Dear Fernando 1:

Thanks for your excellent instructions and the nlite prgram that I had succesfully installed the Windows 2003 Server 64bit version on the SATA RAID of our SUN FIRE X2100 server few months ago.

Unfortunately, there are some incompatibities between the OS and the apps we try to use (Cold Fusion and Crystal Report 8.0), I am forced to wipe out the whole server and start installing 32 bit version of Windows Server 2003 first.

This time I am hitting the wall. With quite a few CDs already with different driver (6.69, 6.70, mixed), I always get to the same "The file nvrdx64.sys is corrupted" error.

What is this file doing here any way? I am installing the 32 bit version.

Please help.

Thanks you very much.

If you want to install a 32-bit OS like Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 you have to take one of the 32-bit nForce driver packages (look into the first post of this thread). As the NVRDX64.SYS is a 64-bit driver, the 32-bit OS cannot install it.

CU
Fernando

You should not take the drivers off a CD or DVD, which was already built by a tool like nLite.
Why did you do this? This makes no sense. The OemInfFiles method does not work with the RC versions of nLite.

The best nForce driver packege for your board (I have the same) is the 6.70 one.

Thanks for the fast reply.

This is what I have found out. I downloaded the Nvidia professional driver from the offcial website which claimed to be 32 bit driver but actually is , I believe, a 64 bit version.

Then the mistake of mine is not using a fresh OS copy every time. What I assumed to be new driver still contains the contamined contents from the first try and failed with the same error.

Two things learned:

1. Always use a fresh OS copy every time a new driver is tested.
2. The 6.69 SATARAID driver itself is good enough (in my case) . No need to copy the 6.70 files nor the IDE files.

Thanks.

I agree, but point 2 might only be correct for you, if you want to install Windows Server 2003. Because of the lack of a LEGACY subfolder within the package 6.69 normal users have to add some files off the 6.70 package (see my first post).

Correction:

You still need 6.70 drivers and 6.69 IDE drivers.

The server is able to be loaded but I have no IDE devices.

thnx Fernando 1
i will try it with a fresh copy of windows xp with no stuff on it maby that's why i get some strange things
butt can i use a windows xp with sp2 alraedy slippstreamed ?
thnx for the tips

when i have more time i will test it again

Yes, that is no problem at all!

Good luck!
Fernando

That software didnt work either. I keep getting a corrupted or missing ntfs.dll or some other error. i tried another cdrom drive and got the same result. i think it's my motherboard...

my ram tests out fine after 14 hours of testing, my hard drives are error free, cdrom drive is fine. even tried different sata cables. *sigh*

what a nightmare

@ all users of this thread, who want help:

As I am not at home for 5 weeks, I cannot take part in this thread for a while, but I am sure, that there are other forum members, who will help you.
I'll be back here at the end of May.

CU
Fernando

EDIT: I had to cancel my trip - so I will be present for needed help.

I com to thank the creator of the solution, cause it worked for me:

A8N-E
2 Samsung 0802N ATA, working in RAID-0, with NVRAID, windows installed and everything OK.

NLITE process worked good

THANKS FOR REAL

please help..

i've followed the directions exactly. i made the changes to the sataraid folder (as per the 2nd insatll method under windows xp) and then just added as a driver via nlite one of the files in the sataraid folder (it only showed me 3 files) and that added the two drivers.

i've cleared the raid and sarted over did a new install...i see the windows cd setup show the nvidia raid class storage and the other raid driver however all i (after all installing is done) ever get is a quick flash of the windows xp screen then my system just reboots..and does the samethign over and over.

safe mode gives the same result....if i do safemode with command prompt i can see it pauses for a second at mup.sys then does the reboot..so i then found out how to disable mup and now it just crashes at the next file after mup (i.e. mup was not the problem)


please help guys i've been fighting with this tyring to get a bootable raid 0 for over two weeks straight.


