NVidia NForce4 SATA drives not found

[Jon Davis]

I have three SATA drives, two are identical and configured as NVRaid
(Striping array), the other is standalone. I currently run Windows XP on the
third physical standalone hard drive. The RAID drive (2 drives = 1) is also
formatted as a Dynamic partition. The third physical drive on which Windows
XP is installed is NOT formatted as a Dynamic partition.

When I attempt to boot using the Ultimate Boot CD
(http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) the third drive on which Windows XP is
running is not visible. Of course, neither is the RAID array. Seeing the
stanalone drive from UBCD worked before, but I don't know what I did to make
it not show up now. I don't really have any ideas on what to try to roll
back.

I am actually trying to install Windows Vista x64 RC1 on either drive; I was
only running UBCD to try to back up my data first. When Vista boots, it
can't see any hard drives, either. I have installed the x64 SATA (nForce4)
drivers for Vista RC1 from nVidia's web site. When I browse to the drivers
and select the appropriate driver, nothing happens, Vista Setup still can't
see any drives. And when I try to use the Repair tool and it first asks me
to select a Windows install and I choose to install drivers, I get an
explicit error message, "Driver failed to install" (or equiv message).

Without any boot discs, Windows XP boots fine. The BIOS sees everything
fine. XP sees everything fine.

What is going on? Any ideas?

Thanks,
Jon

 

[Folkert Rienstra]

I have three SATA drives, two are identical and configured as NVRaid
(Striping array), the other is standalone. I currently run Windows XP on the
third physical standalone hard drive. The RAID drive (2 drives = 1) is also
formatted as a Dynamic partition. The third physical drive on which Windows
XP is installed is NOT formatted as a Dynamic partition.

When I attempt to boot using the Ultimate Boot CD
(http://www.ultimatebootcd.com/) the third drive on which Windows XP is
running is not visible.

Of course, neither is the RAID array.

Of course, speaks for itself. So why, again?

Seeing the stanalone drive from UBCD worked before, but I don't know what
I did to make it not show up now. I don't really have any ideas on what to try
to roll back.

I am actually trying to install Windows Vista x64 RC1 on either drive;

There would be a clue.

I was only running UBCD to try to back up my data first.

You sure you did that *before* you tried Vista?

When Vista boots,

So you did actually install it or do you mean the install CD?

it can't see any hard drives, either.

Supposedly because of below.

I have installed the x64 SATA (nForce4) drivers for Vista RC1 from nVidia's
web site. When I browse to the drivers and select the appropriate driver,
nothing happens, Vista Setup still can't see any drives. And when I try to use
the Repair tool and it first asks me to select a Windows install and I choose
to install drivers, I get an explicit error message, "Driver failed to install"
(or equiv message).

Without any boot discs, Windows XP boots fine. The BIOS sees everything
fine. XP sees everything fine.

What is going on? Any ideas?

I would think of a partition type change or of controller type change in BIOS.
However XP not being affected speaks against that.

 

[Jon Davis]

So you did actually install it or do you mean the install CD?

The Vista installer DVD. Vista was never installed. Sorry, I think this was
the core of much confusion I sense in your response.

Jon

 

[Legacy]

I also have the same problem. Can't even install Vista. Running Asus
a8n-sli delux mobo...

Anyone managed to get past this problem?

J

 

[Charlie Wilkes]

I also have the same problem. Can't even install Vista. Running Asus
a8n-sli delux mobo...

Anyone managed to get past this problem?

J

SATA is the SCSI of the 00s. It's full of problems, doesn't really
work right, and confers minimal benefits.

RAID striping and redundancy probably makes sense for servers that are
constantly sending/receiving massive amounts of data on a network, and
have techies to keep them up... but for the home user, what's the
payoff?

I said this before and someone told me I was full of crap, but here is
more evidence.

I use a 40gb internal IDE drive and a firewire drive for mass storage.
I'm not saying it's the way to go, but I will say it causes no
problems and everything is plenty fast.

However, I'm not running Vista and have no plans to do so until it
offers something I want and can't get on a 32-bit system.

Charlie

 

[Jon Davis]

RAID striping and redundancy probably makes sense for servers that are

constantly sending/receiving massive amounts of data on a network, and
have techies to keep them up... but for the home user, what's the
payoff?

A consolidated partition of very large space, and a 50% performance boost on
hard drive I/O. (I tested.) Such a boost won't matter to you because of how
you use your computer (simple tasks), not where you are (at home). I use my
home computer as a software development workstation, a web server, a Media
Center server, and a gaming machine. All of these benefit from good hard
drive speed, and all of them combined absolutely require it.

Jon