Raid Install

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.