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Cannot load/read RAID drivers during XP Pro install

MinPins

Limp Gawd
Joined
Aug 30, 2007
Messages
368
I cannot get Windows XP Pro SP2 to install the correct RAID drivers from a floppy (only way to install them during setup) using the "F6" method. F6 method = When XP installation from CD begins, one of the very first screens asks if additional drivers are needed for RAID, so it has you press F6 to load them from floppy (no other choices but floppy).

I have enabled RAID in the BIOS for the ICH9R chipset on my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3r (rev 1) and created a RAID 1 array in the BIOS RAID setup utility using two WD SATAII HDDs. They are attached to ports SATA 0 and SATA1. Everything is fine to this point. The BIOS RAID setup displays the disk and RAID information perfectly.

I downloaded "motherboard_driver_sataraid_intel_bootdisk_32.exe" from the Gigabyte (and Intel) site and extracted all files to a floppy disk. I then boot from my Windows XP Pro SP2 CD and begin OS installation. I press F6 for RAID driver and choose and confirm Intel ICH9R RAID. Windows setup then continues for a minute or so and then says: "Setup cannot copy the file: iaStor.sys". It gives me the option to retry <enter>, skip the file <ESC>, or quit <F3>. I cannot skip the file and do not wish to quit my install. This driver is required for proper install/setup.

I have downloaded the driver file 4 times and have tried 5 different floppy disks. I even reformatted the disks and re-copied the driver files.

How do I fix this? I sent a tech support request to Gigabyte and no response yet.
 
I have downloaded the driver file 4 times and have tried 5 different floppy disks. I reformatted the disks and re-copied the driver files. I even pullled the floppy drive out of my old computer (I tested it first, it works perfectly) and that did not help.
 
Do you get the same error every time you tried it (i.e., with all the different floppies)? Is it always on the same file when it fails? Can you hear that tell-tale buzz-buzz sound from the floppy drive right before it errors out? If so, it may indicate data problem on the disk. A couple of things to try:
1) be sure you can copy all those files back from floppy after you have put them there so you can rule out a bad write
2) are you using the same FDD to format and write the files as you are when you read them for the install? If not, use the same FDD for formatting, writing, and reading.

I ran into similar problems a few days ago installing XP on my new striker rig. I had to try several different disks, and then what I suggested in (2) above to get it to work.

HTH
 
Sounds like a bad floppy disk drive. Got another you can try? If not, then what coo-coo-clocker suggested is the best advice:

2) are you using the same FDD to format and write the files as you are when you read them for the install? If not, use the same FDD for formatting, writing, and reading.
 
I have tried 2 more brand new floppies with the same result. I will attempt again with swapping out the FDD and using it to write to and read from using the same disc.

I have found this issues on other forums on the web and they seemed to get around it by slipstreaming the install CD and modifying a number of files on it. Not sure if that is within my technical abilities or not. Most of them were for unattended installs.
 
Slipstreaming is easy with nlite. So, if you can't get a fdd/fd to work, try nlite and a blank cd. ;)
 
I am going to try the slipstreamed method using nLite.

With the Intel RAID drivers now on the new slipstreamed CD do I still hit F6 during the install and it finds the RAID drivers on the CD or does it add them automatically without having to use F6?

Thanks
 
BTW I tried 6 different floppies and 2 different FDDs with the exact same results. I even confirmed the issue on Intel's site. The files on the floppy are all OK so I am hoping the SS method works.
 
Everything went well.

I recommend using nLite and including the ICH9R drivers on a sliptstreamed CD, worked perfectly! nLite also allowed me to eliminate a lot of add-on grunch (i.e. "crapware") to the OS install.

Thanks for the help!

BTW, how many posts do I haev to make before I can upload an avatar?
 
Everything went well.

I recommend using nLite and including the ICH9R drivers on a sliptstreamed CD, worked perfectly! nLite also allowed me to eliminate a lot of add-on grunch (i.e. "crapware") to the OS install.

Thanks for the help!

BTW, how many posts do I haev to make before I can upload an avatar?