2nd question: if i follow:

Windows XP:
For the integration of the SataRaid or PataRaid drivers I propose to take the new official 32-bit NVIDIA nForce chipset driver package v. 6.70 (you may download it here, then extract the content). Fortunately NVIDIA has established a subfolder named LEGACY within the IDE\WinXP directory of this package. As this subfolder contains all necessary files, for most of the users any further preparations of this package are dispensable.


do i need to add everything from each of these 4 or 5 folders into nlite? because nlite will not let me just add the legacy folder... this is not clear at all..

thanks

joe

my sys info: (im not overclocking at all for when i do this install btw)

****DFI lanparty nf4 expert***
december 2005 DFI official bios
(
Crucial Ballistix 2 x 1gb 3-3-3-6 280 fsb (primary ram)
OR
2x 512 Geil ones DDR400 PC3200 Dual Channel ONE Series ram (Capable running at DDR400MHz CAS 1.5-2-2-5 and DDR 600MHz CAS 2.5-4-4-7 all @ 3.1v or less) (secondary ram)
)
x2 3800 manchester cpu 9X multi (2.53 ghz @ 1.62vcore)
Asetek Xtreme Triple Radiator Liquid Cooling
Huge Coolermaster case + 11 fans (yea!)
2x Zalman Fan controlers (Ze best!)
(2x 5500 geforce cards AND
1 x 6600 geforce (i dont game..just run 6 monitors) )
PC Power & Cooling Turbo Cool 850watt

Was your Raid array correctly detected by XP setup during the first (TEXTMODE) part of the installation?
You can prevent the reboot, if you hit F8 at the startup and then choose the option "no reboot at system failure". If you are doing this, you probably get a real error message, which shows us the way to solve your problem.
No, you always need only a single folder (a folder with an INF file in it) for the integration of a driver. What I meant is, that there is no reason to copy files off other subfolders, when you choose the easy method by just taking the LEGACY subfolder.

CU
Fernando

I just want to point out that after I spent countless hours trying to integrate these drivers, I discovered that it doesn't work with nlite rc7 (would get bsod when staring windows for first time). It finally worked using nlite rc5. I would still get a lot of 'setup cannot find x file' but can still work hitting esc.

It would be helpful, if you give us some informations about your system (mainboard, chipset, hdd's) and the name of the files, which could not be found by the XP setup.

CU
Fernando

I was trying to install Windows XP Prof Service Pack 2 on a Shuttle XPC SN25P, with Nvidia Nforce4 AMD drivers on a nvraid with two 74GB Raptors.

The files that wouldn't copy were the ones related to the nvraid driver itself (nvata/cat. odecoi.dll, nvatabus.inf, etc). The strange thing is, is that the system worked fine even after ignoring with cancel (ESC) the files that wanted setup to copy.

That is really strange, because the files IDECOI.DLL and NVATABUS.INF (not the NVATA.CAT) are absolutely needed for the successful install of the SataRaid drivers.
Is it possible, that you installed the SataRaid drivers twice (as TEXTMODE and PnP)?

I really can't say, I just added the drivers looking up the directory. I am not a nlite expert. As far as I can tell it added the drivers as Textmode.

Windows Setup detected the nvidia raid before asking whether to partition or format the drive. It was after this while copying the files over to the new installation that setup said it could not find the files. Again, just hitting ESC for all the "missing" files would still work. In nlite RC7 the resulting installation would result in an endless bsod reboot cycle, in RC5 it would startup fine. Hope this helps.

As a BTW, in RC5 I got the annoying undeletable c:/program files/xerox, netmeeting, etc directories, while in RC4 and below this did not happen. I wish someone could tell me whats up with that.

Each new nLite release included a lot of changes with positive and negative influences on the big varietry of pc systems.
That is the reason why Nuhi as the "composer" of nLite should know about your findings.
As Nuhi normally does not look into this thread (which is mostly moderated by me as the starter of this thread), I want to encourage you to report about your experiences with the different RC versions within another thread (for example here: http://www.msfn.org/board/-t69223).html or to start a new thread within the nLite forum.
Thanks!

CU
Fernando

Just want to add how great this program is. Prior to accidently discovering it I was spending weeks trying to manually confiure an unattended Windows 2000/XP install using a tutorial I found at PCStats, what a nightmare!

