Windows 2000 Installation Problem, not simple.

[Sparkybell627]

Quick facts: A7v133 -- 2-IBM 20g 60gxp's -- Win2000 Full retail or Upgrade CD's.
The drives are configured as a RAID Zero, each set to master on their own channel.
When I do the install, I get the error message: "Setup did not find any hard disks installed on your computer." So I booted to a dos floppy, fdisked the drive set, did a format /s using FAT32 and booted to the drive, and it booted just fine. I then tried the installation again. I got the same no disks message(explicatives inserted here). I've tried both versions of the Promise driver available at Asus, 160v25 and 160v33. 2k did install on a single drive on the same setup(!raid). Any constructive ideas will be appreciated.

 

[Jhereg]

During text part of install it will ask if you have any third party drivers you wish to install, give them the RAID drivers. Can't remember if it says SCSI or not , regardless give em your drivers

 

[Techwhore]

yeah, it'll ask you to hit F6 as soon as setup begins to install any additional drivers...

 

[Sparkybell627]

As I said near the end of the post, I've tried two versions of the Promise drivers, 160v25 and 160v33 at the F6 prompt. I also tried not pressing F6. All three give the same result. The above reason is why I tried the dos install.

 

[Davegod75]

make sure the *.inf is on the root directory of the floppy. You cannot have it in a folder on the floppy. This a common mistaken people often make

 

[kylef]

Also, this may sound weird, but try installing the drivers 3 or 4 times. When it asks if you have any more devices to install, just hit "y" and install the thing again and again.

I don't know why, but I've had that exact same problem before (as have others), and most of the time the above technique will solve the problem. Don't ask my to explain it, because I haven't a clue.

 

[obenton]

... because each channel needs its own driver.

 

[Sparkybell627]

What an ordeal. It would help if Asus provided the correct driver on their web site. The spec page for the A7V133 contains two links to where two drivers can be downloaded. Both point to the same location of the two drivers I tried repeatedly as mentioned in my first post, yes, by pressing F6. This isn't the controller on my board. The spec page also mentions Raid 0 or 1 support, and a controller by the name of Promise Ultra100tm IDE Controller. Mine doesn't have mirror support, and goes by the name of Promise Raid/Lite IDE Controller. Solution: don't loose your Driver CD. I must have purchased one of the original boards or a pre-production unit. The CD which I finally located, has the driver available for both the A7V133 and the A7M266, the latter of which I can't find anywhere to contain the extra controller. Copy the directories contents to a floppy, and for those Win 2000 users like myself, make sure the .OEM file is in the root, as Win NT/2000 looks for this file, not a .INF. I see there are others here posting similar problems. Email me and I'll send you the driver I have. Thanks for everyones suggestions.