Promise RAID WinXP drivers for GA-7DXR motherboard

[yfradkin]

Short question -- where do I take Promise RAID WinXP drivers for GA-7DXR motherboard? And here are the details:

I have GA-7DXR motherboard ( http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Motherboard/Pro...cts_GA-7DXR.htm ) with on-board Promise PDC20265 ATA100 w/ RAID chip. The manufacturer's manual ( http://america.giga-byte.com/MotherBoard/F...7dxr_e_0201.pdf ) described RAID starting on page 65.

Board's BIOS version F9 dated 2002/4/12 ( http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Motherboard/Sup...IOS_GA-7DXR.htm ) which claims to "support 137GB or bigger HDD". Motherboard's BIOS also includes "FastTrak100 ”Lite”".

The latest Promise driver on the GA site ( http://www.gigabyte.com.tw/Motherboard/Sup...ver_GA-7DXR.htm ) is Promise PDC20265 RAID : 1.30-60 ATA100 : 1.60.2.0.0.18.

Now, to Promise website ( http://www.promise.com/support/download/do...iver&os=0&go=GO ). It says that FastTrak100 supports 137GB or bigger HDD only starting from Windows driver version 2.00.0.25 (released 2002/4/18) which by the way must use BIOS version 2.00.0.24 or above.

Promise also warns ( http://www.promise.com/product/oem_ataraid_pdc20265r_eng.htm ) "DO NOT download BIOS & driver for PROMISE brand PCI card products to be used on motherboards. They are different products. The PDC20265R is specifically for motherboard built in use only, and not to be used on PROMISE brand PCI card product."

WHAT I DID: I configured RAID 1 array using FastBuild BIOS menus (2 x WDC-160GB). No complaints from FastBuild.

I even tested those 2 drives using a 3rd party utility from a bootable floppy; no complaints.

I copied Gigabyte-provided Promise RAID drivers 1.60.2.0.0.18 to a floppy.

Then I proceeded with WinXP fresh installation -> "F6" -> inserted a diskette with Gigabyte-provided Promise RAID drivers 1.60.2.0.0.18 for WinXP -> selected a FastTrak 100 PDC20265 diver from the menu. Windows setup acknowledged a new driver.

But then, Windows setup stopped with an error message "This system has no hard drives" (quoting by memory).

Any ideas what to do next?

[berrick]

I skimmed through your post and the only issue i can think of that could have a bearing on your problem is that windows XP prior to SP1a wouldnt support HD with capacities larger then 140Gb. Though this normally results in the op sys only seeing the 1st 140Gb of your larger disks

Suggest you slipstream SP!a or SP2 hope it helps

[GET 1T DONE]

What are your system specs?

I also have this motherboard, and when I tried setting up a RAID-0 config, it turned out that the ATI Radeon 8500's BIOS was imcompatible w/the Promise Controller's BIOS, preventing me from performing an install of Windows. Put in an NVidia card and it worked.

The FastTrak utility says everythings fine and all...it's just Windows wouldn't load.

Maybe you have the same problem? Please let me know if this is the case or if it's something else.

[yfradkin]

I solved the problem (full description here: http://www.broadbandreports.com/forum/remark,14364074 ). This is a solution in short:

Basically, I installed WinXP on a non-RAID HDD#1; upgraded to WinXP SP2; installed the latest Promise WinXP drivers version 2.00.0.25 (released 2002/4/18) for "FastTrak 100" from Promise website ( http://www.promise.com/support/download/do...iver&os=0&go=GO ); then moved the HDD#1 from regular IDE to a Promise channel; attached a second HDD#2 to Promise channel; then created a RAID-1 array and mirrored HDD#1 to HDD#2.

The point is: Promise drivers from Gigabyte web site do not work. Only the drivers from Promise site worked for me.