Solved Installation with RAID configuration

[ToniCipriani]

I'm having some trouble trying to install Win7 the way I want it.

I have 3 hard drives on a nForce 570 Ultra RAID controller, with 2 80GB set up in a RAID-0 configuration, and a standalone 500GB drive with 2 partitions, one larger and one smaller, both for stoarge. I currently use XP Pro SP3, and it's configured such that the boot files, XP system files and Program Files folder reside on the RAID array, and my Documents and Settings folder reside on the larger partition in the 500GB. I'm planning do to a clean reinstall of Win7 with basically the same set up, with Windows system files and boot on the RAID array, and the Users folder in the larger partition on the 500GB.

I'm having 2 issues:

1. I created an Unattend.XML with the ProfilesDir set to E:\Users (the larger partition on the 500GB) and put it on USB for Windows Setup to pickup. But somehow Windows Setup still insist on creating the Users folder on the RAID and ignoring it.

2. Setup always tries to create the BOOTMGR in the smaller partition on the 500GB, which confuses my BIOS, as it tries to look for the boot files on the RAID, and all I get is the "BOOTMGR missing, hit C+A+D" message. I read up on some places that one way to solve this is unplug all non-RAID drives (i.e. the 500GB), however this creates the dilemma that I need the drive to be plugged in to create the Users folder.

Are there any ways to get my setup created? I don't want any data residing on the RAID, just system and program files.

Thanks in advance.

 

[fireman604]

Disconnect the raid do your install reconnect the raid. also check to see which drive/ partitionb is seen first in the bios.

 

[ToniCipriani]

Well then if I disconnect the RAID, then I can't install on the RAID?

And the order of the drives physically is the 2 80GBs show up first, then the 500GB. But currently the 500GB shows up first then the 160GB array.

 

[fireman604]

sorry about that, I have 7 installed on a raid 5 of 5 raptors, Change the order so the raid is found first, or disconnect the other drive so raid is seen as boot drive. You may have to install drivers with F6 when asked. My Highpoint card is not seen by windows until it has drivers, the onboard connection ports are seen but I am not using them in a raid just as 4 single drives. If I helped give me credit for it. No fires tonight yet I am doing much better

 

[ToniCipriani]

Actually I got it working using another method...

What I did is I unplug the standalone, then force Win7 to install onto the RAID. Right after the last reboot before creating the first account, I plugged the drive back in, fired up a command prompt, then move the folders using Robocopy, then create 2 junctions to link to the new locations, and regedit and change the profile paths. All is well now, I'm up and running (well sort of, still struggling with some 64-bit drivers, lol).

Kinda hacky, but it works. Thanks for your help anyways. You did give me the idea to disconnect the drive.

 

[fireman604]

Make it easy to help you list your specs, I see you did. give credit for helping. Glad to help