Vista - install doesn't see sata-raid drivers

I am attempting a new build with Vista x64 sp1.

When I get to the install screen part where to put the OS, no HD is found. I expected this, as I have a sata-raid setup on the hardware. I have all device drivers on a usb stick ready-to-go, however the install repeatedly tells me no drivers were found... NONE!

This makes no sense to me. I could understand if it didn't LIKE my drivers, but not find them. This is my first foray into vista, I'm assuming I'm missing something, but I have no idea what.

Any help is appreciated!

So tell it you will search yourself and navigate down any directory
structure until you find the INF file you need.

--
The personal opinion of
Gary G. Little

"upstatelabs" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:ffe284fc5ebe719a38d92c249fff510a@xxxxxx-gateway.com...

That is my point exactly; I cannot do that, as the vista install does not see any .inf files (even though they ARE there)

"upstatelabs" <guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote in message
news:ffe284fc5ebe719a38d92c249fff510a@xxxxxx-gateway.com...Have a look to see if the driver is a self-extracting executable...
if so, you will need to extract it first

Excellent point ...

--
The personal opinion of
Gary G. Little

"philo" <philo@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:CYednUblqvdPCBHUnZ2dnUVZ_v7inZ2d@xxxxxx

The files are not executable. I extracted them after downloading the .exe from the manufacturer website. The .inf and other files show up just fine when the USB flash memory is plugged into any other computer. Nice try though.

Even if the .inf files were totally wrong, shouldn't I at least SEE them?

UPDATE/SOLVED:
I'd like to leave an update on my problem, as perhaps others may be helped.
I especially thank poster BabyBish whose post, and several others on other forums, particularly this one by Fernando1, were key in solving my issue. The path I took is slightly modified from the steps BabyBish took.

Bottom line: no driver could be found because my raid1 was invisible to the Vista install, even though the drivers WERE present and correct, and the sata raid1 was present and configured as the boot drive in hardware.

I acquired a spare PATA harddrive, and installed it to my system.
I installed Vista to the PATA drive. This went smoothly and without complication. I then installed the nvidia software/drivers to the system (that I had previously downloaded from the motherboard's website).
Then, in the nvidia config app, I reset-up the raid1 configuration. I then (!!!) ACTIVATED (!!!) the raid1 in the disk manager and formatted the drive. The activation and format was the KEY item here.

Once done, I shut down the computer and removed the PATA drive. I then did a standard clean install from the beginning. The sata raid1 drive was found by the install, and I added the drivers (BOTH!!). The install went smooth from there.

Good luck!