Windows 7 x64 Install Questions

[baumgrenze]

GamePC in Palo Alto, CA built a machine for me 6 years ago. (Current details at the bottom of the post.) I’ve been pleased with its performance under XP/Pro x86. The system was built with the OS and program files stored in a RAID1 array on the two 74 Gb WD Raptors. The RAID1 was built using Intel Rapid Storage Technology (IRST) Version 9.6.0.1014.

At Microsoft’s insistence I am trying my best to move from XP/Pro x86 to Win 7/Pro x64. I am trying to use Microsoft Windows 7 Professional Upgrade [Old Version] SKU 882224883443. I tried twice to custom install to my two new Crucial M550 128Gb SSDs without success. When I tried to install only the SSDs, my DVD drive, and a thumb drive were attached to the motherboard.

I formatted the SSDs using Partition Magic 8. Following the approach taken by my builders, I used the IRST to create a RAID1 array, then I tried the Win 7 installation. Since all the RAID drivers I found under XP appear to have been provided by Microsoft, I first tried to let the installation find any drivers it needed. This approach quickly failed. Only a small number of files were installed according to TreeSize Free and ZTree.

I opened the Gigabyte website

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2742&dl=1#driver

Once I said I wanted drivers for Win 7 x64, it displayed these driver downloads for the motherboard:

RealtekInstall_Win7_7080_03212014.zip
RealtekDriver_Win7_7080_03212014.zip
RealtekNICInstall_Win7_7080_03212014.zip

I unzipped them and put them on a USB thumb drive for use during installation.

I went to the Intel website and searched for Win 7 x64 drivers for the ICH9R controller and the P35 chipset.

https://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?DwnldID=17882

and found these files.

IATA89ENU.exe

IATA89CD.exe

When I tried to run either it appeared to want to install another version of IRST on my XP OS/Program RAID1 array so I aborted the process.

My second attempt to install WIN7 ran longer. It installed many files, 26.3+ Gb worth but it also failed. The Microsoft failure message is terse and opaque. “Windows could not complete the installation. To install Windows on this computer, restart the installation.”

This file on the same website:

f6flpy6489.zip

Provided these files when unzipped

6-15-09 7:52:48 7,967 .a.. iastor.cat
6-15-09 7:22:12 8,659 .a.. iaahci.cat
6-04-09 18:54:36 408,600 .a.. IaStor.sys
6-04-09 18:33:06 5,526 .a.. TXTSETUP.OEM
6-04-09 18:33:06 7,633 .a.. iaStor.inf
6-04-09 18:33:06 8,777 .a.. iaAHCI.inf
7-26-06 11:06:16 4,904 .a.. license .txt

Are any of these the missing drivers?

Am I correct in concluding that my next step should be to wipe the two SSDs clean? I am stuck trying to install Win 7 but I am in the enviable position of reattaching the Raptors and booting to XP so I can engage the world and get some work done.

What should I try next? I am trying to preserve the option of booting to XP until I can get Win 7 x64 working properly.


I trust that it is clear that I am not a Geek, but someone who uses his system a lot as a tool so he can do other crazy things like graft fruit trees. I add this in the hope that any response will be detailed enough to help me go forward.


Thanks,

baumgrenze

System Specs

Board: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd. EP35-DS3P
Bus Clock: 266 megahertz
BIOS: Award Software International, Inc. F6 06/18/2009
1 x Intel Core 2 Quad Q6600 (2.4 GHz) Quad Core
1 x CPU Retail Cooler
1 x Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3P Intel P35 ATX
2 x Crucial 4GB Kit (2GBx2) DDR2 (PC2-6400) DIMM 240-Pin Desktop Memory Modules CT2KIT25664AA800
1 x Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000 RPM (WDC WD740ADFD-00NLR5) SATA-1
1 x Western Digital Raptor 74GB 10,000 RPM (WDC WD740ADFS-00SLR5) SATA-2
1 x Western Digital Caviar 640 GB 7,200 RPM (WDC WD6400AAKS-00E4A0) SATA-2
1 x Western Digital Caviar 500 GB 7,200 RPM (WDC WD5000AAKS-00A7B0) SATA-2
1 x Sony Optiarc DVD RW AD-7241S
1 x Sapphire Radeon HD 3870 PCIe 512 MB Retail

2x Crucial M550 128GB SATA 2.5" 7mm (with 9.5mm adapter) Internal Solid State Drive CT128M550SSD1

 

[Elixer]

Why are you doing RAID1?
IMO, just install the OS onto a SSD, then use the 2nd one for games/apps, and then use the HDs for images of the SSDs on a rotating backup.

