Integration of NVIDIA's nForce RAID and AHCI drivers

[Sapphire]

And yes, I have just installed Windows XP x86 Slipstream SP3 on my RAID0 on the first try, no problem whatsoever. So all my hardware is good.

Which nForce SataRAID drivers (which driver version, LEGACY or SATARAID+SATA_IDE) did you take? It would be interesting to know, if the 32bit version of the v6.99 IDE drivers are working with your RAID system.

I didn't use any of the newer drivers. I had a disk for my nvRAID nf3 250 that I got from 2 years ago. It's states v2.6. It's probably be LEGACY I guess. Driver dated : DriverVer=06/03/2004,5.10.2600.0446

I zipped up the driver,

Here: http://rapidshare.com/files/167029790/driver.zip.html

I am also suspecting the windows install CD source is not clean enuf. It is modded xp x64 with sp2 and some appz, it install okay on systems but just not my RAID.

Edited November 24, 2008 by Sapphire

[Fernando 1]

No, the 64bit LEGACY drivers that release by Fernando last night didn't work. it behaves the same as the other. installation was okay, but windows can't load, keep crashing, safe mode didn't work..

After having a look into the SETUPAPI.LOG file I probably found the reason for the failure of the OS installation:

Instead of just integrating the LEGACY folder of my recently linked nForce IDE drivers v6.99 you obviously have integrated a couple of different nForce IDE driver versions (v6.66, v6.68, v6.99, v10.3.0.21 and v10.3.0.42).

Result:

Windows Setup installed different driver versions for the nForce P-ATA/SATA Controllers and the RAID Controller, which doesn't work at all.

Furthermore you have integrated the actual nForce IDE drivers v10.3.0.42, which were taken by the Setup routine while installing the NVIDIA nForce RAID Controller (because these drivers are WHQL), but these actual RAID drivers do not work at all with NF3-4 chipsets.

Please repeat the creation of the XP x64 CD with integrated nForce textmode drivers from scratch (with a fresh source, don't use the old one again), but just integrate the LEGACY folder of my newest driverpack and nothing else!

Good luck!

Fernando

EDIT:

I am also suspecting the windows install CD source is not clean enuf. It is modded xp x64 with sp2 and some appz, it install okay on systems but just not my RAID.

You should always use a clean=untouched source, if you are going to integrate textmode drivers. Edited November 24, 2008 by Fernando 1

[cdob]

A observation at given example:

[2008/11/24 09:45:00 296.1220 Driver Install]

#-019 Searching for hardware ID(s): pci\ven_10de&dev_00e5&subsys_50021458&rev_a2,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e5&subsys_50021458,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e5&cc_01018a,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e5&cc_0101

#-018 Searching for compatible ID(s): pci\ven_10de&dev_00e5&rev_a2,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e5,pci\ven_10de&cc_01018a,pci\ven_10de&cc_0101,pci\ven_10de,pci\cc_01018a,pci\cc_0101

#I058 Selected best compatible driver.

#-124 Doing copy-only install of "PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00E5&SUBSYS_50021458&REV_A2\3&13C0B0C5&0&40".

#W360 An unsigned, incorrectly signed, or Authenticode signed file "c:\windows\nldrv\038\nvatax64.inf" for driver "NVIDIA nForce3 250 Parallel ATA Controller" will be installed (Policy=Ignore). Error 87: The parameter is incorrect.

[2008/11/24 09:45:07 296.1228 Driver Install]

#-019 Searching for hardware ID(s): pci\ven_10de&dev_00e3&subsys_b0021458&rev_a2,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e3&subsys_b0021458,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e3&cc_010185,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e3&cc_0101

#-018 Searching for compatible ID(s): pci\ven_10de&dev_00e3&rev_a2,pci\ven_10de&dev_00e3,pci\ven_10de&cc_010185,pci\ven_10de&cc_0101,pci\ven_10de,pci\cc_010185,pci\cc_0101

#I058 Selected best compatible driver.

#-124 Doing copy-only install of "PCI\VEN_10DE&DEV_00E3&SUBSYS_B0021458&REV_A2\3&13C0B0C5&0&50".

#W360 An unsigned, incorrectly signed, or Authenticode signed file "c:\windows\nldrv\037\nvata64.inf" for driver "NVIDIA nForce3 250 Serial ATA Controller" will be installed (Policy=Ignore). Error 87: The parameter is incorrect.

pci\cc_01018a is a Parallel ATA Controller

pci\cc_010185 is a Serial ATA Controller

Is this general at nforce?

Does it make sense using pci\ven_10de&cc_01018a, pci\ven_10de&cc_010185 or pci\ven_10de&dev_nnnn&cc_010185 ?

