RAID set not seen by windows

[Quaestor]

The threads I've seen here come close, but don't exactly touch on my
problem.

I have a w2k machine with sp4, and put a pair of SATA drives on to run
as a RAID pair (not, so far, as the system disk). To test these, I set
them both up as non-RAID drives, and Disk Management sees them just
fine. I can create volumes, format, and copy files to and from them.

BUT when I set them as a RAID pair (striped), in BIOS and the RAID tool,
Disk Management cannot see them, though w2k finds them and installs the
drivers. Rescanning does nothing. The RAID tool (imbedded) says they
are healthy. I DL and installed the latest drivers for the mobo (asus
8an sli deluxe) for SATA drives, and they seem to install fine, but get
a ! indicator, and "not working properly".

 

[Gary Chanson]

The threads I've seen here come close, but don't exactly touch on my
problem.

I have a w2k machine with sp4, and put a pair of SATA drives on to run
as a RAID pair (not, so far, as the system disk). To test these, I set
them both up as non-RAID drives, and Disk Management sees them just
fine. I can create volumes, format, and copy files to and from them.

BUT when I set them as a RAID pair (striped), in BIOS and the RAID tool,
Disk Management cannot see them, though w2k finds them and installs the
drivers. Rescanning does nothing. The RAID tool (imbedded) says they
are healthy. I DL and installed the latest drivers for the mobo (asus
8an sli deluxe) for SATA drives, and they seem to install fine, but get
a ! indicator, and "not working properly".

Try getting drivers for the SATA controller chip from the chip
manufacturer.

 

[DL]

I have to ask, you have built the array using the Raid utility?

I'm a bit puzzled when you say " though w2k finds them and installs the
drivers", what drivers?

Have you run a repair install of Win2k and used the F6 option to install
third party drivers from floppy ie the Sil raid drivers

 

[Gary Chanson]

I have to ask, you have built the array using the Raid utility?

I have various machines running with RAID arrays similar to what you're
trying to do, but not using that same hardware.

I'm a bit puzzled when you say " though w2k finds them and installs the
drivers", what drivers?

Win2K needs the proper driver for the RAID controller and it also needs to
mount the proper generic driver for the mass storage device.

Have you run a repair install of Win2k and used the F6 option to install
third party drivers from floppy ie the Sil raid drivers

Yes, but not with that controller.

 

[DL]

You've got me, I was responding to the original op

From my recollection of win2k it is necessary to install raid (Sil) drivers
from floppy via F6 during a repair install of win
I don't believe win2k will, by itself, install any generic Sil controller
driver.
(I have used Asus boards with this Sil controller in raid config)

 

[Gary Chanson]

That's true, but since the system sees the drives, it must have drivers
for the controller.

 

[DL]

The motherboard, I beleive has both Nvidea and Sil controlers, I believe the
nvidea controler works out of the box whilst the Sil doesnt

 

[Quaestor]

The motherboard, I beleive has both Nvidea and Sil controlers, I believe the
nvidea controler works out of the box whilst the Sil doesnt

I have just finished the F6 repair, which read the drivers from drive
A:, with no change. Neither the windows Sil RAID installer (which comes
with the mobo support CD) nor windows Disk Management can see the RAID
array.

One question about that remains: Do I actually have to step through all
those system files looking for the Sil driver files to approve, to avoid
having to reinstall all the SP and updates again?

Beyond this, I have no idea what to do. This was supposed to be the
ultimate fix.

 

[DL]

By out of the box I meant, at least in my experience of Sil raid on Asus
with win2k, that the Nvidea driver is avilable when installed from the CD
whilst the Sil raid driver has to be installed using the F6 option from
Floppy.

As to your problem;
Youve double checked that you are connected to the correct controler ports,
raid jumpers on the mobo are enabled (I believe on this board there are
jumpers) The correct bios settings are enabled.

When in none raid config the drives are avilable in win I believe you
stated.
I have to ask; when you joined the two hd's from the Sil utility you did
then build the raid?
The utility then showed the raid has healthy?

