Creating RAID F6 install floppy
===============================

To install the Windows operating system when RAID is enabled in the BIOS you may need to use an F6 installation disk if your board does not include a Windows CD that has the drivers built-in. If you do not already have an F6 installation floppy with RAID driver files, you can create one. 

First extract the files from the installation package. This is done by using the "-x" option to extract the package contents. 


The storage tree in the extracted nForce installation package should look like this:

...\IDE\WinXP\sataraid
...\IDE\WinXP\legacy
...\IDE\WinXP\sata_ide

NOTE1: substitute Win2K or Win64 for Windows 2000 and Windows XP64 respectively
Note2: some packages use 'pataraid' instead of 'legacy' for folder name
NOTE3: if package does not contain 'legacy' folder ignore legacy section


sataraid
--------
This folder contains the WHQL signed SATA RAID driver. If RAID is enabled in the BIOS (even if installing to a non-RAID disk), you will generally use this. You can determine if 'sataraid' is the correct folder to use for the F6 floppy by entering the RAID setup screen in the BIOS. If you only see SATA devices listed, then this is the correct folder.

legacy (called 'pataraid' in some packages)
-------------------------------------
This folder contains a non-signed driver for use with legacy BIOS that include PATA RAID support. You can easily determine if the BIOS is a legacy BIOS by entering BIOS RAID setup screen and observing if PATA devices are listed. If not, then 'sataraid' folder should be used.

sata_ide
--------
This folder is NOT used for installation. This folder contains a non-RAID driver. When installing with RAID disabled in the BIOS, the Windows storage driver is used. Once OS install is complete then this driver can be installed using package setup.


F6 floppy install
-----------------
* Create the F6 install disk by copying all the files from either 'sataraid' -or- 'legacy' folder onto a floppy diskette. 
* during installation you must hit F6 key when prompted by OS installer.
* insert driver diskette into the floppy drive and follow the OS prompts

When OS reads the floppy it will show the following:

	NVIDIA RAID CLASS DRIVER (required)
	NVIDIA nForce Storage Controller (required)

Both of these MUST be installed if RAID is enabled on the installation port. After hitting ENTER to select one fo these, you must then hit "S=Specify Additional Device" and then install the other.

If RAID is not enabled on installation drive port, then only "NVIDIA nForce Storage Controller" is required.

(NOTE, most BIOS allow RAID to be globally enabled, but you can still enable/disable individual ports as RAID. Even if RAID is disabled on a specific port, if RAID is being used on other ports you must use 'sataraid' -or- 'legacy' to F6 install the OS onto the non-RAID HDD)
