VIA RAID help!

[SpacePyro]

I really need some input, since I haven't gotten any further on it, and this is the last thing that I have to solve before this computer actually starts working lol. OK, so I have two 36GB WD HDDs, and I want to put them on VIA RAID. Problem is, the Hard Drives are not being detected, I don't think. I create an array of both hard drives, but once I restart, it loses the array automatically. Also, when I go through Windows Setup (I still have no OS), it says that there are no hard drives are installed. Both HDDs are connected through RAID1 and RAID2. I'm feeling that it's a hard drive problem, but I don't know how to fix it...

Suggestions would be grateful!

[liquidcooled]

*EDIT*you might need to create an array before entering windows setup.


you need to make a Floppy with your raid drivers on it (copied from your motherboard drivers cd) then press F6 when entering win setup and it will ask for your floppy with your raid drivers on it, usually theres a few choices like Win xp, win2000, etc choose -xp-raid-xxxx

[SpacePyro]

I did, I created an array, but when you quit out of the VIA program it restarts the computer, and the array isn't there. And when I do goto Windows Setup, I do install the VIA RAID drivers for XP since I'm gonna install XP.

[liquidcooled]

sound like the mobo is defective

[liquidcooled]

hhmmmmmmm

[liquidcooled]

ok in you bios there should be some settings for raid....did you set those values yet?

shot in the dark here

[SpacePyro]

I think I did, but I don't really think it's the motherboard, since it's virtually new...lol. I'm gonna try to use the EIDE ports, and see if the hard drive is detected that way. I'm gonna go check the BIOS again.

[liquidcooled]

Yeah i would just double check the bios

[SpacePyro]

Ok, so I'm the BIOS and this is that it says:

OnBoard Promise Controller [Enabled]
Operating Mode [RAID]

I don't see anything for VIA.

When I boot up the computer I get this:

VIA Technologies, Inc. VIA VT8237 Serial ATA RAID BIOS Setting Utility V2.81
Copyright (C) VIA Technologies, Inc. All Right reserved.

Scan Devices,Please wait...
Press < Tab > Key into User Window!
Serial_Ch0 Master:
Serial_Ch1 Master:

After the :, there are suppose to be serial #'s for the hard drives.

Then, I get this screen:

FastTrak 378 (tm) BIOS Version 1.00.0.37
(c) 2003 Promise Technology, Inc. All rights reserved.
Scanning IDE drives.........

No drive attached to FastTrak controller, The BIOS is not installed.

Of course I have nothing attached to the Promise controller, so that screen is fine. It's just the VIA that I don't know about.

[liquidcooled]

so your trying to use via IDE raid?

in bios you should have a Raid config>>>>>>>(press enter).....hopefully

[SpacePyro]

I don't think I have it, but I'll check again. The only part I have is the part I posted earlier. I have AMI BIOS, so yeah. I really don't know what could be wrong. Again, I'll check.

[Just Learnin']

Not familiar with your BIOS but there should be a place to choose enable RAID as well as one to let you choose SATA first. This is the SK8V board that is in your sig we are talking about I assume? When you press tab during post it lets you see the drives and select your array etc.?

Be sure to remove any regular IDE drives before you do the install as well, saves a lot of trouble. If there is a boot option in your BIOS select the RAID array as well. Also was wondering if you have connected the drives to the SATA connectors closest to the DIMM slots? Sorry for all the questions...:o

[SpacePyro]

OK, so yeah, I can't find that either.

An update though,

when I press TAB on the VIA RAID config, this is what I get:

Channel
1. Serial_Ch0 Master
2. Serial_Ch1 Master

Drive Name
1. (blank)
2. (blank)

Array Name
1. (none)
2. (none)

Mode
1. SATA
2. SATA

Size(GB)
1. 0.00
2. 0.00

Status
1. Hdd
2. Hdd

So yeah, this leads me to think that either it's not connected correctly, or there is a problem with the hard drive. Jumpers don't necessarily effect SATA from what I hear, so I'll just recheck the connections and see if there's a problem. Otherwise, I don't know what else to do. I might just goto old fashioned IDE. lol

Thanks for the feedback liquidcooled!

[SpacePyro]

Not familiar with your BIOS but there should be a place to choose enable RAID as well as one to let you choose SATA first. This is the SK8V board that is in your sig we are talking about I assume? When you press tab during post it lets you see the drives and select your array etc.?

Be sure to remove any regular IDE drives before you do the install as well, saves a lot of trouble. If there is a boot option in your BIOS select the RAID array as well. Also was wondering if you have connected the drives to the SATA connectors closest to the DIMM slots? Sorry for all the questions...:o

Still haven't found it anywhere where it says to enable RAID and to choose SATA first. I'll check the manual and see if there is anything about that, but I don't think I saw that option anywhere. Yeah, it's the SK8V board. Yeah, pressing tab shows the harddrives and such, but on the previous post, that's all I see. No serial number or drive name, with 0.00 GB. Very weird.