As to your last question I'm unsure what you mean by;

those system files looking for the Sil driver files to approve

The motherboard, I beleive has both Nvidea and Sil controlers, I believe
the nvidea controler works out of the box whilst the Sil doesnt

I have just finished the F6 repair, which read the drivers from drive A:,
with no change. Neither the windows Sil RAID installer (which comes with
the mobo support CD) nor windows Disk Management can see the RAID array.

One question about that remains: Do I actually have to step through all
those system files looking for the Sil driver files to approve, to avoid
having to reinstall all the SP and updates again?

Beyond this, I have no idea what to do. This was supposed to be the
ultimate fix.

--
Those who try to hide behind Godwin are the real net-nazis.
Philosophy: Joking about why we cuss so much.
Learn about spam: http://www.seige-perilous.org/spam/spam.html
[fourth line intentionally left blank]

 

[Quaestor]

By out of the box I meant, at least in my experience of Sil raid on Asus
with win2k, that the Nvidea driver is avilable when installed from the CD
whilst the Sil raid driver has to be installed using the F6 option from
Floppy.

As to your problem;
Youve double checked that you are connected to the correct controler ports,
raid jumpers on the mobo are enabled (I believe on this board there are
jumpers) The correct bios settings are enabled.

The book says nothing about jumpers, and there don't appear to be any.

When in none raid config the drives are avilable in win I believe you
stated.
I have to ask; when you joined the two hd's from the Sil utility you did
then build the raid?

The Sil utility does not see the raid array, or the raid controller,
gives a complaint and exits.

The utility then showed the raid has healthy?

I get the healthy indicator in the POST message, before OS loads.

 

[DL]

So the Sil utility, accessed whilst posting gives an error and or doesnt
detect any sata disks.

You are using the correct Sil serial ports (P2-22)?

If you enter the motherboard Bios, are the sata disks shown, in the correct
capacity etc (page 4-18)?

Are the correct serial ports used for the Sil controller (pages 4-25/26)?

Is the sata controler enabled (p4-28)?

If the sata utility gives an error and or exits it might tend to indicate
that the Sil drivers havent installed correctly, or maybe the floppy you
created has some file corruption.
Recreate the Sil drivers floppy, run a repair installation of win2k using
the F6 option to install drivers from floppy.

If there is still a problem, having checked all bios settings/ports etc I
would be thinking in terms of Asus tech / RMA

By out of the box I meant, at least in my experience of Sil raid on Asus
with win2k, that the Nvidea driver is avilable when installed from the CD
whilst the Sil raid driver has to be installed using the F6 option from
Floppy.

As to your problem;
Youve double checked that you are connected to the correct controler
ports, raid jumpers on the mobo are enabled (I believe on this board there
are jumpers) The correct bios settings are enabled.

The book says nothing about jumpers, and there don't appear to be any.

When in none raid config the drives are avilable in win I believe you
stated.
I have to ask; when you joined the two hd's from the Sil utility you did
then build the raid?

The Sil utility does not see the raid array, or the raid controller, gives
a complaint and exits.

The utility then showed the raid has healthy?

I get the healthy indicator in the POST message, before OS loads.



--
Those who try to hide behind Godwin are the real net-nazis.
Philosophy: Joking about why we cuss so much.
Learn about spam: http://www.seige-perilous.org/spam/spam.html
[fourth line intentionally left blank]

 

[Quaestor]

So the Sil utility, accessed whilst posting gives an error and or doesnt
detect any sata disks.

You are using the correct Sil serial ports (P2-22)?

No idea. Where would I see that info?

If you enter the motherboard Bios, are the sata disks shown, in the correct
capacity etc (page 4-18)?

When in non-raid mode, they show correctly. As soon as raid is enabled
on the disks, they disappear from the non-raid list, which is correct.

Are the correct serial ports used for the Sil controller (pages 4-25/26)?

No idea.

Is the sata controler enabled (p4-28)?

I presume it is, or the test of running them as non-raid would not work.