:LOL: avatar? never! :D
 
I cannot get Windows XP Pro SP2 to install the correct RAID drivers from a floppy (only way to install them during setup) using the "F6" method. F6 method = When XP installation from CD begins, one of the very first screens asks if additional drivers are needed for RAID, so it has you press F6 to load them from floppy (no other choices but floppy).

I have enabled RAID in the BIOS for the ICH9R chipset on my Gigabyte GA-P35-DS3r (rev 1) and created a RAID 1 array in the BIOS RAID setup utility using two WD SATAII HDDs. They are attached to ports SATA 0 and SATA1. Everything is fine to this point. The BIOS RAID setup displays the disk and RAID information perfectly.

I downloaded "motherboard_driver_sataraid_intel_bootdisk_32.exe" from the Gigabyte (and Intel) site and extracted all files to a floppy disk. I then boot from my Windows XP Pro SP2 CD and begin OS installation. I press F6 for RAID driver and choose and confirm Intel ICH9R RAID. Windows setup then continues for a minute or so and then says: "Setup cannot copy the file: iaStor.sys". It gives me the option to retry <enter>, skip the file <ESC>, or quit <F3>. I cannot skip the file and do not wish to quit my install. This driver is required for proper install/setup.

I have downloaded the driver file 4 times and have tried 5 different floppy disks. I even reformatted the disks and re-copied the driver files.

How do I fix this? I sent a tech support request to Gigabyte and no response yet.

Yeah, I had the same problem. Tried everything. The thing is that Windows Setup tries to find files in some folders, and these folders should be on that floppy.
The easiest thing to do is dowload archived selfextract file with the same driver files drifrom www.computers777.com. Just unpack it onto the floppy and it will create on floppy the folders you need.
Windows Setup will be fine.
 
I had some issues loading drivers from a floppy disk. It complained about not being able to load the drivers. Slipstreaming the drivers worked.
 
I tried to find drivers on http://www.computers777.com , but now I didn't find that download, mostly videgames and dvd movies.
Well, I compared files what I downloaded and I realise that it's easy to make that floppy:

If you already made a floppy with drivers using utility:

1. Create folder $OEM$ on a floppy with drivers.
2. Create folder TEXTMODE in folder $OEM$, so structure will look like $OEM$\TEXTMODE
3. Copy files (not move, but copy!)

iaahci.cat
iaahci.inf
iastor.cat
iastor.inf
iastor.sys
txtsetup.oem

to the folder TEXTMODE.

Now Windows Setup will find all files fine.
 
If you already made a floppy with drivers using utility:

1. Create folder $OEM$ on a floppy with drivers.
2. Create folder TEXTMODE in folder $OEM$, so structure will look like $OEM$\TEXTMODE
3. Copy files (not move, but copy!)

iaahci.cat
iaahci.inf
iastor.cat
iastor.inf
iastor.sys
txtsetup.oem

to the folder TEXTMODE.

Now Windows Setup will find all files fine.

This worked perfectly for me, I registered and joined just to say thanks to "Dumbest"! , although, not the dumbest here.. you helped me.. haha
 
is your floppy drive a USB one, or otherwise external? If so, that's you're issue.
 
I tried to find drivers on http://www.computers777.com , but now I didn't find that download, mostly videgames and dvd movies.
Well, I compared files what I downloaded and I realise that it's easy to make that floppy:

If you already made a floppy with drivers using utility:

1. Create folder $OEM$ on a floppy with drivers.
2. Create folder TEXTMODE in folder $OEM$, so structure will look like $OEM$\TEXTMODE
3. Copy files (not move, but copy!)

iaahci.cat
iaahci.inf
iastor.cat
iastor.inf
iastor.sys
txtsetup.oem

to the folder TEXTMODE.

Now Windows Setup will find all files fine.


Can this be done using the Install CD to boot? I wiped my HDD clean and I cannot get windows to install because it will not copy the files on the floppy.
 
is your floppy drive a USB one, or otherwise external? If so, that's you're issue.

No its internal (Hitachi). Its will copy the 32-bit drivers with no problem, but wont copy the 64-bit. Tried two different new floppy disks.
 
I remember having similar issues before and I thought I got around it by reading the files from a USB key instead of a floppy.
 
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