finally got nForce Raid to work with Vista

[Fernando 1]

@ all owners of an nForce SataRaid system, who want to test Vista:

After a lot of frustrating efforts with depressing results I managed it today to get Vista Build 5308 installed on my nForce4 SataRaid system. The Credits belong to Ames (a member of the ieXbeta board), who gave me the push to this procedure.

Requirements: A running XP system and a free other partition (my advice: format this free partition with NTFS, before you begin with the install of Vista).

This is the way I succeeded with the install:
1. I started the Vista DVD under the running XP (booting from Vista does not work at all!).
2. When Vista asked me for needed mass storage drivers, I let it load the normal actual nForce SataRaid drivers dedicated for XP (I took the drivers from the package 6.70). I installed one after the other both needed drivers (for NVIDIA Raid and nForce4 Serial ATA Controller).
3. Vista continued its work and asked me, where I want to install it (all partitions of my Raid array were visible). I pointed to the fresh formatted partition. Vista began to copy all needed files onto this partition.
4. During the first reboot I took the Vista DVD off the DVD device and let it outside for the rest of the install!!
5. Vista completed the install by its own.

After some reboots I got Vista to work and it runs flawlessly on my Raid array!!

Good luck for all other owners of an nForce SataRaid system!

CU
Fernando

[Brama]

Unfortunately this works with XP32 --> Vista 32 and probably with XP64 ---> Vista 64
but by sure it is not possible cross platform.

I tried your way with XP 32 ----> Vista 64 and it is not possible.

Thinking about it is very clear why: the setup.exe in Vista 64 is a Win64 program that can not be launched under a 32 bits O.S.

Now we can only hope that Nvidia come out with a Vista nforce RAID driver......

Bye,

[Fernando 1]

Unfortunately this works with XP32 --> Vista 32 and probably with XP64 ---> Vista 64
but by sure it is not possible cross platform.
I tried your way with XP 32 ----> Vista 64 and it is not possible.
Thinking about it is very clear why: the setup.exe in Vista 64 is a Win64 program that can not be launched under a 32 bits O.S.

I don't understand your pessimistic reaction. After some months of frustration as a Betatester who could not even install Vista I was really happy to find a way to get Vista at least installed on my Raid array. Other testers with nForce Raid array installed an extra hdd and changed the MBR from Raid to non-Raid just to get this new OS to work.

By the way: I am not sure, that you are right. Maybe you have chosen the wrong drivers. I will test Vista x64 anyway, but my advantage is, that I have an installed XP x64 too.

Now we can only hope that Nvidia come out with a Vista nforce RAID driver....

I totally agree with you!

CU
Fernando

[Fernando 1]

Meanwhile I succeeded with the installation of Vista x64 too.
Brama was right, I had to start the install off a running XP x64 partition.
The procedure was exactly the same es with Vista x32, I took the x64 nForce SataRaid drivers from the 6.67 chipset driver package.

Conclusion: Since Build 5308 it is possible to make a clean install of Vista (32- and 64-bit) onto an nForce Raid array, but you have to start the install off a running equivalent 32- or 64-bit OS.

CU
Fernando

[garikfox]

Play WoW for 3+ Hrs. with that driver and well see if it works,

[garikfox]

[garikfox]

Meanwhile I succeeded with the installation of Vista x64 too.
Brama was right, I had to start the install off a running XP x64 partition.
The procedure was exactly the same es with Vista x32, I took the x64 nForce SataRaid drivers from the 6.67 chipset driver package.

Conclusion: Since Build 5308 it is possible to make a clean install of Vista (32- and 64-bit) onto an nForce Raid array, but you have to start the install off a running equivalent 32- or 64-bit OS.

CU
Fernando

So you cant boot from the DVD then for a clean install ?

[garikfox]

K gonna try this beast again with x64 on my own puter, well see what happens.

[garikfox]

WARNING: !! Do NOT read this post and do what these POEPLE say It does NOT work !! I tried BOTH No GO !!!

Srry Fernando !! You just got spliffed !@!!! lol

BTW: First post since up and runnin my x64 again man what a waste of 3 hrs. lol

Not really though, I just learned I need x64 nVidia RAID Vista Driver

[Fernando 1]

So you cant boot from the DVD then for a clean install ?

No, Vista did not accept any nForce SataRaid driver as long as I tried to boot directly from the DVD.

WARNING: !! Do NOT read this post and do what these POEPLE say It does NOT work !! I tried BOTH No GO !!!

I can't follow your warning. Why should other people not read my first post? You did not succeed with your system by using my description (wrong drivers?) and you conclude, that nobody will be able to succeed.
I did not write, that my method works with every nForce system (and especially with nForce4 SLI x16 mainboards). Meanwhile a lot of people (inclusive MS betatesters) with an nForce4 SataRaid system succeeded with the installation of Vista build 5308 by using the method I have described above.
CU
Fernando