Vista - Clean Install of XP Fails after Vista Install Success

Hi all,
I didn't know which group to post in... XP or Vista. Maybe I will cross-post
if necessary.
Here is the problem. I got a new Dell Inspiron 531 with a single 160 GB
drive. The motherboard supports SATA Raid 1. I purchased an identical
Seagate drive (model# exact), activated Raid 1 and created the array. Upon
POST the machine indicates a healthy Raid 1 array.

I then installed Vista Business from the DVD, The install went quickly and
flawlessly and the OS is working just fine.

However, I discovered that some critical business applications would not
install on Vista and therefore decided to fall back to XP Pro until the
applications are brought up to Vista compatibility.

Upon attempting to then do a clean install of XP Pro from the DVD I ran into
a problem. All the drivers and support files loaded properly as per a
typical XP pre-install setup routine.. However, after the message "Starting
Windows" is displayed (still in the very beginnings of the install), there
is a delay of about 30 seconds and then I get a blue-screen indicating that
XP found problems with the Hard Drive or Drive Controllers. I tried 3 times
and the same thing happened.

The machine still boots and runs Vista without a problem.

I am confused as to how Vista accepted the drive configuration without my
having to load a Sata/Raid driver up front. Is the problem that after the
prompt "Press F6 to load additional drivers" I should need to install a
driver to be used during XP setup so that it will recognize my Sata Raid???

Thanks for any replies... John

You should only install one operating system
on a RAID array. The proper way to dual-boot
is to first install Windows XP on one drive, then
install Windows Vista on its own separate drive.

--
Carey Frisch
Microsoft MVP
Windows Shell/User

---------------------------------------------------------------

"John Kotuby" <JohnKotuby@xxxxxx> wrote in message news:uW4J5a1CIHA.4952@xxxxxx
Hi all,
I didn't know which group to post in... XP or Vista. Maybe I will cross-post
if necessary.
Here is the problem. I got a new Dell Inspiron 531 with a single 160 GB
drive. The motherboard supports SATA Raid 1. I purchased an identical
Seagate drive (model# exact), activated Raid 1 and created the array. Upon
POST the machine indicates a healthy Raid 1 array.

I then installed Vista Business from the DVD, The install went quickly and
flawlessly and the OS is working just fine.

However, I discovered that some critical business applications would not
install on Vista and therefore decided to fall back to XP Pro until the
applications are brought up to Vista compatibility.

Upon attempting to then do a clean install of XP Pro from the DVD I ran into
a problem. All the drivers and support files loaded properly as per a
typical XP pre-install setup routine.. However, after the message "Starting
Windows" is displayed (still in the very beginnings of the install), there
is a delay of about 30 seconds and then I get a blue-screen indicating that
XP found problems with the Hard Drive or Drive Controllers. I tried 3 times
and the same thing happened.

The machine still boots and runs Vista without a problem.

I am confused as to how Vista accepted the drive configuration without my
having to load a Sata/Raid driver up front. Is the problem that after the
prompt "Press F6 to load additional drivers" I should need to install a
driver to be used during XP setup so that it will recognize my Sata Raid???

Thanks for any replies... John

Thanks Carey for the reply...

I guess I didn't make myself clear. I do not want to end up with a
dual-boot machine... even though I had considered it.

My intention is to re-format the Raid drive during the "clean" install of
Windows XP, using the XP intall program that appears from DVD upon
re-boot...booting directly from the DVD.

I want to get rid of the Vista install compeletely...with the intention up
doing an Upgrade install from XP Pro to Vista Business later when the
applications I need to run become Vista compatible. I have heard that the
upgrade install from XP to Vista actually works well...much better than
previous upgrade installs.

"Carey Frisch [MVP]" <cnfrisch@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:8E2387B4-E220-4F81-B455-CC8CFA329DE0@xxxxxx

On Wed, 10 Oct 2007 12:09:15 -0400, John Kotuby wrote:
Jonh, I would suspect that you are correct in your last statement. XP
does have problems with SATA Raid drivers. You will need to get the XP
drivers for your sata controller and use the F6 option to load them at
install time. This should then allow you to continue your install as
normal.

Doug

Doug is correct.
Something for the future. When you go back to Vista, do a clean install.
Upgrading from XP to vista, you are asking for problems.


"John Kotuby" wrote:

You will need the drivers on a floppy when asked on the bottom of the screen
for F6 drivers.

"John Kotuby" <JohnKotuby@xxxxxx> wrote in message
news:ubSCW31CIHA.5160@xxxxxx