Installing RAID drivers, no floppy.... alternatives?

[Doubl3KiLL]

Is there an alternative to using a floppy drive to install the drivers for RAID support when installing windows? I'll be using an EVGA X58 E758 3 way SLI, not sure if it has a BIOS option to enable use for a flash drive or anything, or if its even necessary to have a setting, and can just use a flash drive. Anyone know? I really dont want to hunt down a floppy drive, and come to think about it I dont believe this board even has a floppy cable connector, just a single UDMA 133

 

[LhasaCM]

What version of Windows are you going for? Both Windows Vista and Windows 7 easily read RAID drivers off of thumb drives.

If it's XP - you might need to hunt down a USB floppy drive.

 

[heelix]

If it is XP (or XP64), you want to grab a copy of http://www.nliteos.com/ - the forums (http://www.msfn.org/board/integration-nvidias-nforce-raid-and-ahci-drivers-t51140.html) should have you covered.

Short version, nlite lets you create a custom install CD, slipstreaming drivers, service packs, and many other configurations. If you have something that needs an F6 on the installer for, make a custom CD using this program.

 

[Doubl3KiLL]

It will be Windows 7 64bit. That is good to know.

 

[Åndhrimnir]

yep, normally the drivers will be on the cd that came with your mobo. When windows mentions 'missing drivers' during the install, remove the windows disc and stick the mobo disc in, then scan for drivers and install the ones that come up as compatible with your system - probably one serial ATA driver and one RAID driver. from there windows will want it's install cd back, and you're good to keep going.

 

[Silentbob343]

For my gigabyte motherboard the manual suggested that you place the files on a USB drive if installing from a SATA DVD-ROM.

 

[InvisiBill]

It will be Windows 7 64bit. That is good to know.

Versions newer than XP allow you to read the driver off a USB drive. I like slipstreaming the driver into the install with XP, since it makes everything "just work", but being able to use a flash drive for newer versions makes things much easier as well.