Setting up RAID-0, what do I need to know: formatting, loading RAID drivers during Win2k setup, etc.

[NFS4]

OK, I have a second WD Expert hard drive coming in this week to add to my current one for some RAID-0 action on my Abit KT7A-RAID. What do I need to know to get it setup? After I go through the RAID setup utility and get the RAID array going, do I need to format it or can I just go ahead with Windows 2000 setup? What are the commands for formatting a RAID array or are they the same as usual?

Also, I heard that I need to install RAID drivers during Win2k setup...is this true and when do I do this?

 

[sharkeeper]

First time you boot with both drives you will need to press CTRL+H to access the Highpoint Menu. If this isn't visible then you need to go into BIOS and enable the ATA100RAID controller.

To create a stripe array, select both disks. The default stripe size is 64 KB. If you use NTFS, this is probably the best size to go with. If you're using FAT32, selecting 16 KB gives best performance. Since your drives are basically IBM 34 GXP drives, these are ATA-4 disks so make sure that's what mode they are running at as well.

You need to run FDISK and create a partition. You will need to format it as well. I use Ontrack Disk Manager because it fast formats which saves quite a bit of time.

Once you get your volume formatted, you're ready to begin copying files. You can boot from the Windows 2000 disk or do it from DOS. You'll need to have the Highpoint RAID drivers ready (on floppy) after the FIRST reboot. Press F6 as soon as you see SETUP IS INSPECTING YOUR SYSTEM CONFIGURATION. You MUST do this or you'll get a STOP INNACESSIBLE BOOT DEVICE error.

Once the RAID driver is loaded off floppy, proceed normally with the install. There are no other issues after that.

Cheers!

 

[NFS4]

Can I use Partition Magic 5.01 to create a FAT32 partition and format it in DOS before starting Win2k setup?

Also, I thought that Win2k would do that automatically during setup?:Q

 

[sharkeeper]

Yes you can use PM before the initial setup.

I usually do everything from the dos prompt so it's a little different.

Basics to remember:

You must have a volume for NT to copy the files to for initial setup
You must press F6 upon rebooting the first time. Allowing the HPT drivers to load is essential for Windows to see the volume.

Cheers!

 

[NFS4]

Thanks

 

[Suki]

Or you can ghost your existing hardrive and then set up the array. When done setting up the array (after fdisk), then you can ghost it back to you existing array.

 

[sharkeeper]

That will work IF he is using the HPT 370 controller with a single disk now.

If he has the hard disk connected to the VIA controller the system will get the inaccessible boot device error.

Cheers!

 

[NFS4]

I'm using the VIA controller now so it won't work.

Sharkeeper, I've got a question for ya. I use the Western Digital Data LifeGuard Tools diskette to quickly partition/format my drive. It only takes a few seconds. Do you think that it would still work in a RAID configuration?

 

[sharkeeper]

I haven't tried doing that.

However, I have found that vendors' utilities have a hard time seeing their disks if they're connected to the highpoint controller.


Cheers!

 

[NFS4]

DOH!!!

Well thanks for all the help Sharkeeper, I really appreciate it.

 

[ZeroBurn]

make sure you connect the RAID to your IDE3 as well, the highpoint controller is on the IDE3/4 ports and connecting them to the first 2 will not allow you to access the Highpoint BIOS.

gl, keep us posted =P

 

[Cybrwolf]

Hi, I'm also going with the ATA100 raid0 setup on a Win98SE pc using the Abit HotRod controller.
I just have one question, I have to set the "drive mode". It has PIO 0-4, MW DMA 0-2 and UDMA 0-5. Which should I use with 2 Quantum Fireball ATA/100 drives?

 

[Hoober]

ATA-100 is UDMA... I don't know about the specific number, though. Sorry.

 

[hifimaster]

UDMA 5 = ATA 100
UDMA 4 = ATA 66
UDMA 3 = ATA 33
I dont know what the others are but Im sure there slow.

 

[Cybrwolf]

So it's UDMA 5 for me, thanks for the help, I figured it was one of the UDMA ones, but had no idea before now what each of the numbers meant. I knew someone on this forum would know

 

[kingz]

thanks for the info