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Question

XP Clean Install . . . Raid Controller Can of Worms

Jun 27, 2011 3:54AM PDT

Hi there,
I want to do a clean install of xp and being a novice I proceeded to google around for all the necessary information. I started downloading the drivers I would need and eventually reached the stage at which I needed to download my Raid driver. This is where I started to think I might have bitten off more than I can chew! For starters I didnt even know what this Via Raid was, but didnt let that deter me as I'm adept at learning as I go along, so I continued to read, read and read some more but have come to the conclusion that I'm never going to understand how to install xp with Raid in my way Sad . . . . . or am I?
Can anyone give me some plain speaking, step by step instructions on installation?
I have 2 hard drives, windows being on the smaller one at the moment but thought it might be a good idea to reinstall on the larger drive? It was previously used for storage but had masses of space wasted as nothing ever stayed on it long before being backed up to disc.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
You bet.
Jun 27, 2011 3:58AM PDT

I've yet to find any step by step. Only guides. And those onboard software RAIDs are so bad at times I had hopes folk would get so burned up about it they would go back ot Adapter cards with onboard firmware raid.

So yes, there are guides. No step by step since you could choose Raid 0,1, other, 2, 3, 7 drives and to have a step by step for each variant is not possible.

Besides, I never found support for "XP" for this. We only saw this work on XP SP2 CDs or later.
Bob

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Answer
It Depends... More Information Please
Jun 27, 2011 4:11AM PDT

Is the computer a brand-name machine and if so, what model and make?

If so, do you have the recovery discs and driver disc that came with the machine? (Some manufacturers required you to burn the recovery disc which acts in much the same way.)

If it's a custom build computer, do you have a full, legal Windows XP SP2 or SP3 installation disc from Microsoft?

Was XP the original operating system on the computer and if so, why not just download the appropriate drivers from the computer manufacturer's website?

If the computer is already running, have you opened the Device Manager and written down all the driver providers (manufacturers), and driver dates and version numbers for all the various devices listed there? If not, please do.. It might be helpful later.


How large are the hard drives you've mentioned and what type are they? IDE or SATA? If you're not using a SATA drive, you may not need a RAID driver.

The most common way to setup a small and large hard drive combo are exactly as you had them previously. Install the operating system on the smaller of the two and use the second for storage. But it's not required and depending on the sizes of them both, if you don't need the added space of a second hard drive, you may choose not to use it..

In order to install XP on a hard drive, install the hard drive in the machine and leave the second hard drive disconnect during the installation of the operating system.. (You'll place it on the machine later, at which time, XP will recognized it correctly.) When you're ready to install, see the link below and follow the instructions to delete the current partition, recreate a new partition, format the partition and install XP.. All of these steps are done from the XP installation disc when you boot from the disc.

http://www.windowsreinstall.com/winxphome/sp2installxpcdoldhdd/indexfullpage.htm

Hope this helps and let us know more.

Grif

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A bit more background
Jun 27, 2011 4:55AM PDT

It's a Dell Dimension 3000 and I only have my windows installation disc which is legal and was the original OS.
I've printed off the driver list in device manager and am using DriverIdentifier just because I can see all my drivers, Dell and otherwise, in a slightly more ordered way than on the Dell website.
Both drives are IDE, C is 75gb and D is 150gb.
Am I understanding correctly, that I can disconnect either drive before installing windows? and if I disconnect C and install on D will the drive letters be changed automatically or would I have to do that manually . . . . or am I making things difficult for myself again?
Thanks for your help and sorry for needing spoon fed Plain

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With "Both drives are IDE, C is 75gb and D is 150gb."
Jun 27, 2011 5:05AM PDT

With "Both drives are IDE, C is 75gb and D is 150gb" how would create any RAID?

I'm thinking you might want to RAID 0 or 1 but both should result in lower speeds (long post why that would happen) and neither add any security.

I can guess that you would be having nothing but trouble trying to install RAID given these drives.

I suggest a plain XP install.
Bob

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Plain XP install
Jun 27, 2011 5:13AM PDT

Sounds good to me Grin . So do I just ignore the part of the installation which asks for the Raid drivers, I think that's the bit where you press F6? and continue as normal? As for '"Both drives are IDE, C is 75gb and D is 150gb" how would create any RAID?' You have to remember that I'm not even sure what Raid is! I didn't install it on my PC and I wish it wasn't there! life would be a lot easier, I am beginning to realise.

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You'll have to tell more.
Jun 27, 2011 5:18AM PDT

The normal XP install does not have us press F6. The F6 I know of is for machines that need that.

Once you
drop the CD in the tray and fire up the computer to
install XP, the first thing you'll see at the bottom of
the screen is the option to press F6 if you need to
install a SCSI or RAID controller. Don't press F6. Press RETURN instead to move forward.
Biob

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Normal installation
Jun 27, 2011 5:41AM PDT

That's great, thanks for clearing that up for me. Also, will I be asked which drive to install windows to or will it automatically instal to the same drive it was on originally? And can I format D during installation or do I do that separately?
Sorry for the multiple questions but I really don't have a clue as you may have guessed and I'd like to get this right.

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Sorry
Jun 27, 2011 5:52AM PDT

Since step by step with screen shots are found on the web and I don't duplicate web content I'll answer that with an example. There are far too many more PLUS the maker of this PC should have install notes.

Again, GUIDES are plentiful. A step by step is something we get to make.

-> http://www.blackviper.com/Articles/OS/InstallXPHome/installxphome1.htm

And that can be incorrect since this could be a Dell XP CD!
Bob

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Formatting
Jun 27, 2011 7:07AM PDT

Well that 'example' didn't answer my question (I've already checked out blackvipers instructions, I always find him very informative) but I'm sure I can find the answers somewhere else.
Thank you, I appreciate all your help Happy

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No I did not answer that question, the site did.
Jun 28, 2011 1:58AM PDT

In the first 5 or so steps, the screens show preparing drives as well as selecting which drive. Since installing XP is so widely documented (but never a step by step for our machines) I left that area for you to read again.
Bob

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You Now Have Two Sites With Instructions...
Jun 27, 2011 7:01AM PDT

...When performing the installation, I suggest unplugging any extra drives and ONLY plugging in the drive you intend as the C: drive.. Since you're probably using ribbon cable, if you decide to use the larger drive as the C: drive, then you'll probably want to switch the location on the cable that it's plugged into. There's usually a "master" and "Slave" designation on the cable plugs. In addition, be sure to change the jumpers on the larger drive so they are set as "master".. Once you're ready, simply use the Windows installation disc to boot from and follow the instructions for which we've given the links for.

Once the operating system is installed on the new drive, then change the jumpers on the second drive to "slave" or "cable select", plug it in, then use Windows XP's "Disc Management" to format the new slave drive.

Hope this helps.

Grif

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Drives
Jun 27, 2011 7:33AM PDT

That's very helpful Grif, I would of undoubtedly gotten stuck during installation without that knowledge, thank you very much. I think I'm about ready to go, well after I make sure I have all my drivers at hand. Happy
Thanks again for all the assistance.