dl41

I ordered a CD. I have looked at the system builder info, but too much to sort through and no specific mention of this problem that I could find. Actually got it to install using the Gigabyte drivers and disconnecting all other HDs, but only on the NF4 controller as it didn't show on the SIL controller. Unfortunately my 32-bit RAID array OS was corrupted when I hooked it back up and tried to start it. Loaded slowly to cntl/alt/del (for the network) put in my password, loading personal settings.... and logged off. Hmmm. Doesn't make sense that the 64-bit installation had anything to do with it. Oh well. Reformatted 32-bit and made a Ghost image. Good thing I back up daily. Back to trying the 64-bit again. Still need to install drivers and such. So the test continues. :-)

Price isn't a problem since we're a registered business (system builders). I can get OEM XP Pro64 for $175AUD. I just want to check all drivers and programs and do a speed comparison before I pay for a full version. More interested in testing MYOB, MS Office 2003, networking and Exchange with our server (2003 SBS) and other computers (XP Pro 32-bit), anti-virus, etc., than games. Was also looking forward to a few benchmark comparisons. My 32-bit is rock solid, so would only be worth changing over if everything worked AND was a bit faster. Unfortunately, the SIL drivers still didn't solve the looping back to CD problem (SATA drive). Guess I'll live without 64-bit for now. Thanx for the help and links. :-)

Not dual boot. I have 1 RAID 0 (stripe) on the NF4 controller with 32-bit. Trying to install 64-bit on the RAID 0 (stripe) SIL controller as the only OS. I use the BIOS to disable whichever controller that I'm not using as I don't care to corrupt my 32-bit installation. ;-) There is nothing in BIOS specific to 64-bit vs 32-bit. I'm not hitting any keys upon reboot and don't get that option if I reset to boot to hard drive during the first reboot. I don't have any IDE drives in house as we only sell SATA anymore. I'll try to install to one (without the RAID) and use your drivers to see if that makes any difference. Agreed that the Nvidia controllers have issues, although mine have been limited to RAID at this point. Mainly the RAID configuration becomes corrupt upon shutting down for no apparent reason. Have the same problem with the NF4 controller on a DFI LP SLI-DR board. Seems like a random power surge, since the fix is to shut down, unplug the corrupted drive from NF4 controller and plug it into the SIL, start up, shut down and swap HD back. Then the RAID array comes back as healthy. Thanx for the response. :-) System Specs: Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI 3700+ San Diego 2 X 1g OCZ PC4000 Gold 2 X 200G WD SATA2 (RAID 0) (NF4 controller) 2 X 120G Seagate SATA (RAID 0) (SIL controller) OCZ 600W Powerstream 2 X BFG 6800U (SLI) Exos2 Water Cooling on CPU and Vid cards

Hi, I've been building computers for several years for a living. I know how to install drivers for SATA/RAID/etc at the f6 prompt. I'm using the latest BIOS (f12, also tried f7 and f10 which are supposed to support 64-bit). When trying to install XP 64-bit from the MS trial CD, I load the RAID 64-bit drivers at the f6 prompt. Normally with 32-bit, if the drivers aren't loaded properly I can't get past the "agreement" page, as it will say no hard drive is found. However this is finding the hard drive, formatting it, and copying the setup files. Upon the first reboot, it loops back to the CD instead of finishing the installation. If I change BIOS boot back to the hard drive during the first reboot, it errors. (Can't recall exactly, but missing windows system file of some sort). Had XP Pro 32-bit installed previously with no problems and have it installed again afterward with no problems. Anyone else seen this and/or have a fix for it? Any and all help is much appreciated. :-) System Specs: Gigabyte K8NXP-SLI 3700+ San Diego 2 X 1g OCZ PC4000 Gold 2 X 200G WD SATA2 (RAID 0) 2 X 120G Seagate SATA (RAID 0) OCZ 600W Powerstream 2 X BFG 6800U (SLI) Exos2 Water Cooling on CPU and Vid cards