32k stripe/16k cluster formatted partition = "Disk Read Error" on XP install? HELP!

Durzel

Durzel

Durzel

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Hoping someone else out there will have come across the same problem as it's doing my head in!

Here's the details:
  • Created an RAID0 array in Intel Matrix Storage Manager BIOS spanning my 2 x 74GB Raptor drives (~138GB), 32KB stripe size.
  • Using a spare HD with Windows installed I've created a 15GB partition on the array and formatted it with 16KB cluster size.
  • I have then tried installing XP (with SP2 bundled) onto this drive, making sure NOT to format it during the install. I have selected the drivers from the floppy that was created using the P5W64 CD by pressing F6 when asked.
Everything goes smoothly until it reboots the first time. When it starts and tries to boot off the newly installed partition it just says "Disk read error, please CTRL+ALT+DEL to continue".

If I create the partition (same size) and format it from within Windows XP setup (i.e. the default 4K cluster because I don't have a choice) then it is fine.

There are no other hard disks installed in my system at the point of install, so there is nothing else it could boot off of besides the CD itself.

System is running completely stock (I never overclock during OS installs)

Anyone come across this before?
 
you would have to copy your hard disc partion using Acronis True Image
to change cluster size in xp

1.you clone hard disc to a spare drive (you done)
2.setup raid drives and install drivers
3.setup your 15gb partion formated with your cluster size ie 16kb
4.then clone with true image from spare drive onto your new raided drives
reboot, change bios to boot up with raided drives

i no xp 64 allows you specify cluster size @ setup
as you say xp is default 4kb

basically you need 3 drives to do this 1 for always having XP on to clone
onto any new drives.
 
Last edited:
Found out the problem now... basically XP with SP2 slipstreamed won't install onto a non-4KB cluster partition, it basically messes up the bootloader.

Gonna have to install vanilla XP Pro and update it :)
 
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