Anyway, here is my question - I've just put together a new system with the following hardware:
AMD Athlon 64 X2 4200+ / Scythe Ninja Plus / OCZ (1GBx2) PC3200 DDR DIMM Dual Channel Platinum / Asus A8N-SLI Premium / Phoenix-Award v1008 /eVGA 7800 GT CO / WD Raptor 74GB / 2X WD CaviarRE2 400GB / Plextor PX-716A / NEC ND-3550A / Mitsumi 7-in-1 + Floppy FD-FA404M / Thermaltake 680W W0049RUC / NZXT LEXA / Sound Blaster Audigy 2 ZS

According to the Asus/Nvidia manuals, Nvidia only supports Raid-0, 1, 0+1 and JBOD. If I want to setup a Raid-5 array, I need to use the Silicon Image (Marvel) drivers which I understand from a number of sources are less desirable. Be that as it may, it leaves me with little choice. So the big question is has anyone successfully integrated these into a slipstream WinXP install?

Thanks

I am afraid, that you will not get an answer, because only a few users of this thread are reading more than the first post (with the guide for the integration of the nForce SataRaid drivers).
So I give you the advice just to try to build your Sil Raid5 array and to create a bootable XP CD with integrated Sil SataRaid drivers. It is much easier to slipstream the Sil SataRaid drivers than the nForce ones.
Things to pay attention on:
a ) Assure yourself, that your hdd's are connected to the correct Sil controllers.
b ) Format (low format level) all hdd's, before you build the Raid array.
c ) The Raid bust be correctly created (shown as "healthy" in the boot screen) and set as bootable.
d ) The boot partition should be C:\.
e ) Take the correct Raid5 drivers.
f ) Integrate the Sil Raid5 and the SATA drivers as TEXTMODE drivers.

Good luck!
Fernando

Thanks Fernando,

I have an order in for additional drives and will let you know how it works out.

BTW, regarding the screen prompt at the begining of WinXP requesting the user to hit F6 and have a floppy available with the drivers. Even during an unattended install using the "Default/Hide" setting this should be ignored, correct?

Thanks again for your help

That is totally correct. You should it ignore as the message "hit any key", which you get several times during the installation of an OS (each time when it reboots).

Thanks to all you folks for taking the time to find and support this solution. Fernando, your ongoing support of this has been fantastic to read and I really appreciate how it has helped me.

This solution worked for me. I have an MSI Neo2 Platinum Ultra nforce3 based motherboard. With the latest main BIOS, my nvraid shows up with bios version 4.81.

I ended up using the legacy drivers from the 6.70 nforce drivers. To be honest, I have read the instructions on the main page regarding the steps for users with an nvraid BIOS older than 4.84 and I still don't quite follow them. I'm think they are instructing users to copy the legacy files from 6.70 into the sataraid folder of 6.53, but I'm not sure to what advantage since the legacy files themselves appear to work on my BIOS and also appear to be a newer version than those in the 6.53 folders.

One thing that I have observed is that going back to make any kind of changes to a previous nlite session resulted in either errors copying files during the Windows installation process or the blue screen problem returning. I was never able to go back and get a previously created session to work properly. However, starting a completely new session always got things back on track. While it is more time consuming, it seems much more reliable.

If it helps others, I ultimately integrated the following drivers into my nlite install:
From the nforce3 5.11 package from Nvidia I included:
GART
MEMCTL
SMBUS
From the nforce4 6.70 package from nvidia I included:
IDE/WINXP/legacy
AudioDrv
Ethernet
From RealTek's website, I downloaded a driver package named "ndis51-pci(641).zip" for the second onboard NIC and included that.

The Ethernet and Audio drivers from 5.11 seemed to be buggy, the ethernet driver in particular which is astonishingly bad, causing blue screens when you do pretty much anything with the driver, including install the adapter, disable the adapter and uninstall the adapter. The nforce4 versions of drivers for these components worked much better for me.

Thanks again to everybody for putting this together!

@ Pingwax,
thank you very much for your interesting post, which could be very helpful for other users with an nForce3 chipset mainboard.
There is something you have misunderstood. Within my guide (the first post of this thread) you don't find such a recommendation.
The "normal" way is to integrate just the LEGACY subfolder of the 6.70 package (even for users with an nForce3 mainboard), but if you don't succeed with this driver version (because of your low BIOS version) you have to take the 6.53 or the 5.11 driver package (instead of the 6.70 one). There is nothing said about something to copy from the 6.70 into the 6.53 package!