If the sata utility gives an error and or exits it might tend to indicate
that the Sil drivers havent installed correctly, or maybe the floppy you
created has some file corruption.
Recreate the Sil drivers floppy, run a repair installation of win2k using
the F6 option to install drivers from floppy.

I suppose the thing to do is create a second floppy, then copy both to
HD so I can compare their contents. If that is identical, I will assume
a correct disk.

Anyway, obviously, after all the effort, this added bit of redundancy
won't be that big a deal. After I've had some sleep.

If there is still a problem, having checked all bios settings/ports etc I
would be thinking in terms of Asus tech / RMA

As unresponsive as that company has been about other things, I hope that
is not needed.

Thanks.

 

[DL]

Your motherboard manual details which are the Sil sata serial ports
its 2-21 and 2-22 in your manual (its the four ports nearest the PCI cards
and not the four nearest to edge of the board

If you have connected to the wrong ports it wont work

If for some reason you dont have the manual, download it from Asus site

The disks should be visible in the motherboard bios whether raid is enabled
or not

 

[Quaestor]

Your motherboard manual details which are the Sil sata serial ports
its 2-21 and 2-22 in your manual (its the four ports nearest the PCI cards
and not the four nearest to edge of the board

If you have connected to the wrong ports it wont work

If for some reason you dont have the manual, download it from Asus site

The disks should be visible in the motherboard bios whether raid is enabled
or not

I see a problem. The new manual shows 8 sockets, which is different
from my manual, and my board. I can see the location where the 4 others
are supposed to be, clearly labeled "raid," but there are no sockets.
Yet this is supposed to be the a8n sli deluxe, with raid.

I don't see any jumpers, and there is nothing in either manual to
suggest anything I can do. Is this board not what it is supposed to
be? Or is it an early version that I have to trick into working properly?

 

[DL]

I believe A8Sli series (not deluxe) has 4 sata ports and 2 ide ports,
whereas delux has 8 sata ports
http://uk.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148

You really need to figure out what board you have as its quite likely you
are installing the incorrect drivers.

Another issue being if you purchased an A8sli deluxe, and paid for that,
exactly what have you been sent?
An open box with the wrong motherboard and wrong drivers cd??

 

[Quaestor]

I believe A8Sli series (not deluxe) has 4 sata ports and 2 ide ports,
whereas delux has 8 sata ports
http://uk.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148

You really need to figure out what board you have as its quite likely you
are installing the incorrect drivers.

Another issue being if you purchased an A8sli deluxe, and paid for that,
exactly what have you been sent?
An open box with the wrong motherboard and wrong drivers cd??

Turns out, the vendor (AJUMP - already on my $#|+list for spamming) sent
the non-deluxe, but in a box clearly marked deluxe. This is the dirty
end of the computer industry, the jerks that will do anything to sell
crap at a profit.

Does the non-delux even do raid? I guess I'm starting over. I have
hoped to squeaze another year out of this machine, but clearly something
needs to give.

 

[DL]

They all 'do' raid you just have to ensure you obtain the correct drivers
from Asus that are *specific* to whichever mobo you have.
You'll probably have to check the model number thats printed on the board

I believe A8Sli series (not deluxe) has 4 sata ports and 2 ide ports,
whereas delux has 8 sata ports
http://uk.asus.com/products.aspx?l1=3&l2=15&l3=148

You really need to figure out what board you have as its quite likely you
are installing the incorrect drivers.

Another issue being if you purchased an A8sli deluxe, and paid for that,
exactly what have you been sent?
An open box with the wrong motherboard and wrong drivers cd??

Turns out, the vendor (AJUMP - already on my $#|+list for spamming) sent
the non-deluxe, but in a box clearly marked deluxe. This is the dirty end
of the computer industry, the jerks that will do anything to sell crap at
a profit.

Does the non-delux even do raid? I guess I'm starting over. I have hoped
to squeaze another year out of this machine, but clearly something needs
to give.

--
Those who try to hide behind Godwin are the real net-nazis.
Philosophy: Joking about why we cuss so much.
Learn about spam: http://www.seige-perilous.org/spam/spam.html
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