Very slow boot with Adaptec RAID

[Guest]

I installed an Adaptec 1200a RAID controller and setup a nice little array
with XP Pro on it, but it takes upwards of 45mins - 1hr to boot up. I have
the latest Adaptec drivers installed, and the latest BIOS for my motherboard
installed. The odd thing is that once Windows finally finishes booting
everything runs fine. Disk access times are normal and I receive no errors at
all.

Any ideas?

 

[Guest]

Did you install the drivers before installing xp by pressing F6,one has to do
this.Is RAID configured in start-up,a brief RAID menu should apear before
the xp screen.You might also,at start-up,tap the F8 key,select,safe-mode with
networking,then also try start in normal start-up to see if any time is
saved.
A RAID set should start in 30 seconds or so same as an IDE drive,the only
delay is or should be the 5-10 second RAID menu before xp.Also chk system
properties,advanced,start-up,see that "fast detect" is selected.

 

[Guest]

I did install the drivers in Windows setup with F6 and all that. Safe Mode
with netwoorking boots normal, it is only normal mode which takes a really
long time to load. I see the Windows loading bar scrolling across the bottom
of the screen for 30 or so minutes before the login screen appears, and then
everything is fine.

 

[Testy]

Do you still have any IDE drives? If not go into Device manager and set the
IDE controller's on Advanced tab to none.

Testy

 

[Guest]

I have a couple of CD-ROMS on IDE. The delay occurs after BIOS and RAID have
finished detecting and while Windows is first starting up, before I get to
the logon screen.

 

[Testy]

OK try this then (more detail)
Open device manager, expand IDE ATA?ATAPI controllers, right click on
Primary select properties/advanced look at Current Transfer mode box if it
says Not Applicable then change the Device type to NONE.
Do the same for secondary controller click OK and reboot should be a bit
faster.
Check Event Viewer for any errors.
Windows is looking for something that does not exist.

Testy

 

[Guest]

I've been playing with this thing all day. What I've done is completely
disabled my onboard IDE in bios and just disconnected the CD's I have, and
removed my IDE controller from device manager completely. Still have no joy
getting better boot.

 

[Testy]

Cause maybe one of two things
1 Windows is looking for devices/drivers that do not exist
2 You have virus/spyware issues.
Too trouble shoot this you may try several things:
First look in the Event Viewer for errors which may give a clue.
Second run msconfig, check the startup tab uncheck everything there
Third using msconfig perform a diagnostic startup and see if the problem
still exists.
Fourth scan for virus/spyware.
Good luck.

Testy

 

[-NA-Thor]

Well i hope somene is still looking at this as i have the very sam
problem it is driving me mad My Equipment is all new stock and will no
work in windows XP works fine with 2000 i have tried everything sugeste
on this Thread with no joy so any other idears would be apriciated

Thanks Dean