chantalcookware
asked on
Blue Screen After Installing Adaptec 1200A RAID
Hello.
I am adding an Adaptec 1200A RAID card to build a RAID 1 mirror for my boot disk. When I add the card I am able to go into the Adaptec setup and create the array and copy the disk. On reboot I get a blue screen. Adaptecs web site suggests to install the card on the OS (Windows XP SP3) prior to building the RAID. When I add the card with no drives attached, while booting to the IDE controller on the motherboard I get another blue screen. These blue screens are gone before I can get any details. If I remove the card, the computer boots up fine. I tried to install in all of the available PCI slots to make sure that wasn't the problem. The computer is an Emachine T6524. Phoenix Award BIOS. I can't find much on editing the BIOS but I am guessing there is a conflict between existing motherboad IDE controller and the RAID card. I am not sure how to get around it.
I am adding an Adaptec 1200A RAID card to build a RAID 1 mirror for my boot disk. When I add the card I am able to go into the Adaptec setup and create the array and copy the disk. On reboot I get a blue screen. Adaptecs web site suggests to install the card on the OS (Windows XP SP3) prior to building the RAID. When I add the card with no drives attached, while booting to the IDE controller on the motherboard I get another blue screen. These blue screens are gone before I can get any details. If I remove the card, the computer boots up fine. I tried to install in all of the available PCI slots to make sure that wasn't the problem. The computer is an Emachine T6524. Phoenix Award BIOS. I can't find much on editing the BIOS but I am guessing there is a conflict between existing motherboad IDE controller and the RAID card. I am not sure how to get around it.
You need to have this driver and you may have to have a floppy drive or, at least, a USB drive with the files unzipped:
http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/speed/raid/aar/windows/1200a_windows_drv_v13_exe.htm
Here are the docs; but, generally, you start XP's setup, press F6 to install the driver, and point it to the diskette or USB drive.
http://download.adaptec.com/pdfs/installation_guides/ata_raid_1200a_iug_1.pdf
You will have to reinstall from scratch for it to boot properly.
http://www.adaptec.com/en-us/speed/raid/aar/windows/1200a_windows_drv_v13_exe.htm
Here are the docs; but, generally, you start XP's setup, press F6 to install the driver, and point it to the diskette or USB drive.
http://download.adaptec.com/pdfs/installation_guides/ata_raid_1200a_iug_1.pdf
You will have to reinstall from scratch for it to boot properly.
ASKER
I can't install from scratch. I have a ghosted image of the hard drive. Is there any way to use that to restore with?
If it will boot into safe mode, this might work: http://ask.adaptec.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4065/~/how-to-fix-issues-with-the-windows-xp-driver-for-the-adaptec-ata-raid-1200a
If all you want is RAID 1 mirroring then forget the 1200 and just use the built in utility.
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/dm_add_mirror_existing.mspx?mfr=true
http://www.microsoft.com/resources/documentation/windows/xp/all/proddocs/en-us/dm_add_mirror_existing.mspx?mfr=true
ASKER
The built in utility does not work for Windows XP for mirroring the OS. It won't boot into safe mode. Windows will not allow me to just install the card as a stand alone device with no drives attached. Is there something on the bios that needs to be disabled? I tried adding the driver and software without installing the card but that did not work.
Windows needs the driver installed for the boot device which gets handled differently than if it is an add-on. It must be installed during setup using the F6 option.
Since that is not possible, I'd suggest you simply add the drive as a second hard disk to the systemboard, delete the partition(s) on it, and use Windows, built-in software raid.
You didn't gain anything with the 1200A, anyway.
http://www.petri.co.il/software_mirror_in_windows_xp.htm
Since that is not possible, I'd suggest you simply add the drive as a second hard disk to the systemboard, delete the partition(s) on it, and use Windows, built-in software raid.
You didn't gain anything with the 1200A, anyway.
http://www.petri.co.il/software_mirror_in_windows_xp.htm
ASKER
Windows is not able to create a mirror on the boot disk. This is why I was trying the 1200a.
What error message do you get in disk management?
ASKER
The option is not available in disk management. It is grayed out.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
This solution is only available to members.
To access this solution, you must be a member of Experts Exchange.
ASKER
ok. let me try that and i will advise results
thank you
thank you
Boot the cd ,install the 3rd party driver for the 1200 and install xp.