Thanks again!
Fernando

Fernando, Thanks for your great work.
But I still have some problem about it.

Do you have experience with NF 430/410 mobo?
I just bought a MSI k8ngm2-fid mobo which use 6150/430 chipset.

I am trying to integrate Sata raid driver from the latest driver package 8.22 to my windows xp!

I following your setps as per the first post. But it do not work?

I got fail message "setup cannot copy the file: nvsata.sys". when I use floppy disk.

the setup programe can not recognize my raid0 when I use the integrated CD.

I compare the sata driver in NF4 driver 6.7 and 430/6150 driver. they are same.

Sould I use the driver from NF4 driver 6.7?

BTW I have two seagate 7200.9 250G 8M harddriven and want install system to raid 0 on this mobo.

Looks like you are the only expert in this area. So please help me!!

Thanks again

hej ther i have made a sata raid windows xp like (Fernando 1) tolde but my windows whont restart ore shut down i have 2 puhs the booten 2 restart ore shut it down WHAT DO I DO HELP

Can you please explain what you mean?
If the installation failed, I need some informations about your system (mainboard and chipset, hdd details etc.) and a description at what point the installation stopped.

my install of windows workt but i wont restart when i wont it 2 restart ore a program whonts it 2 restart i have 2 push the butten on the computor 2 make it restart ore shut down

Your problem has nothing to do with the nForceSataRaid driver integration and probably not with nLite.
Did you get any error message?
What is about your device manager? Everything ok there (no yellow marks)?
Have you tried to reboot or to hit the Reset button? Normally these issues disappear after a reboot of the OS. If not, you should "google" a little bit and see if other users have a tip for you to solve the problem.

Hi, i'm having a few problems.

I'm not sure how to tell whether or not Windows has successfully used my drivers, and therefore recognised the HDD. When i install i manage to get the drive partitioned and i manage to get the Windows files installed afterwards. However, upon rebooting to complete the install i recieve this message:

Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.

Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.

Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information.

I've asked around and someone said that even though i had manage to get the drive partitioned, Windows had not installed the SATA drivers. Is this true? If so, then i must have wrongly integrated them. I just find it strange that the partition would be complete even though Windows did not have the drivers.


Also, regarding this bit off info on your first post:

Then you can integrate the other nForce drivers (SMBus, Ethernet etc.) as "normal drivers".

What else needs to be integrated? I think this is perhaps where i went wrong. What apart from the LEGACY folder needs to be integrated? :S

I'd appreciate any help because i've been struggling to get this new computer up and running for about a week now.

Thanks, bye.

This is not a driver problem, but a hardware one. Normally Windows XP does not need any special SATA driver for the detection of a SATA hdd.
Do you really have a RAID array? If yes, is it "healthy" (shown at second boot screen)?
How many hdd's and what sort (SATA1/SATA2/IDE) do you have?
Please check your boot sequence within your BIOS. Your first booting hdd should be your Raid array with Windows XP installed onto drive C:. Have a look into your partitions (for example by using a tool like Partition Magic or Acronis Disk Director), if your fresh installed Windows XP really is on drive C.
Remove all USB sticks before you are booting.

If you have an nForce SataRaid system, you only have to integrate the LEGACY folder as TEXTMODE driver. This is essential, because otherwise your Raid array would not ne detected by Windows XP.
All the other nForce drivers (SMBus, Ethernet etc.) and the drivers for other devices (graphic adapter, printer etc.) are not really needed for a successful installation, but it is more comfortable, if you have already the newest drivers for all of your devices "on board", when you are creating a bootable XP CD with integrated drivers.

CU
Fernando

I have a SATA2 HD, and it's the only drive i have connected, so it's the only one in the booting sequence. I have RAID disables in the BIOS. And i'm sure that Windows is installed onto the C: partition (my only partition). There are no USB sticks in my computer.

By the way, my HDD/mobo spec: My HDD is a Western Digital 250Gb SATA2 harddrive (7200RPM, 16Mb Cache). My motherboard is the DFI LanParty UT nF4 Ultra-D.

If you don't have a Raid array, you should not use my guide (post 1 of this thread).
Look here, what I have written:
Have you tried to boot off your Windows XP CD without hitting F6?

I'm not sure whether or not i have RAID array, i'm don't know an awful lot about computers. My spec is in my previous post.

