Install WinXP SATA Raid Drivers **URGENT

[nrmsmith]

I have a Novatech PC-0879T bought without preinstalled OS.

It wasn't supplied with an F6 Raid Floppy disk & manual. However, I have built a floppy from the Foxconn Mobo CD supplied. I install WinXP and press F6 at the correct time. Setup starts and I am asked to press 'S' to install support for the RAID. I select the top line of the four raid driver options (Intel 82801GR/GH Sata RAID ICH7R/GH) and setup carries on until it says "Setup cannot find the file: IAStor.sys" and everything is halted. IAStor.sys is definitely on the floppy disk because it is detected during the earlier step.

What is going wrong please & how can I continue?

Nigel

[Coops]

This could be that the floppy is not laid out correctly. Although the file is on the Disk it could be not in the correct place of where the driver inf is told to find the disk. Please try the following.

Download this file:
http://www.foxconnchannel.com/support/d ... -us0000837 (http://www.foxconnchannel.com/support/downloads_detail.aspx?ID=en-us0000837)

You will need winzip or winrar to extract it. There is one zip inside the other. Unzip both until you get the .exe file. This is a program to make the SATA driver disk for you. insert floppy and run the program. It will build the disk for you.

When complete start XP install and press F6 so you can select additional mass storage controller. When prompted to select driver make sure floppy is inserted and press S, you will now be presented with a list of possible drivers to choose.

Select
Intel(R) 82801GR/GH SATA RAID Controller (Desktop ICH7R/DH)

Now continue with the setup. You must however not remove the floppy disk until you are told to do so. The floppy disk is required right up until the file copy part of windows is complete and the system reboots to continue the install in GUI mode.

[nrmsmith]

I tried to download the file you suggested and the floppy disk created with that didn't work either (it gave the same error).

I am using a WinXP SP2 install disc that has been slipstreamed (using nLite) with all the latest hotfixes upto and including Mar 2006.

As an experiment I went back to the original WinXP SP2 install CD and this works fine - loading the IAStor.sys from the floppy disk at the appropriate time. So clearly the problem lies with my slipstreamed CD for which I shall have to investigate further.

Thanks for your quick assistance.

Nigel

PS I spoke too soon. Althought the Setup proceeds, it now crashes later on with a Blue Screen STOP: 0x0000007E (iastor.sys Address F73D90D5); and HALTS.

What now?

[Coops]

No prroblem

I may be able to help with the slipstream disk thing as well.

If that CD in anyway uses unattended install methods, such as answer files so that you don't have to type things in or make selections during install such as keyboard language etc this will stop you using a floppy disk to load mass storage drivers.
Unattended Installs of XP require all drivers needed to be added to the source media CD.
This may not be your issue but what you describe is the same issue that happens when using unattended media.

[Coops]

Please double check thatyour array is created properly in the Intel Raid BIOS

You can also try latest driver for intel RAID

ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/ ... flpy32.zip (ftp://aiedownload.intel.com/df-support/9727/eng/f6flpy32.zip)

In the meantime i will continue to look in to this not seen that particular error before.

[nrmsmith]

Downloaded & used the latest Intel IAStor.sys (5.5.xxxx) and this gets past the GUI Restart OK. (phew)

Actually, I also changed from a DVI connection to my monitor to the DSUB VGA connection, but I can't imagine that being the cause of the crash?

While I was searching the FoxconnChannel I noticed they posted a new BIOS (Dec 2005) for this mobo (945P7AA). This is newer than the July 2005 BIOS which came on the installed board. Would it be worth doing a BIOS upgrade before I go any further?

Thanks
Nigel

[Coops]

BIOS updates are done at customers own risk.

This BIOS has not been tested or approved by Novatech so we do not recommend doing the upgrade unless you are sure that it is needed. Such as to address an issue you may have.

[Nox]

This is going to sound like an absolutely stupid thing to say, but if you're familiar with nlite and slipstreaming, have you thought about slipstreaming the raid driver onto the disk aswell?

I gave up on the slipstreaming thing - every so often I was getting a message saying 'system file has been changed, please insert your blah blah disk to verify intergrity' (or something similiar) Very annoying!

Nox