User`s manual

Operating System-Related Errors

The operating system no longer boots after creating a Mirrored Array with an existing

boot drive that uses Windows 98/ME/NT4/2000.

This is due to Drive Geometry issues. You can verify this by attaching the original drive to

the standard IDE connector and check whether it boots. Each controller can view a drive

differently. This can be an issue for a new controller that loads the original Master Boot

Record (MBR) and then has a problem translating it or an issue of Operating System boot

record.

For Windows NT or Windows 2000, we recommend a “clean” install of the operating system.

This restores the MBR and OS boot record. You will then need to repartition and format the

drive.

For Windows 98/ME, you can perform the DOS Command “SYS C:” from a bootable floppy

or CD-ROM to restore the operating system boot record and transfer the system files to the

boot drive. If this does not work, the Windows 98/ME registry may have become corrupted

during the boot process and must be restored. See the Windows documentation to perform

this procedure.

Promise Windows driver did not appear in Device Manager

Windows may have listed the controller under “Other Devices” instead of “Hard Disk

Controllers”. In Device Manager’s “Other Devices”, check for “RAID Controller”. Highlight it

and click the “Properties” button, and then click the “Driver” tab. Depending on the Windows

version, choose either “Change Driver” or “Update Driver”. Then follow the on-screen

prompts to complete installing the driver. If you want to test whether the device can be

removed safely, click “Cancel”. Reboot the system to complete installing the driver.

The “Inaccessible Boot Device” Message Appears During Floppyless Install of

Windows NT or 2000

The <F6> key was not pressed at the appropriate time. When in Windows NT4, reboot the

system and press the <F6> key when the message "Setup is inspecting your computer's

hardware configuration…" appears. When in Windows 2000, reboot the system and press

the <F6> key when the message "Press F6 if you need to install third party SCSI or RAID

driver" appears.

The “No Hard Drives Found” Message Appears During CD-ROM Install of Windows NT

or 2000

The <F6> key was not pressed at the appropriate time. When in Windows NT4, reboot the

system and press the <F6> key when the message "Setup is inspecting your computer's

hardware configuration…" appears. When in Windows 2000, reboot the system and press

the <F6> key when the message "Press F6 if you need to install third party SCSI or RAID

driver" appears.

Performance Tips

Here are some tips that may optimize performance in a RAID 0 striped array. If you are

using an audio/video editing card, we also recommend that you review your card’s

documentation for additional information.

Use Drives Attached to RAID IDE as D: or other non-bootable drive in a Striped Array

For A/V editing, keep the original system boot drive that is attached to the standard IDE

controller as C: drive. Partitioning software such as FDISK will see the array as one physical

drive, D: drive (or later). This will prevent file fragmentation and provide better accessibility to

the array.