RAID controller

[Guest]

Does anyone know what a RAID controller is? my computer keeps telling me that
it is unknown and it's in the "other devices" list in the device manager.

 

[Alec S.]

Does anyone know what a RAID controller is? my computer keeps telling me that
it is unknown and it's in the "other devices" list in the device manager.

RAID stands for Redundant Array of Inexpensive/Independent Disks. It is a series of protocols that allow a system to use multiple
disk drives to enhance reliability and/or performance.

Since you have to ask, I'll assume that you don't use the RAID features of the controller and are either using it as a regular drive
controller, or not at all. What you need to do in either case is to install the drivers so that Windows knows what the device is
and how to use it. You'll have to find out who the manufacturer of the controller is and the model so that you can get a copy of
the drivers. Then, you will either be able to install them like a regular program, or will have to do it manually. I can help
guide you through it, but first you need to know the manufacturer and the model.

Bring up the properties dialog for the controller in Device Manager. What does it say in the Manufacturer field? Open a command
prompt (Run->cmd.exe), then type the following:

set devmgr_show_nonpresent_devices=1
set devmgr_show_details=1
start devmgmt.msc

Now select View->Show Hidden Devices. Is there anything under "SCSI and RAID controllers"? If so, what are the manufacturers?
Bring up the properties dialog for the problem device and check the Details tab. What is the Device Instance Id?

 

[Guest]

Hi Alec, thanks for the help so far. I followed the instructions you gave me
and came up with these results:

I checked the properties on the RAID conroller, it sayed that its device
type was "Other Devices", the manufacturer is unknown and the location is PCI
slot 6(PCI bus 0, device 15, function 0), and the Device Instance Id is
CI\VEN_105A&DEV_5275&SUBSYS_B0011458&REV_01\3&61AAA01&0&78

There was also another thing listed under "non-plug and play drivers" it is
called GVCplDrv, it had an exclimation on it and everything is unknown about
it but its Device Instance Id is ROOT\LEGACY_GVCPLDRV\0000. well I hope that
helps a bit and once again thank you for your help

 

[Alec S.]

I checked the properties on the RAID conroller, it sayed that its device
type was "Other Devices", the manufacturer is unknown and the location is PCI
slot 6(PCI bus 0, device 15, function 0), and the Device Instance Id is
PCI\VEN_105A&DEV_5275&SUBSYS_B0011458&REV_01\3&61AAA01&0&78

Well it looks like your motherboard has a Promise FastTrak Lite RAID controller. What you'll want to do is to get a copy of the
drivers for it.

I don't suppose you know which motherboard you have do you (it's most likely a GigaByte)? If not, then you can use this one:
ftp://ftp.tyan.com/Promise_Raid/276windrv_2kxpws2003logod.zip

Just download it and unzip it to a folder somewhere. Open the Device Manager and right click the problem device then select Update
Driver. Now select "Install from a list or specific location (Advanced)", click next. Select the top radio button (.best driver.),
uncheck removable media, and check "Include this location", then Browse to the folder you extracted to (make sure to select the
WinXP folder in 276windrv_2kxpws2003logod). Now click next and wait for it to install. Either it will say that it did and you can
click finish and are done, or it will complain that it couldn't find a matching driver. If it couldn't find one, then click Back,
and select the bottom radio button (.I will choose.), then next. Click Have Disk and browse to the FASTTRAK.INF file in the folder.
Click OK, OK. You should see two devices listed: "WinXP Promise SBFastTrak133 Lite (tm) Controller" and "WinXP Promise
MBFastTrak133 Lite (tm) Controller". Double-click the MB one. It should now install (possibly giving you an unsigned driver
warning-click Yes), after which it should be done. If it still complains then we'll have to find a more specific driver for your
specific motherboard. If you managed to install the drivers, then you should reboot and check Device Manager to make sure it's
done.

There was also another thing listed under "non-plug and play drivers" it is
called GVCplDrv, it had an exclimation on it and everything is unknown about
it but its Device Instance Id is ROOT\LEGACY_GVCPLDRV\0000. well I hope that
helps a bit and once again thank you for your help

That's a part of your GigaByte motherboard's graphics system. You should have gotten a CD with drivers with your motherboard. You
should be able to reinstall the drivers/programs for that (as well as the RAID controller), with that CD.