By IDE drives do you mean like my DVD drive and my floppy drives? I'll remove those and see what I come up with. For the boot option, all I have for the boot sequence is this:

VIA VT6420 1st HDD
SM-Memorex 16X-DDL
1st FLOPPY DRIVE

Nothin about arrays. Apparently it doesn't save the array when I make it.

The SATA connectors are the ones closest to the DIMMs also, next to the VIA chip. Yeah, there are two pairs of SATAS, one for VIA and one for Promise...Promise is the lower ones that say like SATA_RAID1 and 2.

Still lost....I'm gonna try to put the hard drive in another computer, and see if that works.

[Just Learnin']

Leave the Floppy and CD/DVD drives connected, I meant other hard drives.

In the BIOS go to "Onboard Devices Configuration", "Advanced", Select "Onchip SATA Bootrom" and set to enabled

[SpacePyro]

That's enabled. So is the OnBoard Promise Controller. Since I'm not using Promise should I disable it?

[Just Learnin']

I would disable the Promise Controller yes. It may be a problem with the power to the drives. The power cables are both secure as well as the SATA cables? I know this is basic stuff but sometimes.........

[SpacePyro]

I'm pretty sure they are secure, but I will check them again. I'll make sure that all the cables are secure...

[SpacePyro]

Alright, cables are all secure, in the right spots and such. I went through the VIA program again and for fun, created a RAID SPAN array...and when I pressed F1 to View Array/Disk Status, it says that the size of the disk is 2047.99GB, which is COMPLETELY ridiculous...considering that it's suppose to be 72GB lol. *sigh* I don't know.

[Just Learnin']

Is there a setting anywhere in your BIOS under "Advanced" perhaps for IDE Configuration? In mine there is and I have selected "Enhanced Mode Support On" [S-ATA] as well as "Configure S-ATA as RAID" [Yes] selected

[liquidcooled]

yes

[SpacePyro]

Nope, I don't see anything for IDE config. All I have is this:

Advanced---

CPU Configuration
Chipset
Onboard Devices Configuration
PCIPnP
Jumperfree Configuration
Speech Configuration
Instant Music Configuration

[Just Learnin']

My IDE Configuration settings are actually in the Main or opening Bios menu. Advanced was just a suggestion. I would search through all the menus and the sub menus. Also check in your Boot menu to see if any trace of the drives shows up. Also try to hook each drive to the controller one at a time to see if it recognizes them at all.

[SpacePyro]

Alright, I'll be sure to test that out once I get back from ACC...gotta test on JavaScript and XHTML. But once I get back I'll test the controllers out, and I'll reply back the report.

[SpacePyro]

Ok I checked the manual and I didn't really find anything like that. I connected each hard drive once and it doesn't check out...I'm gonna try to connect them via IDE tomorrow, though. So we'll see how that goes. I'm still stumped as to what the problem is.

[Just Learnin']

Any luck with this SpacePyro? :scratch:

[SpacePyro]

Ok, so here's an update:

Firstly there are no IDE connections on these hard drives. Just SATA Connectors. So regardless, it'll have to work with a SATA connection.

Secondly I'm at the ASUS website right now, and I'm downloading a few things from there that might help. I'm downloading this thing called "VIA 4 in 1 driver Package Service v4.49P3." I don't know what it'll do but it has VIA in it, so why not? lol

I'm really stumped, still. I think that one thing I'm lacking is a DOS program. Without it I can't really install anything. Since the harddrives came from a friend of mine, he formatted them to wipe them out completely, so there's nothing on the drives at all. Perhaps there needs to be drivers installed ON the hdds?

[Just Learnin']

Have you tried enabling the Promise Controller and trying them on that? Also you can try the Western Digital diagnostic software on this page, http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=999&swid=2 download it and make a floppy put it in the drive then boot the rig up and follow the instructions on that page. If it does not see the drives I don't know?? :scratch:

Do you see anything about enabling SCSI in your bios? That is a term used for S-ATA controllers at times as well.

[Just Learnin']

This is another WD DOS based tool for setting up drives, could try it as well. Link (http://support.wdc.com/download/index.asp?cxml=n&pid=1&swid=23)

[SpacePyro]

Alright, update:

I downloaded the Diagnostics Tool, and it is working on my computer. It took a really long time to get it to run, I don't know why, but it worked after about 5 minutes. Right now it's doing a Full Media Scan on both hard drives, so I know it's communicating with it.

Maybe it'll work after this...

[SpacePyro]

I tested it, rebooted, and now VIA is detecting them. I set them as RAID 0, and I saw the S/N and the actual size (not 2047.99GB). Rebooted after that, and it didn't lose the RAID! I think it's now finally going to work.

Thanks so much guys!

[Just Learnin']

WOOT! Should have given you that link days ago! :o Don't be a stranger now eh? :hide:

[SpacePyro]

lol I won't. Thanks again! I'm bound to come here more often...this is like a computer haven to me lol