RAID / Windows question

[Gremlin_flg]

With Vista, you can use a USB flash to install raid drivers... You can also use nlite (nliteos.com) to slipstream the raid drivers into the OS


Did I miss something? Why are you sending the MB back to EVGA?

[juneau]

With Vista, you can use a USB flash to install raid drivers... You can also use nlite (nliteos.com) to slipstream the raid drivers into the OS


Did I miss something? Why are you sending the MB back to EVGA?

Low price upgrade to a 780i motherboard.

[GoatX12]

Honestly with using Win XP I would grab one of these Mitsumi floppy and Card reader that way you can just make a raid floppy. Than all you have to do is remember to hit F6 when the blue setup screen comes up and than install your raid drivers.

[Duke{CLR}]

With Vista, you can use a USB flash to install raid drivers... You can also use nlite (nliteos.com) to slipstream the raid drivers into the OS

Is this the same thing? I copied this from a guy who answered my post at EVGA.

I created a slipstreamed installation disk with the RAID drivers on it. I did so by doing the following:

1. Download nLite (www.nliteos.com)
2. Downloaded the latest 780i XP 32 drivers (9.46_nforce_winxp_english_whql.exe)
3. Used WinRAR to extract the contents of the .exe file to a directory (WinZIP should be able to do the same thing)
4. [Did the same thing for all the drivers for my hardware (Monitor, Video Card, Mouse, etc)]
5. Launched nLite
6. See their guide for directions - At the very least, you will need to select the options to "Integrate Drivers" and creat a Bootable ISO
7. Used nLite to integrate the RAID drives by clicking "Insert" --> "Multiple Driver Folder", selecting the folder created in step 3
8. [Make any other selections you want - you can use nLite to preset many options]
9. Used nLite to create ISO
10. Burned the ISO to a CD
11. Put the created CD into new PC and booted
12. Selected Boot from CD and let setup do its thing (no need to hit F6)

One bump in the road I hit was this: I had pre-created an unformatted NTFS partition via some utility software. When XP setup ran, I selected the partition and chose the "Format the partition using the NTFS file system" (not the "Quick" option). After setup completes the initial setup (the formatting and copying of files), it reboots. At this point I received the error:

Windows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
<Windows root>\system32\hal.dll
Please re-install a copy of the above file.

I rebooted, selecting "boot from CD". This time I selected the same partition, but selected "Format the partition using the NTFS file system (Quick)". Windows did the formatting and copying again and rebooted. This time it did not give the error and went into the second part of setup (the more graphical portion). I was able to successfully compete the install. Device manager shows my full 1.81 TB "NVDIA RAID5" under "Disk Drives".

[Gremlin_flg]

Yes Duke

[darth_nevus]

i reccomend slipstreaming for 2 important reasons. 1, its a backup copy of the disk. and 2, if you need to reinstall, this makes it alot easier. you can use nlite to remove alot of the bloat ware as well.

[Duke{CLR}]

Can I make this disk on my laptop and use it with the new MB?

[darth_nevus]

yep. the software is just pulling information you tell it to, from where you tell it to, and puts it on the disk. your not pulling it from your current installation.

Oh, and for a vista install, use "Vlite". made by the same guys, just made for vista. don't expect to slipstream the upcoming SP1 service pack to it though.

[Duke{CLR}]

Thanks.