Windows -v- RAID

Astaroth

Ok.... in the process of building a new PC which will be based on a Intel E6600 CPU and will have a RAID array of HDs.

Given the closeness of Vista it doesnt seem to be worth my while going out and buying a copy of Win XP 64 bit. I do have an old copy of Win XP Pro but it is pre the service packs.

I remember from the last time I installed an old version of XP Pro that it asked for a disc with RAID or SCSI drivers on it & the motherboard manual says you need to use XP Pro with SP1 or later to install (or win2k sp 4 etc).

The problem is that neither my new or old PC has a floppy disk drive.

Any idea how I can legitimately "get round" this problem without the need to spend pennies?

albertross_2

You could slipstream sp2 onto a new windows CD to get around the sp problem.

http://www.winsupersite.com/showcase/windowsxp_sp2_slipstream.asp

I though this was a no expense spared pc, 4 disks with raid, but no £5-10 floppy?!

http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/23925
http://www.ebuyer.com/UK/product/97462

studentphil

Run Ubuntu on it until the new windows is out.

A floppy drive is only a tenner- so it seems easist just to get a floppy drive

Omertron

Having been in the same situation, it's not about £5 for a floppy drive, but about fitting a drive that has no use once you've installed the driver.

Depending on the motherboard, you maybe able to use a usb thumb drive to load your drivers, but the best method would be to slipstream the installation CD as per albatross.

I regularly do this with my install disks and is perfectly legal to do as long as you don't pass the old CDs onto anyone.

crox

I can understand not wanting a floppy, they're slowly disapearing from my systems too, what about a usb key, if you can boot from one you should be able to see them at boot up...

Well, it sounds good in theory any way :-) try mapping it to a: if there's an issue, can't remember the old dos comands subst comes to mind though...

bingo_bango

If you go into BIOS, you can choose USB drives from the boot sequence option.

Well..you can on my 3-4 yr old Soltek mobo anyway.

Astaroth

It is a pain having to fit one, it is annoying having to pay for something simply to install windows and (if memory serves me correct) removing the blanking plate on the case to fit the FD is perminant (though you can replace the plastic cover) and so leaves another hole for dust to get in through.

Will look at the suggestions you all have made.

Many thanks