What are the issues of installing XP on a Raid/Sata controller?

[NeilF]

I've never installed onto a raid controller before?

I simply want two sata drives (not in a raid config), so I assume plug them in, define TWO arrays in the bios, each with just ONE disc?

But then what happens when I install windows? Will it happily (at least) setup and install on the first array/disc?

Doesn't it need the appropriate (Promise) driver to access the discs?


If it's going to be painful I'll just shove an IDE in as the main drive!

 

[NeilF]

Either way you'll need to give the OS installer the correct drivers.

Not entirely sure what that means?

 

[NeilF]

On the XP installation screen there will be a little block of text appearing at the bottom along the lines of "Press F6 to install Raid/SATA drivers", it is only there for about 5 seconds I think. From there you install the drivers from a floppy disk you have prepared earlier in the best Blue Peter tradition.

Hmmm...

This is all because on my machine my C drive partition has gone a bit screwy (during a defrag). My C & D drives are IDE, my E & F are SATA (via a Promise controller).

So I'm going to replace my IDE drive just incase this is an indication of the drive starting to fail (& not O&O Defrag to blame).

I think I'm going to replace like for like so I'll put another IDE in. Why? Because I do have a disc image of my entire C drive from about 3 months ago and in reality virtually nothing has changed! And it'll save be a lot of time/hassle/agro if I can just go back to that image!

So I don't want to risk putting in a SATA in the IDE's place only to find up this screws up putting that image back!

 

[NeilF]

which OS are you going to use, and which controller is it? (exact name)

XP Pro on an Asus P4PE MB which uses a Promise FastTrack376 controller onboard.

As I said though, I'll go IDE just to ensure the biggest chance of restoring my C drive image from about 3 months ago!