could someone answer this seemingly simple question?

[Chad]

I am building my first "advanced" computer setup using 3
hard drives. I am running a asus p4c800,1 gig ram, p4
2.6, and TRYING to install windows xp pro. I can not get
through the setup though, because It can not find my
drives. The drives are 2 36 gig western digital raptors
(sata), set up in a raid O array. how come my bios know
they are there and windows can not see them-- What am I
missing? The third drive is not hooked up yet because I
dont want windows installing itself on this drive-- it
will be on ide and used for storage. (thats my plan
anyway.) I have already set up my bios for xp. any help
would be greatly appreciated!! feel free to email me at
Thanks, Chad

[Opus]

Windows can be setup to install and boot from a RAID subsystem. You do not
normally need a conventional hard drive to use Windows in a RAID system as
long as the proper drivers are supplied by your RAID OEM.

Your RAID card should have come with a device driver that has to be loaded
at the very start of the Windows install process. When the install first
launches, it waits for about thirty seconds to allow you to tell it that you
want to install third party RAID drivers. If you have such drivers from
your RAID OEM, then hit F6 and supply the drivers when prompted. You may
have to supply them twice during the install process.

Opus

"Chad" > wrote in message
...
> I am building my first "advanced" computer setup using 3
> hard drives. I am running a asus p4c800,1 gig ram, p4
> 2.6, and TRYING to install windows xp pro. I can not get
> through the setup though, because It can not find my
> drives. The drives are 2 36 gig western digital raptors
> (sata), set up in a raid O array. how come my bios know
> they are there and windows can not see them-- What am I
> missing? The third drive is not hooked up yet because I
> dont want windows installing itself on this drive-- it
> will be on ide and used for storage. (thats my plan
> anyway.) I have already set up my bios for xp. any help
> would be greatly appreciated!! feel free to email me at
> Thanks, Chad