While Installing Vista message appear about no valid volumn in system

[commonjunks]

Hi,

I have seen there is a section for installing XP from USB but there is no section to install Vista from USB so i though maybe this is the right section, in case i am wrong please move to correct forum (advance apologies).

I bought this system over the weekend to setup as NAS/HTPC and configuration is as below

Intel DG45FC

Intel Core 2 Duo E6400 (taken from old pc)

2 GB ram

4 hotswap drive casing

4 x 1.5TB green WD.

Everything went well on setup, i did configure single RAID 5 about 4.5TB (There are only 4 ports which i have already used for disks, so cannot use extra disk for OS installation).

Unfortunately i didn't bought USB DVD drive and tried using "installing windows from USB".

Now everything go smooth till it ask for driver as it cannot find RAID, after providing raid driver it show there is 4.xxTB drive available. There when i create new it break 4TB drive into 2x2TB drivers (i tried a few methods by create a separate partition of 10GB) but end up getting message "windows could not determine if this computer contains a valid system volume". So i don't understand why system can show 4TB driver but after creating partition and format still next screen show no valid volume.

I have taken a few screen shots, please advise where i have done wrong.

1- Bios setup for RAID

2- As there is no HDD (RAID) information and optical device so bios is picking USB as first hdd (i am using USB key for installation).

3- Last but not least RAID 5 configuration with Bootable=No (there is no option anywhere to configure yes).

Regards,

Edited June 3, 2009 by commonjunks

[Tripredacus]

I would not recommend installing Windows on a drive of that size. If you are doing high end storage, your system drive should be a separate physical disk, at least, or on a separate controller, and ideally a RAID1. This is a best practice in the case that if your OS crashes your data is safe because it is on a different volume or disk. Even though this is a best practice, I've experienced this recently on a server I inherited. I lost over 1TB of data (customer files) that has been requested at times recently. When I redid the server, I used 1 HDD for OS (onboard) and a RAID5 on RAID card.

[cluberti]

Also, I've had problems with Vista setup on large volumes with both the ICH9R and ICH10R chipsets. However, after adding in the Intel driver to the install source, it worked fine. Seems like perhaps the generic inbox driver has issues with larger volumes, whereas the actual Intel driver does not. Consider integrating the latest driver for the ICH10R into your Vista source before attempting installation.

[commonjunks]

@Tripredacus, Thanks for sharing your idea. I would love to do it but my board only support 4 SATA and i have already spend like 800$ for 4 disks . Trying to see if i can use pci-express card for any use.

Also, I've had problems with Vista setup on large volumes with both the ICH9R and ICH10R chipsets. However, after adding in the Intel driver to the install source, it worked fine. Seems like perhaps the generic inbox driver has issues with larger volumes, whereas the actual Intel driver does not. Consider integrating the latest driver for the ICH10R into your Vista source before attempting installation.

While installing, Vista asked for drivers as it cannot find for RAID, i did feed provided drivers from Intel but seems problem is the USB . I think if no choice i have to spend 100$ for external DVD writer (but again if it don't workout then ).

[cluberti]

If you have a USB key, just integrate the drivers into the WIM (make sure to integrate both into install.wim *and* boot.wim). Instructions here. Making a bootable usb key for Vista or Win7 is here.