Cannot install software on Vista - random failures?

[Guest]

I have recently installed 3 new 500Gb Seagate Barracuda ES 7200RPM SATA-II
hard disk and configured them in a raid 5 array (using the Intel ICH8R
controller).

Previously I was not using RAID, but 2 discs configured by Aus PC when I
bought
the computer and you guys built it for me - no issues and very happy

Now I have rebuilt machine successfully installed Vista, yet I am
experiencing
issues when I attempt to install anything else of a significant size (i.e.
any game (i.e. Oblivion, WOW, etc) or MS Office) - both from DVD or direct
from any of the discs on the machine.

I have updated ALL drivers related to the Intel RAID controller, chipset &
Gigabit LAN connection which has been an issue in the past as detailed in
many online forums.

The errors look like it is a bad/damaged CD or hard drive - the errors are
not occuring at the same point in any instalation?

I experience errors if I attempt to install from DVD to C (75GB fast drive),
to D (320GB standalone drive) or to the RAID array (3 x 500GB drives).

I have then downloaded or copied installation files to the harddrive and
attempted installation again with identical results. I have attempted to
install from C to C, D to C, RAID to C, C to D, D to D, etc.

So all the above indicates to me it is not the DVD drive nor any individual
disc that has problems - the issue must lie with the RAID setup I have put in
place?

I have also reinstalled windows 6 times now in an effort to ensure I rule
out me deploying drivers in the incorrect order, the process I followed in my
last attempt was:
1) Boot from windows disc (Intel RAID switched on in BIOS version F11 which
is

the latest for the motherboard)
2) Format C
3) Load driver for Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R SATA RAID Controller Driver Version:

7.6.0.1011
4) Install Vista
5) log into Vista (not connect ed to Internet yet)
6) install latest Intel(R) Chipset Device Software Version: 8.3.1.1009 Target

Chipset#: X38 & 3200/3210 Chipset (its what Intel provides for the 965
express

chipset through Intel.com when you select Vista & also what Gigabyte
downloads

form thier website for the version 1 motherboard)
7) restart windows
8) Install the latest driver for Marvell Yukon Ethernet Controller v9.12.4.3
9) install latest version of Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager version
7.6.0.1011
10) restart windows

I can browse my drives fine, RAID looks good and can copy files between all

discs and from DVD to discs OK (note: do sometimes randomly get an error
saying

that the system failed to copy some file due to the system running out of
memory

- only happens sometimes when I am copying BIG chunks say 50GB+)



I have also tried unplugging the drives C & D from the Intel controlled sata

ports and plugged them into the Gigabyte controlled ports. I have also

ensured that the 3 drives in the RAID array use the last few ports for Intel

controller i.e. 4, 5 & 6 as there was a suggestion on a forum from Intel to
try

this.

None of these have had any effect and I am still experiencing these wierd

issues??



Please help

Ken Taggart



Example errors (1 successful install):

The file "C:\Program Files\World of Warcraft\Data\misc.MPQ" could not be
closed,

because an error 0 occurred. If this problem persists, please contact
Blizzard

Technical Support.

An error was detected while verifying the contents of the file "C:\Program

Files\World of Warcraft\Data\terrain.MPQ". There may be a problem with your

system, or with the drive at C:\. You can attempt to install again. If this

problem persists, please contact Blizzard Technical Support.

An error was detected while verifying the contents of the file "C:\Program

Files\World of Warcraft\Data\model.MPQ". There may be a problem with your

system, or with the drive at C:\. You can attempt to install again. If this

problem persists, please contact Blizzard Technical Support.

CRC error: The file C:\Program Files\Bethesda
Softwarks\Oblivion\Data\Oblivion -

Meshes.bsa doesn't match the file in the setup's .cab file. The medium from

which you are running the setup may be corrupted; contact your software
vendor.

Successfully installed AutoCAD 2008 which included VBA Runtime, DirectX 9.0

runtime, MSXML 6, Flash, MDAC 2.7 & AutoCAD 2008

Office fails saying it cannot find Enterprise.WW\EnterWW.cab yet I am able to

find it and access the directory so it is there - I used these files to
install

Office before I attempted the RAID array and it installed fine


System Information from Intel Matrix Storage software

Kit Installed: 7.6.0.1011
Kit Install History: 7.6.0.1011
Shell Version: 7.6.0.1011

OS Name: Microsoft® Windows Vista™ Home Premium
OS Version: 6.0.6000 Build 6000
System Name: HOME-PC
System Manufacturer: Gigabyte Technology Co., Ltd.
System Model: 965P-DQ6
Processor: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
BIOS Version/Date: Award Software International, Inc. F9, 01/11/2007

Language: ENU



Intel(R) RAID Technology

Intel RAID Controller: Intel(R) ICH8R/ICH9R SATA RAID Controller
Number of Serial ATA ports: 6