[2008/11/24 09:45:19 296.1302 Driver Install]

#-019 Searching for hardware ID(s): acpi\_nvraidbus,*_nvraidbus

#I058 Selected best compatible driver.

#-124 Doing copy-only install of "ACPI\_NVRAIDBUS\3&13C0B0C5&0".

#-011 Installing section [nvraidbus.NTAMD64.Interfaces] from "c:\windows\nldrv\022\nvrd64.inf".

[2008/11/24 09:45:19 296.1427]

#-019 Searching for hardware ID(s): scsi\nvidia__raid_disk________

#I058 Selected best compatible driver.

#-011 Installing section [nvraid.NTAMD64.Interfaces] from "c:\windows\nldrv\022\nvrd64.inf".

[2008/11/24 09:45:21 296.1572]

#-019 Searching for hardware ID(s): scsi\nvidia__raid_disk_20_____

#I058 Selected best compatible driver.

#-011 Installing section [nvraid.NTAMD64.Interfaces] from "c:\windows\nldrv\022\nvrd64.inf".

There are both *_nvraidbus and scsi\nvidia__raid_disk_20_____. What's the conclusion? I'm confused.

Is this a mix because of driver mix?

[2008/11/24 09:45:24 296.1602 Driver Install]

#-019 Searching for hardware ID(s): scsi\disk____nvidia__stripe___596.17g,gendisk

#-018 Searching for compatible ID(s): scsi\disk,scsi\raw

#I058 Selected best compatible driver.

#-011 Installing section [disk_install.NT] from "c:\windows\inf\disk.inf".

Well a gendisk is a disk. Is to be expected.

[Fernando 1]

pci\cc_01018a is a Parallel ATA Controller

pci\cc_010185 is a Serial ATA Controller

Is this general at nforce?

The DeviceIDs of NVIDIA's (VEN_10DE) compatible P-ATA and S-ATA Controllers are:

DEV_00E5 = NVIDIA nForce 3 250 Parallel ATA Controller

DEV_00E3 = NVIDIA nForce 3 250 Serial ATA Controller.

The other listed compatible Controllers are the MS ones (Standard Dual Channel PCI IDE Controllers), which can handle P-ATA and S-ATA drives.

Does it make sense using pci\ven_10de&cc_01018a, pci\ven_10de&cc_010185 or pci\ven_10de&dev_nnnn&cc_010185 ?

Where did you see these devices?

There are both *_nvraidbus and scsi\nvidia__raid_disk_20_____. What's the conclusion? I'm confused.

Is this a mix because of driver mix?

Exactly.

[Sapphire]

No, the 64bit LEGACY drivers that release by Fernando last night didn't work. it behaves the same as the other. installation was okay, but windows can't load, keep crashing, safe mode didn't work..

After having a look into the SETUPAPI.LOG file I probably found the reason for the failure of the OS installation:

Instead of just integrating the LEGACY folder of my recently linked nForce IDE drivers v6.99 you obviously have integrated a couple of different nForce IDE driver versions (v6.66, v6.68, v6.99, v10.3.0.21 and v10.3.0.42).

Result:

Windows Setup installed different driver versions for the nForce P-ATA/SATA Controllers and the RAID Controller, which doesn't work at all.

Furthermore you have integrated the actual nForce IDE drivers v10.3.0.42, which were taken by the Setup routine while installing the NVIDIA nForce RAID Controller (because these drivers are WHQL), but these actual RAID drivers do not work at all with NF3-4 chipsets.

Please repeat the creation of the XP x64 CD with integrated nForce textmode drivers from scratch (with a fresh source, don't use the old one again), but just integrate the LEGACY folder of my newest driverpack and nothing else!

I am not sure how that happened, maybe I did mixed up my ISO files (since I have like 8 of them now with diff version of driver). But I am aware of that issue not to mix diff version drivers into the same ISO. I will try again now with the XP x64 source (I dont' have an untouch version), but hopefully at least I can nLite that source with your LEGACY drivers only this time.

Is there way to check the source to see if it already contains any other version of nForce drivers? I did a simple test, I use the source without do anything to it (straight from the original). And it didn't see the RAID at all, can that implies the source contain no nForce drivers that might affect anything?

Regards,

[Fernando 1]

Is there way to check the source to see if it already contains any other version of nForce drivers?

Look into the AMD64 directory of your XP x64 CD and search for file names beginning with the letters "NV" and ending with the suffix ".SY_" or ".SYS". If you don't find any of such files, you can be sure, that no nForce textmode drivers have already been integrated.

Notice:

The AMD64 directory of the original XP x64 CD contains just 1 file, which begins with the letters "NV": NV4_DISP.IN_ (that's the compressed INF file of NVIDIA's video driver).

