nVidia RAID Controller

The drive on it's own is for backing up partitions on the RAID array using
Norton Ghost.

I'd like the DOS programs to see the RAID array first then the single drive.

When I first installed the drives, I used Acronis Disk Director to partition
the drives. I installed WindowsXP and then connected the single drive up to
get the drive letter for it, in this case L:

Had I installed XP with the single drive attached it would have got the
drive letter D:

If I can get the DOS software to see the RAID array first I think things
would be a lot easier in future, especially if I need to reinstall XP or
maybe Vista in future.

I hope that this isn't messing about with the MBR.


"lkboop" <lkboop.TakeThisOut@ca.rr.com> wrote in message
news:45eecc95$0$8954$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Peter Geddes wrote:
>> I have an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum (PCB 1.0) board and would like to know if
>> I can do the following. I have 3 Hitachi SATA2 drives, 2 of them are in
>> a RAID0 array and the other is on it's own.
>>
>> I would like to be able to get the system to see the RAID array first
>> then the drive on it's own next. Programs like Norton Ghost and Acronis
>> Disk Director (in DOS mode) always see the single drive first then the
>> RAID array. I would like that to be the other way round.
>>
>> I have the RAID array to be first bootable disk.
>>
>> Any ideas on how to get the system to see the RAID array first?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
> If all you want is the "system " to see the RAID array first change it in
> the BIOS. Not a problem. Unless I misunderstand your question, I guess my
> question to you is how do you get your system to boot if it doesn't see
> the RAID first. I suppose you could boot from another drive and use your
> RAID for data. Unless we are talking a server, using the RAID array
> solely for data storage is really dumb.
 >> Stay informed about: nVidia RAID Controller 

Peter Geddes wrote:
> I have an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum (PCB 1.0) board and would like to know if I
> can do the following. I have 3 Hitachi SATA2 drives, 2 of them are in a
> RAID0 array and the other is on it's own.
>
> I would like to be able to get the system to see the RAID array first then
> the drive on it's own next. Programs like Norton Ghost and Acronis Disk
> Director (in DOS mode) always see the single drive first then the RAID
> array. I would like that to be the other way round.
>
> I have the RAID array to be first bootable disk.
>
> Any ideas on how to get the system to see the RAID array first?
>
> Thanks
>
Now I got what you're saying. You have two drives set active some how
i.e. your RAID array (considered as on drive) and the other "one is on
it's own". For some reason that I don't fully understand Windows and
apparently Ghost default to the single drive as opposed to the array
when both are set as active.

I had the same problem i.e. somehow, and I'm sure I had something to do
with it, my second HD the primary partition was set active. I didn't
even know it till I went to do a clean install of Windows XP and Windows
kept wanting to install itself on my D:\ drive. What I ending up doing
was pulling the IDE cable on the D:\ so Windows only saw my C:\ drive.

I later fixed it properly with Power Max and then all was fine i.e.
reformatted my D:\ using the Maxtor HD installation utility, and
partitioning it as extra storage space.
 >> Stay informed about: nVidia RAID Controller 

The only way I could get Vista to install was with the single disk (not
RAIDed) disconnected. It still made the XP partition D: but this is a bit
inconvenient as this pushed my other partition drive letters up. I've got
used to the drive letters as they are with XP. That is why I want to hide
the XP partition in Vista so that they do stay the same.

I haven't come across a Boot Manager compatible with Vista and allows
partition hiding yet!

I might try the PowerMAX thing you suggested, even though it's an Hitachi
drive. It should still work with it though?

Thanks again

"lkboop" <lkboop DeleteThis @ca.rr.com> wrote in message
news:45f08e28$0$16912$4c368faf@roadrunner.com...
> Peter Geddes wrote:
>> I have an MSI K8N Neo4 Platinum (PCB 1.0) board and would like to know if
>> I can do the following. I have 3 Hitachi SATA2 drives, 2 of them are in
>> a RAID0 array and the other is on it's own.
>>
>> I would like to be able to get the system to see the RAID array first
>> then the drive on it's own next. Programs like Norton Ghost and Acronis
>> Disk Director (in DOS mode) always see the single drive first then the
>> RAID array. I would like that to be the other way round.
>>
>> I have the RAID array to be first bootable disk.
>>
>> Any ideas on how to get the system to see the RAID array first?
>>
>> Thanks
>>
> Now I got what you're saying. You have two drives set active some how
> i.e. your RAID array (considered as on drive) and the other "one is on
> it's own". For some reason that I don't fully understand Windows and
> apparently Ghost default to the single drive as opposed to the array when
> both are set as active.
>
> I had the same problem i.e. somehow, and I'm sure I had something to do
> with it, my second HD the primary partition was set active. I didn't even
> know it till I went to do a clean install of Windows XP and Windows kept
> wanting to install itself on my D:\ drive. What I ending up doing was
> pulling the IDE cable on the D:\ so Windows only saw my C:\ drive.
>
> I later fixed it properly with Power Max and then all was fine i.e.
> reformatted my D:\ using the Maxtor HD installation utility, and
> partitioning it as extra storage space.
 >> Stay informed about: nVidia RAID Controller