RAID Option ROM Version: 6.0.0.1022
Driver Version: 7.6.0.1011
RAID Plug-In Version: 7.6.0.1011
Language Resource Version of the RAID Plug-In: 7.6.0.1011
Create Volume Wizard Version: 7.6.0.1011
Language Resource Version of the Create Volume Wizard: 7.6.0.1011
Create Volume from Existing Hard Drive Wizard Version: 7.6.0.1011
Language Resource Version of the Create Volume from Existing Hard Drive
Wizard:

7.6.0.1011
Modify Volume Wizard Version: 7.6.0.1011
Language Resource Version of the Modify Volume Wizard: 7.6.0.1011
Delete Volume Wizard Version: 7.6.0.1011
Language Resource Version of the Delete Volume Wizard: 7.6.0.1011
ISDI Library Version: 7.6.0.1011
Event Monitor User Notification Tool Version: 7.6.0.1011
Language Resource Version of the Event Monitor User Notification Tool:

7.6.0.1011
Event Monitor Version: 7.6.0.1011

Array_0000
Status: No active migration(s)
Hard Drive Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 1397.2 GB
Free Space: 0 GB
Number of Hard Drives: 3
Hard Drive Member 1: ST3500630NS
Hard Drive Member 2: ST3500630NS
Hard Drive Member 3: ST3500630NS
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: KENS_RAID

KENS_RAID
Status: Normal
System Volume: No
Volume Write-Back Cache Enabled: No
RAID Level: RAID 5 (striping with parity)
Strip Size: 64 KB
Size: 931.5 GB
Physical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Logical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Number of Hard Drives: 3
Hard Drive Member 1: ST3500630NS
Hard Drive Member 2: ST3500630NS
Hard Drive Member 3: ST3500630NS
Parent Array: Array_0000

Hard Drive 0
Usage: Array member
Status: Normal
Device Port: 3
Device Port Location: Internal
Current Serial ATA Transfer Mode: Generation 1
Model: ST3500630NS
Serial Number: 9QG2TVCD
Firmware: 3.AEK
Native Command Queuing Support: Yes
Hard Drive Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 465.7 GB
Physical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Logical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: KENS_RAID
Parent Array: Array_0000

Hard Drive 1
Usage: Array member
Status: Normal
Device Port: 4
Device Port Location: Internal
Current Serial ATA Transfer Mode: Generation 1
Model: ST3500630NS
Serial Number: 9QG2SG4T
Firmware: 3.AEK
Native Command Queuing Support: Yes
Hard Drive Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 465.7 GB
Physical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Logical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: KENS_RAID
Parent Array: Array_0000

Hard Drive 2
Usage: Array member
Status: Normal
Device Port: 5
Device Port Location: Internal
Current Serial ATA Transfer Mode: Generation 1
Model: ST3500630NS
Serial Number: 9QG2TTQN
Firmware: 3.AEK
Native Command Queuing Support: Yes
Hard Drive Write Cache Enabled: Yes
Size: 465.7 GB
Physical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Logical Sector Size: 512 Bytes
Number of Volumes: 1
Volume Member 1: KENS_RAID
Parent Array: Array_0000

Unused Port 0
Device Port: 0
Device Port Location: Internal

Unused Port 1
Device Port: 1
Device Port Location: Internal

Unused Port 2
Device Port: 2
Device Port Location: Internal

 

[Rick_Deckard]

Hey Kenny,

Sorry I can't help, but just thought I'd contribute so that maybe this
problem would come to Microsoft's attention. I also got the CRC error while
installing Oblivion, and I got the same crap when trying to install
Battlefield 2 and Dark Messiah - Might and Magic, and there would be others I
bet!

This isn't an isolated incident and it shouldn't bloody happen. I've tried
going back to XP, but it's very hard on a toshiba laptop pre-loaded with
Vista.

Fix it Microsoft!

 

[Kenny]

I did manage to solve it after many days of mucking around with multiple
installs on various configurations. The solution was very very simple and
should not exist - I very frustrated when I discovered the cause of the
problems:



The problem was caused by - my pc having more than 2GB RAM installed!! I
had upgraded the PC myself by simply buying 2 sticks of memeory and adding
them to the motherboard myself. Little did I know this would have caused me
such a headache!

The solution - remove 2 of the memory sticks so that I reduced my installed
memory from 4GB to 2GB. I then reinstalled Vista and everything worked
perfectly?

How did I find out - In despair I took my PC back to the shop I had bought
it from, the techie instantly spotted I had 4GB of RAM installed and told me
that this was a known issue with MS Vista. I needed to start from scratch
and install Vista with only 2GB in the mother board, then let Vista patch
itself up - one of those patches fixes this issue.

I did this and everything worked as expected, zero issues!!!!!

Once I had patched up (plus I installed most of my software/games with 2GB
in place) I then added my remaining 2GB to total 4GB and it still worked
great (though Vista only recognises 3.5GB for some reason?).


I have not experienced any issues since.


Ken

 

[Joe cann]

This is NOT a "known issue" where is this documented ????

 

[Kenny]

Sorry don;t know where it is documented, all I can tell you is that the guy
in the PC place knew about it as soon as he saw it? he said it was a known
issue, maybe only to guys to muck around building PC's all the time.

But I was happy with the end result!

K