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View Full Version : SATA raid 0 setup...how?


kaltag
08-03-03, 11:04 PM
In my current system in sig I want to run two Raptors in the RAID 0 configuration but I have never worked with RAID...EVER! I am unsure of exactly how one is supposed go about setting up the drives so that I can install Windows XP Pro. I remember that when XP starts to install it says press "key" to load 3rd party raid driver. So does that mean when I get the drives and connect them to the controller card (that I need advice on as well) do I need to set something on the card or just boot from the XP cd and then install some software to allow windows to see the drives as one? Also If I need to add the driver to windows will I need something special so that the system will boot since (as I understand) the boot sector will already be spread across the drives or how does that work? I hate to nag but I basically need someone to hold my hand during this. I will also be doing a similar setup for a friend of mine using the onboard SATA controller on the MSI K7N2. How does the controller onboard hold up compared to other offerings? And lastly what SATA card seems to offer the best performance? I understand that hardware RAID is not always faster than software because the processor in the system is faster than the fastest RAID controllers. I'm sorry for the long post any many questions but I'm just realy unsure how all this works. I just need to know the procedures to go through to get this working. thank you all.

FireMogle
08-03-03, 11:37 PM
First of all install the card(if needed) and HDs into card as normal. Then power up, the card's BIOS should come up and say press a key to enter setup, do that. Next you will setup an array, the card I have(Promise ATA66) had an auto config, see the manual for any extra info regarding this step, or post the card make to get a more detailed explain. Exit and reboot.

Now the array should be working, and its time to install XP, start it normally, and as you know you put in the floppy to load the 3rd party drivers, do that. XP should now install normally, partition the drive and such.
I am not sure if you need to install further drivers, that anything else I left out will surely be added in by someone else. Good luck