Edited November 25, 2008 by Fernando 1

[Sapphire]

.

Edited November 25, 2008 by Sapphire

[Fernando 1]

@ Sapphire:

Although I am very interested in getting feedback from NF3 RAID users, who are going to install XP x64, I have to stop our discussion at this point.

You are obviously using an OS CD, which you got from Warez sites. This is not a forum, where you will get any support for illegal software.

My advice:

Buy an original XP x64 CD and return here.

By the way:

Even if you would delete all NV files from within the AMD64 folder and all driver folders, which have previously been created by nLite (name "NLDRV") or any other tool ("Drivers" or similar), you will still have the wrong entries within the WINNT.SIF/TXTSETUP.SIF files.

Nevertheless I want to thank you for your test reports, which certify, that

a ) the precondition of a successful driver integration is a clean source and

b ) it is not useful at all to integrate as many textmode drivers as possible.

CU

Fernando

EDIT: You should update your "Personal Profile Informations" regarding the used OS.

Edited November 25, 2008 by Fernando 1

[Sapphire]

The reason I wanted to give another try after 3 years is just I wanted to know what I did wrong 3 years ago. Spending all this time (I probably have made and burnt ISO (30 mins each) 50 times and do the installation (30 mins) 50 times, so roughtly I spend 50 hours straight during the last 3 weeks.

I currently own an Intel Duo 2 Core 7300 laptop with genuine with XP 32bit, and a Intel Pen4 3.2Ghz with genuine XP 32bit with 4 Disks RAID0 setup. So you can figure I pretty much don't need that wimpy AMD with the nForce3 RAID for anything.

Additionally, I hope that my testings can help some other users as well in regards to this nForce3 issues.

If someone can donate a copy of XP 64bit CD temporary to me for this testing, It would be much appreciated.

Fernando, I hope I didn't offended you in anyway. I am not a proud user of using pirate software. I currently just bought a genuine Vista Ultimate 64bit, (Don't buy, it's awefully slow, I really should try it out before spending my money )

Cheers,

Edited November 25, 2008 by Sapphire

[Fernando 1]

@ Sapphire:

Don't worry, you didn't offend me in any way. To make this clear, I have sent you a PM.

By the way: Did you install Vista x64 onto your NF3 RAID system? If yes, how did you manage it?

CU

Fernando

[Sapphire]

@ Sapphire:

Don't worry, you didn't offend me in any way. To make this clear, I have sent you a PM.

By the way: Did you install Vista x64 onto your NF3 RAID system? If yes, how did you manage it?

CU

Fernando

No, I did not bother to install Vista x64 on my NF3 RAID. The Vista x64 I bought was installed on my new AMD Triple Core 8450 on Asus board with no RAID.

But I am pretty sure a user can install Vista x64 on a NF3 RAID by first installing XP x64 on it first then upgrade to Vista x64 within the OS.

I think there's no driver for vista x64 with NF3?? Some say using XP x64 driver works (but it's is really rare).

Regards,

[Fernando 1]

But I am pretty sure a user can install Vista x64 on a NF3 RAID by first installing XP x64 on it first then upgrade to Vista x64 within the OS.

Exactly that is the way how it was layed down by me within the Annex 1 part of this Vista installation guide.

[Sapphire]

Hi Fernando,

Just a quick question for you.

What will be the difference between using the official 6.25 from Nvidia Website than your modded 6.99 driver?

Sapphire

[Fernando 1]

What will be the difference between using the official 6.25 from Nvidia Website than your modded 6.99 driver?

The "64bit" nForce IDE drivers v4.68 of NVIDIA's BETA package 6.25 are 32/64bit compatible drivers, whereas the 64bit nForce IDE drivers v6.66 are clean 64bit ones, which cannot be used with a 32bit OS.

You will get much better results with natively 64bit drivers, if you are going to install a 64bit OS.

[Sapphire]

What will be the difference between using the official 6.25 from Nvidia Website than your modded 6.99 driver?

The "64bit" nForce IDE drivers v4.68 of NVIDIA's BETA package 6.25 are 32/64bit compatible drivers, whereas the 64bit nForce IDE drivers v6.66 are clean 64bit ones, which cannot be used with a 32bit OS.

You will get much better results with natively 64bit drivers, if you are going to install a 64bit OS.

I see,

You wrote" You will get much better results with natively 64bit drivers, if you are going to install a 64bit OS."

What is the better result were you referring to? I did a benchmark test on both x64 with the Official v6.25 and the x64 with v6.99 (your latest Mod) using HD tune (trial version) as the benchmark software.

The benchmark result was identical. Throughput ~100MB/s Seek time 13.2ms.