crash during setup

[RoS]

I'm doing some pre-reading before installing windows XP corp version on a,
yet to be delivered, new computer and I've come across something in the
Microsoft 'Win XP Inside Out ' book I just don't understand. The passage,
summarised, says that the most common cause of a Stop error during set-up is
a missing or incompatible driver for a disk subsystem. If the computer
includes a high performance IDE controller (typically identified in the BIOS
as ATA-66, ATA-100, or SATA, XP might not include a compatible driver for
that controller. It suggests the best solution is to download a driver that
is compatible (in most cases a Win 2000 will work just as well).

When it arrives my machine will, hopefully, have the following core
components:
CPU: Pentium 4 540
Motherboard: Gigabyte GA-8I915P Duo Pro
Hard Drive: 2 x Hitachi SATA160GB)
Graphics card: Sparkle 6600GT
RAM: 2 x 512MB 533MHz DDR2 Kingston to be configured in dual-channel
mode)

The memory is going to be configured in dual-channel mode and the hard
drives configured in Raid 0. I've decided to partition the drives into C,
the OS, D spare (probably for a backup of the OS), E for apps and F for
data.

What puzzles me is the reference to SATA. Am I going to have problems? Do
I need this unidentified driver and if so what is it? I can't find anything
on Gigabyte's site indicating a download is necessary. The motherboard is a
relative newcomer and I've found nothing indicating that any special
requirements are needed for The Hitachi drives, or any of the other
components.

I feel I've got to have a go at this installation. I know I'm treading the
outer limits of my personal know-how, competence - all right - fear levels
as well. But learning by experience is the best way n'est-ce-pas and I want
to go boldly split infinitives with the best of 'em!

Not panicking, PANICKING, PANICKING!

RoS

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi RoS,

As you are setting up a RAID configuration, you will need to install it
prior to Windows. The motherboard disk should have a utility to create the
needed floppy disk. At the initial setup of WinXP, you will see a prompt
about hitting F6 to install these drivers. You will need to use that option
in order to setup the striping across the drives. The rest of the
motherboard drivers can be installed immediately after Windows has completed
setup.

I feel I've got to have a go at this installation. I know I'm treading
the
outer limits of my personal know-how, competence - all right - fear levels
as well. But learning by experience is the best way n'est-ce-pas and I
want
to go boldly split infinitives with the best of 'em!

Absolutely - nothing teaches you more about your system than doing it
yourself. Use common sense, always check the readme's, and you will probably
be fine.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org