Maxtor & Nforce - flashing problem

poltergeist666 · 28 Jun 2006 at 17:14

Have just built a new system, and it is obvious to me now, that there are problems with Maxtor drives and Nvidia Nforce boards. :rolleyes:

The m/b is a Asus A8N32 Sli Deluxe & the two drives are Diamondmax 10 300 gb satas.

I can create a raid 0 array, and load the drivers when hitting F6 on the windows initial install, but when it comes to the part when you hit enter (it should then go on list the drives, and where you want to install etc), it comes up with there are no drives on the system.

Contacted Maxtor, and they sent me the relevant firmware - and I copied it to a floppy, and then booted to a cmd prompt. When I type Dload, it says there are no Maxtor products recognisble!

The above was attempted on the Silicon image controller - (set to SATA2) on the Asus (and it was enabled in the bios, and shows up on the POST screen)

I've been trying to get this system running for hours now, and have almost given up. Anyone have any ideas on how I may be able to flash these drives, and get them working.

Many thanks in advance.

poltergeist666 · 28 Jun 2006 at 17:23

Just to add, that the m/b is flashed to the latest Bios. The problem that the compatability issue is causing me, is that although the Nforce chip can see and create a Raid 0 array, on the set up page, at the bottom where it gives you some options, the part where it allows you to make bootable is greyed out, and that therefore, the drive from a bootable perspective, has n/a against it. :confused:

Thanks again.

poltergeist666 · 3 Jul 2006 at 16:30

Anyone?

Toytown · 3 Jul 2006 at 17:07

Contacted Maxtor, and they sent me the relevant firmware - and I copied it to a floppy, and then booted to a cmd prompt. When I type Dload, it says there are no Maxtor products recognisble!

Its not really a Maxtor problem, its that your not loading the correct drivers for the raid array, you should be using the silicon image drivers when your asked to push F6, double check what came on the CD you got with the motherboard, there is sometimes a driver for if the controller is running in normal mode and another driver if it is running in RAID mode.

Copy them to a floppy disc and try again.

poltergeist666 · 3 Jul 2006 at 17:42

According to tech support at OCUK, the Maxtors and Nforce 4 combination throws up some incompatability issues, that may be fixed via the firmware update.

I used the Makedisc app and the Sillicon Image chipset set on SATA2, but can't seem to get the program to detect that a Maxtor drive is present when I type in DLOAD on the A:\ command prompt. After a brief pause, it comes back with no Maxtor products detected. :confused:

poltergeist666 · 3 Jul 2006 at 17:47

Toytown said:
Its not really a Maxtor problem, its that your not loading the correct drivers for the raid array, you should be using the silicon image drivers when your asked to push F6.

I tried that already.

Toytown said:
Copy them to a floppy disc and try again.

Tried that also - many times!

Thanks anyway.