If you don't know, if you have a RAID array, then you don't have one.

As I have exactly the same mainboard as you, I will try to help you nevertheless:

At first step you should try to boot off the original Windows XP CD without pressing F6 or inserting a floppy. If XP detects your SATA disk, you may either format your just installed OS and reinstall XP without any integrated drivers or you can prepare a new nLited XP CD with the following changes:
1. You may integrate the SATA_IDE subfolder of your nForce chipset package 6.70 as PnP driver.
2. Don't integrate the nForce Raid driver (NVRAID.SYS).
If XP does not detect your SATA drive, do the following:
1. Integrate the LEGACY subfolder as TEXTMODE driver, but choose only the SATA driver (NVATABUS.SYS).
2. Don't integrate the Raid driver (NVRAID.SYS).

Good luck!
Fernando

Ok, i'll try. Thanks!

Wait a second... Are you saying that SATA drivers aren't needed unless you have a RAID array?

Yes, if you have Windows XP SP2.

Well i have Windows XP Pro SP2. Wonder why it wouldn't boot. Guess i'll need to reconnect everything.

Fernando 1 you know what it cut be is ther a file that windows use to restart/shutdown. pleas help me

The EXE file for the shutdown of the computer is named SHUTDOWN.EXE. You find it within the folder WINDOWS\System32, when you are using Windows XP, and within the folder WINNT\System32, if you are using Windows 2000.

CU
Fernando

im useing windows i works great but it wount boot and if i trye to open SHUTDOWN.EXE nothing happens it is a paine in the a** that i have to restart windows on my computor cut it be somthing in side my com on my motherbord ??

Try to go to "Run.." and edit "cmd" (without the quotation marks).
Now opens the DOS box.
Edit the following: "shutdown -s", if you want to shutdown and "shutdown -r", if you want to reboot.
If this fails, I would do a new install of Windows XP with your nLited CD.
Are you sure, that your PSU is ok and strong enough?

do i have to edit shutdown -r everetime i have to restart ???
I think my system is ok
And i do realie DONT whont to reinstalle windows had that s...

My system:
MB: A8N-SLI Nforce4 Premium
CPU: AMD Athlon64 3500+ socket 939,b
RAM: 2x512 Kingston valueRAM
HD: 2x160 GB Samsung S-ATA II as Raid0
PSU: LC 6550G -Black V2.0 550W
VIDEO: Sapphire X800 GT

No, that is not the normal way. You must have a problem with your OS or with your PSU.
If you don't want to install XP again, search for a tool called "Shutdown now". After the install of this tool you can shutdown your pc very easy by hitting a desktop button.

CU
Fernando

that tool can it allso restart my OS ??

Obviously yes. Look here: http://www.freshee.info/shutdown_reboot_restart_12762.html

But I would recommend to search for the reason of your shutdown/restart problem.
Maybe you find it here: http://www.aumha.org/win5/a/shtdwnxp.htm

Good luck!
Fernando

Hi Fernando 1...

Im newbie here and I wanted to know if its possible to "repair" the nvraid without doing a full reinstallation of WinXP...

I keep getting an error message when I boot up saying that the nvraidservice is closing and I fear that my raid setup is no longer running to full speed because of this! (boot ups takes an eternity since the service is not starting and performance in many games are very poor even with my machine)

And is it possible to "integrate" the SP2 with the nvraid integration as well??

I have a:

3800+ AMD64
GIGA K8NSC-939
BFG 7800GS 256
2Gb "kit" OCZ 667mhz ram
2 80Gb SATA-RAID for OS, install files and games
1 250Gb WD for multimedia
1 40Gb for BACKUPs of the OS partition

Please help me with this one... I need my RAID running smoothly!!!

TNX

The NVRAIDSERVICE.EXE is part of the so-called RAIDTOOL, which is not needed at all.
Do the following:
Start > Run > edit "msconfig" (without quotation marks)
Within the System Configuration Utility open the "Startup" menue and look for NVRAIDSERVICE > disable this service
After a reboot your problem should be gone.

Yes, nLite can do it at once. At the end you will have a Windows XP with integrated SP2 and integrated nForce SataRaid drivers (no F6, SP2 is totally included).

CU
Fernando