In article < .com>,
wrote:
> KEYWORDS:
> Promise 20378, non-raid, SATA, ATA378, RAID378.
>
> MY OBJECTIVE:
> I would like to connect a third hard drive to the SATA_RAID1 interface
> of my motherboard WITHOUT using RAID. I have been told by Asus that
> this is possible, but that's where the help ends! I already have two
> hard drives connected successfully to the SATA1 and SATA2 (Southbridge)
> interfaces.
>
> MY HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE:
> - Asus P4C800-E Deluxe Motherboard running BIOS 1021
> - 2x Maxtor SATA Hard Drives connected successfully to SATA1 and SATA2
> - 1x Maxtor SATA Hard Drive connected to SATA_RAID1.
> - Windows XP Professional, Service Pack 2
> - I believe that the two SATA_RAID interfaces are supported by the
> onboard Promise PDC 20378 controller.
>
> MY BIOS SETTINGS:
> - The Promise Controller is "Enabled"
> - The Operating Mode is "IDE". Choices are "IDE" or "RAID"
> - Configure SATA as RAID is set to "No"
>
> WHAT HAPPENS:
> My third drive is recognised during boot up with the message something
> like "SATA378 Tx2plus BIOS Version... Detecting.... IDE BUS ENABLED.".
> My third drive also appears as a 3rd drive in the BIOS under the "Boot"
> menu. However, it is not recognised by Windows.
>
> PROBLEM:
> In Device Manager, under "SCSI and RAID controllers", I get the yellow
> exclamation mark against "WinXP Promise FastTrak 378(tm) Controller".
> When I double click this, it states "This device cannot start. (Code
> 10)". It is currently using the driver files "Fasttx2k.sys" and
> "ptipbmf.dll". It states file version "1.00.1.37".
>
> WHAT I HAVE TRIED:
> 1. I have tried to update this driver with the ones on the ASUS Support
> CD and ones I have downloaded from the ASUS website (both ATA378 and
> RAID 378). However, Windows XP rejects these stating that XP "...could
> not find a better match for your hardware then the software currently
> installed".
> 2. I uninstall the driver and boot from the Windows XP CD ROM. I press
> F6 and select the drivers provided by ASUS (by using the MakeDisk
> facility and putting the drivers on a Floppy Disk). The drivers are
> copied across. However, I still get the problem described in "PROBLEM"
> above.
>
> CONCLUSION:
> I know I can connect a third party PCI card wih SATA interfaces on it,
> but that would be giving up! What I am trying here is possible, so I'd
> prefer to use the MB's own SATA interfaces. Installing a PCI card is
> my last resort IF I do not get any help here.
>
> If I find a solution, I will post it here for all to see (together with
> credits!). PLEASE HELP!
Well, someone did find an answer. His name is Bob.
http://groups.google.ca/group/alt.co...c?dmode=source
The problem is, the clever lads at Promise, did not design any
removal capability for the RAID and IDE driver package for
the 20378. That means, if you install the RAID drivers, then
decide later to go IDE, there is no entry in Add/Remove to
click to get rid of them. Some RAID controllers actually
change their enumeration, when you change modes, and that
triggers Windows to install new drivers. I get the impression
(but have not checked) that the 20378 looks the same to
Windows whether in RAID or IDE mode, from an enumeration
perspective. But, when the driver attempts to load, the
driver soon figures out it is the wrong flavor of driver
and it gives you the finger. (The damn driver could have
integrated the RAID and IDE features into the same driver,
which would have been another solution for the guys at
Promise.)
So, in the posting above, Bob manually removed files and
fixed the registry. You'd have to look at the .INF file
used to install the files, to try and figure out what needs
to be removed. It would either be that, or redesign the
..INF file itself, and add the necessary entries to
make the driver appear in Add/Remove.
Either you'll be doing brain surgery, or doing a system
reinstall. Punting and getting another card, is also
an option :-)
Paul
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