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Raid Install

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Raid Install
Simple solution to avoid the common raid boot error.
Published by Grimace
07-19-2007

Firstly all my references are to do with SATA drives and I am unsure if the problem is present for PATA configs, but i would still disconnect the PATA drives when I reference to disconnect SATA drives.

The Problem:
When doing a fresh instal of vista on a raid configuration with other hard disk drives present the boot files get loaded onto the first non raid drive (most cases drive d: ). Upon the first restart/reboot you will get an error 'BOOT DISK FAILURE, INSERT SYSTEM DISK AND HIT ENTER'
You can still access your fresh vista install by inserting your installation DVD and hit enter.
NOTE: do not press any key to load the boot dvd, just let it run by and it will automatically bring up your install.
A FRESH INSTALL IS REQUIRED TO FIX THIS PROBLEM. I HAVE TRIED COPYING BOOT FILES ACROSS AND MANY OTHER POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS BUT NONE CORRECTED THE ERROR.
All this can be avoided by following the remainder of this tutorial.

The Pre Install:
Make sure all drives are connected.
Beginning with the bios and raid configuration check/do the following;
* Press delete to enter bios.
* Check the bios has detected all SATA drives.
* Set/enable raid for the two/four SATA ports that are connected to your two/four HDDs that you wish to use for the install of vista. (in my case sata 1 & 2 for my two 150gb Raptors) Reboot to save changes.
* Enter the raid config, setup the raid array. MAKING SURE TO ENABLE/SET BOOT. Save configuration/array and reboot
* Enter bios and go to boot section.
* Check/change your boot order to - 1.CDROM 2.Hard Drive (other options can be disabled)
* Check/change you hard drive order to - 1.RAID ARRAY 2.3.&4etc will be all your other SATA HDDs. (must make sure the raid array is number 1)
* Save changes and turn off your pc.

The Install:
Ok so you have correctly setup the raid array and your bios settings. Now its time to remove Vistas chance to install any files to any drive except the raid config.
Unfortunately its not as easy as just installing the operating system to the raid drive as I did this and for reason yet to be known, Vista decided to install all boot files to my next non-raid SATA drive (in my case my media drive D:\)

Disconnect all SATA drives that are not involved in your raid configuration.
Now you can install Vista as per normal selecting your new raid array and not have to worry about the files being loaded elsewhere.

Note: In this tutorial I have not included any information about having to load additional drivers at the partition install selection as I had not needed them in my case.
Vista detected my raid drives first go no worries.
If you do find that Vista does not find your raid partition then you need to obtain the correct manufacturers WHQL driver to load at the partition selection to enable/view your raid config and continue the install.

The End:
Well not quiet, after the install has completed and multiple reboots later you will finally be in your new fresh OS. Its now safe to do all updates/patches and then restart.
You should not have any boot errors and Vista should load as per a normal config.
At this time it is safe to power down your pc, plug in all the SATA drives previously disconected, enter your bios and double check the hard drive order (make changes if need, but be sure to leave the raid array as number 1).
You can also change your boot order if you like (I like to make the Hard Drive first instead of CD Rom and disable all others).
Restart and your away.
You can use disk managment from within Vista Administartive tools to check the staus of all hard drives, format/change letters as needed.
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Old 02-11-2008  
nud funter
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Re: Raid Install

Great tutorial but I have one question. You say to disconnect all SATA drives not involved with the RAID array. My DVD drive is a SATA drive and if I disconnect that how will I install windows as it won't read the installation cd.
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Old 02-11-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

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Great tutorial but I have one question. You say to disconnect all SATA drives not involved with the RAID array. My DVD drive is a SATA drive and if I disconnect that how will I install windows as it won't read the installation cd.
Sorry, silly oversight on my behalf. The SATA cd/dvd drive is ok to be left plugged in.
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Old 02-11-2008  
nud funter
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Re: Raid Install

No worries mate, thanks for clarifying.
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Old 02-13-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

I just want to say that after weeks of trying to get my computer running with Vista I have finally done it thanks to this tutorial. Fantastic!
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Old 02-13-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

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I just want to say that after weeks of trying to get my computer running with Vista I have finally done it thanks to this tutorial. Fantastic!
Glad to know it was time well spent. The tutorial wasn't that time consuming, but figuring out why vista was loading the boot files incorrectly was, as you have already mention, many weeks

Cheers
Grimace
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Old 05-27-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

Hello,

I would like to do a dual-boot install on my machine. First Xp and then Vista. Will there be any problems after I've installed XP to a RAID0 array?`Will Vista notice the array and install nicely? I have two 500GB drivers.
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Old 05-27-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

Hi Termis, welcome to the forum.

You will need a driver for your RAID controller in XP (you have to load it by pressing F6). Therefore you need a floppy drive or you have to include the drivers in your installation CD. Once the drivers are loaded, you should be able to see all the partitions on your array.

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Old 05-27-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

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Hi Termis, welcome to the forum.

You will need a driver for your RAID controller in XP (you have to load it by pressing F6). Therefore you need a floppy drive or you have to include the drivers in your installation CD. Once the drivers are loaded, you should be able to see all the partitions on your array.
Thank you for welcoming and for the quick reply,


Xp raid drivers are A-ok, and the plan is to first load them, install XP, and then partition the new "array" so that I will make a partition for vista and for everything else.

The question is, when I then install a fresh install of Vista, will it see the array ok and notice that XP is installed and that the array has a partition for itself? I just see problems ahead when first setting the array with xp..
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Old 05-27-2008  
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Re: Raid Install

Hi Termis,

Unless the Vista installation disk has RAID drivers for your motherboard, it will probably not pick up that you have RAID installed and instead offer to install on a single disk as opposed to the array. Even if it does have the correct driver, you may need to supply it from alternative media at the appropriate point in Setup. These are fundamental drivers which are essential to the smooth running of Vista, and for this reason I recommend Vista-compatible drivers. Check the website of your motherboard manufacturer.
Dwarf
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