ASUS A8N32-SLI, RAID and BSODs...

[CpuDesigner]

Have not had a single issue with my A8N32-SLI system...until I tried to get a Raid1/mirror drive pair running. No issues stability or otherwise with bios 903 or 1009 or Win XP running 24/7 for a couple of weeks...then I tried to get a raid1 array going. The only thing I set in the bios is 1) memory timing matching my DRAM (memtest w/ 0 errors > 100 hours continuous testing, superpi stable multiple days) and 2) enabling the raid.

Storage: (1) Single (boot) drive in Sata1, Mirror pair in Sata3,4 - I know this was an issue with earlier bios versions, but appears to work (Cisco2 and others) with 903 and 1009.

I attempted a fresh install XP Pro after enabling the nVidia Raid function and Sata2,3 for Raid operation in the bios, as well as setting up the nVidia raid bios for both drives as a Mirror pair - post reports array as healthy. I created a raid floppy driver disk using the Asus supplied CD (makedisk) and loaded the drivers via F6. Partitioned drives in WinXP install, etc no issues until the last 2 minutes of the install (last message before BSOD is removing tmp files).

I tried a 2nd install and got a BSOD with the ACPI error -- tried installing with "F7" to disable ACPI and got BSODs with pagefault and other errors on subsequent attempts (zeroed disks with WD tool, re-created partitions on disks, same results). When I disabled the raid in the bios, I still got BSODs at the end of the XP installation. When I disabled sata ports 3,4 in the bois, I was able to install XP.

What is the best possible course of action (getting tired of experimenting).
-go back to bios 903 ?
-clear cmos/restore defaults and continue with 1009
-Are there other settings i should be changing in the bios (saw one post on another forum where an individual indicating disabling the game port fixed a similar raid problem)?
-Install the chipset drivers and enable raid array in the bios, go for broke ?
-???

 

[SnoMunke]

I had nothing but trouble with the A8N32-SLI. I think the BIOS is very buggy. I would go with different SLI x8 (x8 x8) motherboard (ASUS, MSI, Epox) vs this x16 (x16 x16) motherboard. x16 is a waste anyway since current graphics cards don't need the extra bandwidth.

If I were to buy another SLI motherboard, I would go with the Tyan 2866 motherboard I have now (although it is very expensive) or an Epox motherboard.

 

[CpuDesigner]

I reset the RTC/CMOS and loaded defaults afterwhich I was able to boot Windows with Sata3,4 ports/drives enabled (but not configured as RAID, yet). As I did not clear the nonvolitile CMOS memory when I flashed the 1009 bios (from 0903), it appears that resetting defaults in the bios does not initialize everything.

So, yes the BIOS is buggy - bad programming practice to not initilize everything with load defaults. I suspect that not clearing the nonvolitale CMOS memory when upgrading the BIOS has accounted for many users problems.

Not ready to buy another Mobo yet...

Anyone have suggestions on getting the nVidia RAID up from here (install drivers in windows, reinstall windows w/ drivers, bios config changes, ...)???

Also, what should I do with the Sil3132 bios settings (came up as enabled for RAID and Windows was not happy when I set it to SATA2) or loading drivers (not currently using these ports) ?

 

[CpuDesigner]

Thought I would follow up in case anyone has had similar issues.

Indeed, not clearing the nonvolatile RAM (CMOS) was the only source of the problems I encountered installing Raid. Raid1 is in operation, no other issues.

I suspect that many of the strange problems encountered after upgrading the bios on the A8N32-SLI (and perhaps other boards) is that the CMOS needs to be cleared as the bios initilization ("load defaults") does not initialize everything and old state from the previous bios incarnation mucks up some internal/hiden/non-reset configuration information.

 

[Odeen]

For future reference, what exactly do you do to completely clear the BIOS on the A8N32-SLI when flashing it?

Thanks,

Alex

 

[rekabwolrab]

I have had some problems with RAID. A few BSOD and blah blah blah. I put in the new BIOS 1103 i think and have been running RAID 0 on two raptors now without issue. I tried OC stuff before and as this was my first OC board I probably screwed some stuff up. Everything seem ok now, but early on I had some problems getting XP to install. This CMOS clear sounds like my issue. I also would like to know exactly how to do it.

Thanks,

 

[rekabwolrab]

The only thing I can find is the jumper on the motherboard. That must be it. Remove the battery, place jumper on 2 and 3 for 10 seconds. Replace jumper back. Install battery. You will have to set stuff up in BIOS again.

 

[SnoMunke]

Enough of this "remove the battery"BS... you do not have to remove the battery to clear the BIOS...jumper is enough.

 

[imported_ST]

Originally posted by: CpuDesigner
Thought I would follow up in case anyone has had similar issues.

Indeed, not clearing the nonvolatile RAM (CMOS) was the only source of the problems I encountered installing Raid. Raid1 is in operation, no other issues.

I suspect that many of the strange problems encountered after upgrading the bios on the A8N32-SLI (and perhaps other boards) is that the CMOS needs to be cleared as the bios initilization ("load defaults") does not initialize everything and old state from the previous bios incarnation mucks up some internal/hiden/non-reset configuration information.

I just got a A8N32 myself and spent the last 4 hours tearing my hair out installing this. Been countless BSODs, compared to my old A8NSLI Prem mobo. But after reading the post about your experience, everything is working okay again (knock on wood). Thanks!