Windows 7: Intel Matrix Storage Manager Question..

hey all,
Does anybody know of a way to use this without a floppy disk? say by loading it from a USB drive instead?. Is the only way by using a floppy disk?

When I installed it, it just ran a setup file within windows then I simply rebooted.

ah i dont know how that works. you set the raid array up from windows?

altho my question still stands

Intel® Matrix Storage Manager - Intel® Matrix Storage Manager support

Intel® Matrix Storage Manager

Note: This product name has evolved over time. Intel® Application Accelerator RAID Edition, Intel® Application Accelerator 4.x, Intel® Matrix Storage Technology software, and Intel® Matrix Storage Manager all refer to different versions of the same product. Intel® Matrix Storage Manager is the name of the current version.

Product information
Product overview
Features supported on each platform
Software and drivers
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Get the latest driver - version PV 8.8
Get Floppy Configuration Utility (for F6 installation)
Installation and use
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Installation instructions
How to install operating system on RAID volume (F6 install method)
What if I want to use RAID but my OS is already installed?
How to install operating system on single serial ATA hard drive (F6 install method)
Unattended installation instructions under Windows* XP
How to enable or disable hard drive write-back cache
Important information on Intel® Matrix Storage Manager option ROM
How to configure the BIOS for RAID or AHCI
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Known issues and solutions
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Error message: Volume creation failed
Iastor.sys errors reported by Microsoft* On Line Crash Analysis (OCA)
Cannot create recovery volume
Possible issues with Windows Vista* and Intel® RAID
Known compatibility issues
Degraded or failed RAID 1 volume
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Why can't I view the S.M.A.R.T. values of my hard drives after setting up RAID?
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Are RAID volumes greater than 2TB supported?
How do I rebuild a degraded RAID volume after a failed drive is replaced?
Can I move my RAID volume to another system and access the contents?
More questions and answers on the Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
Product documentation
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Native Command Queuing (NCQ)
Quick start guide
User's manual

You download the driver and install it from within windows
reboot and you can then access the raid setup in the usual manner during boot.

Just to get clarification from you, you are raiding the two drives you list in your system specs? And you have Windows 7 (which you are using now) on one of those drives? If you attempt to set up a raid between those two drives you will lose your OS and any files thereby requiring a fresh install of Windows.

Which brings us back to -

Have the drivers available on USB or CD. Install during the Windows install process. Create the RAID in BIOS. Install Windows via boot from DVD (or USB). In Setup, you will have no HDD - insert and install Matrix at that time. Floppy not required.

ive got it all sorted out. much faster then before.

thx for the guidance fellows

I answered my own question in the end tho..
you need the intel matrix floppy disk to activate the raid bios.

To be accurate...

You need the Intel Matrix driver files formerly found only on floppy disk to activate the RAID BIOS.

In the end, you understood the answer to your question.

i m having one laptop sony viao VGNCS-17G

for installation of XP on this laptop i m getting the problem as follows

i am trying to install sata drivers from floppy drive. from sony website i have taken sata drivers. After coping sata drivers hard is detected but when xp tries to load xp professional setup on my laptop it show "Insert th disk labled : Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager Driver into drive A: press ENTER when ready.

it again asks for Intel Matrix Storage Manager Driver.

I have tried for 3 more floppies and 3 xp cds but it doesnt work

can anybody help me out to install drivers and and so that I can load xp in my laptop.

You should change the IDE Mode to the AHCI Mode of your SATA hard disk after Installing Windows XP firstly, then you will be able to install the Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager Driver.

You better GOOGLE "How to enable AHCI mode after installing Windows " you yourself. I'm afraid any inadequate interpretation will cause you troble, since English is not my native language.

For examples:
1. Useful Preparation: Install Windows In AHCI Mode - Review Tom's Hardware : Opting for RAID Level Migration

2. Changing IDE To AHCI Mode after Installing Windows XP | Laptop - Notebooks Drivers Updates

3. HOWTO: enable AHCI mode after installing Windows - PC Perspective Forums

Good luck~~~