Win2k - no promise ata100?

[xylo226]

win2k does not detect my HDD because it is connected to the promise ata100 controller on my ASUS A7V mobo. I can not boot windows, I keep getting this error message:

"Registry file failure
The registry cannot load the hive <file>:
\SystemRoot\System32\Config\Software
It is corrupt, absent, or not writable&quot;

I am also trying to install the promise ata100 driver so windows will be able to detect my HDD. I got the drivers off the ASUS site and tried to install it by pressing F6 (install SCSI or RAID drivers) on the first blue screen in the win2k set up. I pop in the floppy with the driver on it and win2k reads it ok, but then when I go to install it, I get this error:

&quot;File \Win2000\Ultra.sys caused an unexpected error (18) at line 1211 in D:\nt\private\ntos\boot\setup\oemdisk.c.

Press any key to continue.&quot;

I get this error everytime I try to install it, regardless of how I set up the controllers. I've tried connecting my HDD to both the ata100 and the ata66 slots, and both get the same error. This is very frustration, win2k has given me problem after problem so far, but I think if I can get it to recognize the promise controller than that would take care of most of my problems. But the only problem is, I can't get it to recognize the promise controller because it won't let me install the driver!

Any Annandtechers wanna take a shot at this one? I've stumped almost every other board that I've posted this question to. But I've saved the best for last

Thanks in advance!

 

[IamDavid]

Win2K doesn't support ATA 100 yet.. The next SP release will add this option..

 

[xylo226]

yes I was aware of that. But others have had success by installing the promise ata100 drivers. The only problem is, win2k won't let me install them, I keep getting an error. But others have been able to.

You can actually get the microsoft promise ata100 patch (that will be included in the SP2), but I don't know where. I tried it off the microsoft ftp site, but it will not let me dl it (keep getting a connection time-out).

 

[Biggs]

I heard there is a &quot;fix&quot; for this. Try going ot the General Hardware forum and do some searching.

 

[1sikbITCH]

I had to load Windows2000 using the ATA66 setup. Once there I loaded the ATA100 drivers off of the disk that came with the AsusA7V. Then I turned it off, switched the ribbon, and rebooted. No problems besides the frequent Error msgs, UT crashes, hang ups when opening stuff, and the occasional Windows crashes :disgust: W2K is more trouble than it's worth I think.

 

[Bozo]

Install Win2k on a normal ATA33 channel. Once installed, load the ATA100 drivers. Then switch the cable to the ATA100 controller.

I'm running a Promise Ultra 100 on Win2k with no problems at all.

Bozo

 

[Wik]

1sikbITCH you must have some issues with your system because Win2K is very stable on 3 of my machines. UT runs better on it then it did on 98se.

 

[trots]

I wouldn't be so quick to blame Win2K. Mine boots up fine off of the the Maxtor ATA/100 (which is really a Promise), and my system is perfectly stable.

But for months I had similar problems booting off of the controllor card (on an Abit-KA7). I even went so far as to re-partition my system drive while attached to the controller, and do a fresh Windows 2000 install, which the FAQ states is a &quot;when all else fails&quot; remedy. Still no go. I had Maxtor send a replacement, thinking the card must be bad. Ditto.

Then I got brave (for me) and flash-upgraded my bios and, badda-bing badda-boom, it booted off the card like a champ.

And that &quot;unexpected error 18&quot; sounds familiar, I think I got that at one point. Are you sure that when you build the floppy with the ATA100 drivers, you did it in DOS with the /d qualifier, so it extracted it to the disk with the directory structure intact? I think the Maxtor and the Promise use the same exact drivers, if so your driver floppy should have 4 directories: NT4, WIN2000, WIN95-98, &amp; WINNT.