BSOD someone please HELP!

[Guest]

Reformatting a computer I built. 4 HDD in SATA RAID array (striping) (tried
JBOD, too). Configuring RAID was successful. Reformatting was successful...
all drive recognized and listed as HEALTHY. Installed WINDOWS XP PRO (don't
have the SP2 version so I got the SP2 CD from MS). I thought the install was
successful, but on reboot and just after POST, I got the Blue Screen of
Death. There are no new drivers (except for SATA RAID set-up...and that
worked before) and no new hardware...I just reinstalled OS. Can't get into
anything except RAID set up and system set up. Couldn't run chkdsk as BSOD
suggested either. And it won't start in Safe Mode, with or without command
prompt. I'm seriously thinking about going back to IDE drives and make the
SATA drives external, but I need a large hard drive...I work with lots and
lost of video projects. Frustration is off the charts, folks....HELP!

 

[Ron Martell]

Reformatting a computer I built. 4 HDD in SATA RAID array (striping) (tried
JBOD, too). Configuring RAID was successful. Reformatting was successful...
all drive recognized and listed as HEALTHY. Installed WINDOWS XP PRO (don't
have the SP2 version so I got the SP2 CD from MS). I thought the install was
successful, but on reboot and just after POST, I got the Blue Screen of
Death. There are no new drivers (except for SATA RAID set-up...and that
worked before) and no new hardware...I just reinstalled OS. Can't get into
anything except RAID set up and system set up. Couldn't run chkdsk as BSOD
suggested either. And it won't start in Safe Mode, with or without command
prompt. I'm seriously thinking about going back to IDE drives and make the
SATA drives external, but I need a large hard drive...I work with lots and
lost of video projects. Frustration is off the charts, folks....HELP!

Personally I am not in favor of using RAID arrays for the operating
system. There are minimal advantages in doing so, except possibly
for absolutely mission critical situations where even the few seconds
interruption while switching to a backup system is intolerable.

What I would do is to configure your computer with an IDE drive for
the operating system and use your SATA drives for your data. RAID
would be acceptable for these, especially if availability and recovery
from a failed drive without interruption are important to you.

But if it is just the total capacity that concerns you then using the
4 drives in a conventional (non-RAID) setup and combining them into a
spanned volume might be worth considering. You would end up with
more total capacity from the 4 drives than you get with RAID, because
of the data redundancies inherent in RAID, but you would not have the
data security and recovery provided by RAID so you would need to
estabilish a backup procedure for your critical data files.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Ron Martell]

Reformatting a computer I built. 4 HDD in SATA RAID array (striping) (tried
JBOD, too). Configuring RAID was successful. Reformatting was successful...
all drive recognized and listed as HEALTHY. Installed WINDOWS XP PRO (don't
have the SP2 version so I got the SP2 CD from MS). I thought the install was
successful, but on reboot and just after POST, I got the Blue Screen of
Death. There are no new drivers (except for SATA RAID set-up...and that
worked before) and no new hardware...I just reinstalled OS. Can't get into
anything except RAID set up and system set up. Couldn't run chkdsk as BSOD
suggested either. And it won't start in Safe Mode, with or without command
prompt. I'm seriously thinking about going back to IDE drives and make the
SATA drives external, but I need a large hard drive...I work with lots and
lost of video projects. Frustration is off the charts, folks....HELP!

One further item. Without the detailed information from the BSOD,
including the STOP code, all 4 parameters, and any file or volume
names mentioned it is not possible to give you any specific advice in
that regard.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."

 

[Ted Zieglar]

"Personally I am not in favor of using RAID arrays for the operating
system."

Not that it matters, but I agree with you. If I was running an airline
reservation system or monitoring a patient's vital signs I can see the
advantages of a RAID setup. Otherwise, why introduce needless complexity to
a computer?

 

[Guest]

Thanx for your input, Ron. I appreciate it. I did try using them as a
spanned volume, but after installing the OS, I got the same BSOD. I did not
try switching to and IDE drive for OS AND keeping the SATA for data. But
I've had problems with internal back up systems and I've had other problems
with RAID, so I agree with you: RAID is not the way to go. I'm giving up
that ghost. I'm going back to an IDE drive for my OS and externals for
working files and data. Good to know that I was going in the right
direction. I think the externals will work better for me anyway...I can work
on any computer with the same programs installed, my files will always be
current, and I won't need to worry if there's a system crash. Of course, I
will have a redundant backup in case of file corruption or drive damage.
BTW...love the mosquito quote (smile)! Thanx again.
Ted... thanx for your comments, too.

 

[Ron Martell]

Thanx for your input, Ron. I appreciate it. I did try using them as a
spanned volume, but after installing the OS, I got the same BSOD. I did not
try switching to and IDE drive for OS AND keeping the SATA for data. But
I've had problems with internal back up systems and I've had other problems
with RAID, so I agree with you: RAID is not the way to go. I'm giving up
that ghost. I'm going back to an IDE drive for my OS and externals for
working files and data. Good to know that I was going in the right
direction. I think the externals will work better for me anyway...I can work
on any computer with the same programs installed, my files will always be
current, and I won't need to worry if there's a system crash. Of course, I
will have a redundant backup in case of file corruption or drive damage.
BTW...love the mosquito quote (smile)! Thanx again.
Ted... thanx for your comments, too.

Be careful with those external drives. There is a recent posting in
the windowsxp.hardware newsgroup from a person who is having
difficulties with 10 external drives connected via USB.

Good luck

Ron Martell Duncan B.C. Canada
--
Microsoft MVP (1997 - 2006)
On-Line Help Computer Service
http://onlinehelp.bc.ca

"Anyone who thinks that they are too small to make a difference
has never been in bed with a mosquito."