 

[xSauronx]

I opened the Gigabyte website

http://www.gigabyte.us/products/product-page.aspx?pid=2742&dl=1#driver

Once I said I wanted drivers for Win 7 x64, it displayed these driver downloads for the motherboard:

RealtekInstall_Win7_7080_03212014.zip
RealtekDriver_Win7_7080_03212014.zip
RealtekNICInstall_Win7_7080_03212014.zip
[/FONT]

i dont see those.
i see:

GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver 1.17.50.2 3.90 MB 2009/09/29
- motherboard_driver_sata_gb_sata2raid.exe

and

Intel SATA RAID/AHCI Driver 8.9.0.1023 13.10 MB 2009/08/11
- motherboard_driver_intel_sataraid.exe

dont see the zips you mentioned. i recall having a little trouble finding the right RAID driver for windows 7, though.

i honestly wouldnt raid the SSDs either. save yourself the trouble.

 

[baumgrenze]

Why are you doing RAID1?
IMO, just install the OS onto a SSD, then use the 2nd one for games/apps, and then use the HDs for images of the SSDs on a rotating backup.

Thanks, Elixir,

My choice to run RAID1 is a personal one, based on experience.

Why do some folks drive white cars, some black cars, and others different shades in between when it can be argued that dark cars are less energy efficient? The require more air conditioning in the summer.

Why do some vote Democratic, some Republican, and some not-at-all?

I our house we've had 5 or 6 HDD failures in the last 10 years. The ones on this machine were 'easy' to address. I formatted the new drive to NTFS, attached it to the RAID1, and I was back up and running with a mirror copy. Call it a belt-and-suspenders philosophy, it gives me peace of mind.

I am discovering that Intel's IRST is offered in a long list of versions.

How frequently do you recommend a rotating backup? Is it once an hour?

I'd like to get back to trying to be MS compliant and get Win 7 running on my machine.

For certain I'd like to know the best way to reprepare the SSDs for another go at an installation.

Thanks,

baumgrenze

 

[baumgrenze]

i dont see those.
i see:

GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver 1.17.50.2 3.90 MB 2009/09/29
- motherboard_driver_sata_gb_sata2raid.exe

and

Intel SATA RAID/AHCI Driver 8.9.0.1023 13.10 MB 2009/08/11
- motherboard_driver_intel_sataraid.exe

dont see the zips you mentioned. i recall having a little trouble finding the right RAID driver for windows 7, though.

i honestly wouldnt raid the SSDs either. save yourself the trouble.

Thanks xSauronx,

Correct me if I am wrong, but the GIGABYTE SATA2 RAID Driver is only for the two GSATA ports, is it not. From multiple sources of advice, I believe it makes the most sense to use these for devices like my optical drive.

I went back to some old BelArc profiles and established that my system came with the Award Software BIOS F2 (01/02/200) and IRST ver. 7.6.0.1011. These were replaced by the system builder when I had some issues in 2010 so that under XP I am now running the F6 (06/18/2009) BIOS and IRST ver. 9.6.0.1014. When I found this wiki entry:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_Matrix_RAID

I wondered why I should drop back to ver. 8.9.0.1023 and whether ver. 10.8.0.1003 (10/17/11) would not be the most up-to-date version that supports ICH9R.

I found the Realtek drivers here (not at Gigabyte)
http://www.realtek.com/downloads/do...d=5&Level=5&Conn=4&DownTypeID=3&GetDown=false

This page lists the most recent drivers for the RTL8111B controller. I scrolled down and chose the ver. 7080 items to download from this list:

WinXP and WinServer 2003 Driver
WinXP, Win2K, Win2003 Auto Installation Program (SID:1643653)
Win8 and Win8.1 Auto Installation Program (SID:1643639)
Win7 and WinServer 2008 R2 Driver
Win7 and WinServer 2008 R2 Auto Installation Program (SID:1644202)
Vista and WinServer 2008 Auto Installation Program (SID:1568647)
Vista and WinServer 2008 Driver
Windows Diagnostic Program
8111DP DASH All-In-One installation kit for WinXP/Vista/Win7
Win98ME Driver
Auto installation program (Support Win98SE/WinME)

Was this an unwise choice? The files I list were created by these zip files:

I believe that Microsoft pre install system check program suggested going to Realtek to check for the most recent drivers.

RealtekInstall_Win7_7080_03212014.zip
RealtekDriver_Win7_7080_03212014.zip

I did a due diligence search for the RTL8111B controller and found this:

http://www.realtek.com.tw/products/productsView.aspx?Langid=1&PFid=5&Level=5&Conn=4&ProdID=11

Finally, the file

f6flpy6489.zip

is the download for the x64 version IRST ver 8.9.0.1023, the version recommended on the Gigabyte website.

Does this help clear things up or not?

thanks,

baumgrenze