The ATA array is invisible. The controller is there and working fine in Device Manager, but no disks are available.
Obviously, I'd like to boot from the faster SCSI array, and use the ATA array as fast storage. But no matter where I move my Adaptec card, the on-board ATA boots first if I choose that option in CMOS and if I don't there's no ATA array.

One of my first responders recommended that I buy a PCI RAID card and put it below (after) the SCSI adapter. So, I did that and it still doesn't make any difference. I can boot to the SCSI array in which case I can't see the ATA array OR I can boot to the slower ATA array and access the SCSI disks through the ATA interface.
In my BIOS setup in the BOOT section there is only SCSI/ATA and no option to order the sequence in which one boots.
Does anyone have any idea how I can boot from my much faster SCSI array (Read 88MB/s, Write 54 MB/s) versus the ATA RAID (Read 62 MB/s, Write 49 MB/s)? with this motherboard? I've tried both the onboard Promise "lite" and the Adaptec ATA RAID 1200A PCI card solutions with no results. I get either a boot from SCSI and no ATA drives or ATA boot and the SCSIs. I want to boot from the SCSI array and use the ATA array as storage. Help!!!

-------------------------:confused

 

[Trashman]

here's a link worth reading, maybe you have already, if not, may get some info here..............LINK.
If you look near the bottom, under "related answers" bottom question is "Can an Adaptec SCSI Card and ATA RAID Controller co-exist in the same system?"

 

[Marine]

Thanks very much for the link. I've read it on the Adaptec site and it's really of no help. There are plenty of resources available with the on-board Promise as well as with the Adaptec RAID card. Hell, I'm thinking I may just need bite the bullet and to buy a couple more big SCSI disks. YUK!

 

[Trashman]

Very possible that your board isn't co-operating with your setup. In theory this should work. I've had 2 scsi cards in a few systems no problems. Swappin PCI slots and finding your sweet spot is only option, obviously your raid card is givin first rights in that board. ususally 1 PCI slot is givin highest priorty over others, sometimes they mention that in motherboard manual...it sounds like ya lost a few hairs already on this but, i wouldn't give up, looking @ prices for a larger scsi drive may give ya that extra edge you need to solve this.

 

[mechBgon]

Yeah, as Trashman suggests, try flipping the positions of the two PCI cards next. In my experience, the system will try to boot from the card whose BIOS shows first when it's getting fired up, so if your Adaptec's BIOS is not the first one to show, simply try trading their slots. If you already did that, then <---- me again