Gigabyte GA-8N-SLI Royal User manual

TableofContents
Configuring SATAHardDrive(s)(Controller:nVIDIAnForce4 SLI)...................................................2
(1)Installing SATAharddrive(s)inyourcomputer...................................................................... 2
(2)Configuring SATAcontrollermode and bootsequenceinBIOSSetup .................................. 2
(3)Configuring RAIDsetinRAIDBIOS........................................................................................ 6
(4)Making aSATAcontrollerdriverdisk ..................................................................................... 9
(5)Installing SATAcontrollerdriverduring OSinstallation ......................................................... 11
(6)Configuring abootableRAIDarraywithMicrosoft Windows2000 ...................................... 14

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries) - 2-
Ác
Åé
¤¤
¤å
Configuring SATAHardDrive(s)(Controller:nVIDIAnForce4 SLI)
"*"Skipthisstep ifyou do notwanttocreateRAIDarrayon the SATAcontroller.
To configureSATAharddrive(s),followthestepsbelow:
(1)Install SATAharddrive(s)inyoursystem.
(2)ConfigureSATAcontrollermode and bootsequenceinBIOSSetup.
(3)*ConfigureRAIDsetinRAIDBIOS.
(4)Makeafloppydisk containing the SATAcontrollerdriver.
(5)Install the SATAcontrollerdriverduring OSinstallation.
Beforeyou begin
Pleaseprepare:
(a)AtleasttwoSATAharddrives(toensureoptimalperformance,itisrecommended thatyou usetwo
harddriveswithidenticalmodeland capacity).If you do notwanttocreateRAID,you mayprepare
onlyone harddrive.
(b)Anemptyformatted floppydisk.
(c)WindowsXP/2000 setup disk.
(d)DriverCD foryourmotherboard.
(1)Installing SATAharddrive(s)inyourcomputer
Attachone end ofthe SATAsignalcabletothe rearofthe SATAharddriveand the otherend toavailable
SATAport(s)on the motherboard.If therearemorethan one SATAcontrolleron yourmotherboard,you
mayrefertothe motherboarduser'smanualtoidentifythe SATAcontrollerforthe connector.Then
connectthe powerconnectorfromyourpowersupplytothe harddrive.
(2)Configuring SATAcontrollermodeand bootsequence inBIOSSetup
You havetomakesurewhetherthe SATAcontrollerisconfigured correctlyinsystemBIOSSetup and
setBIOSbootsequenceforthe SATAharddrive(s)/RAIDarray.
Step 1:
Turnon yourcomputerand press DeltoenterBIOSSetup during POST(Power-OnSelfTest).Inthe
exampleinFigure1,makesurethatSerial-ATAII 1orSerial-ATAII 2underthe IntegratedPeripherals
menu isenabled (Serial-ATAII1controlsthe SATAII0/1connectorsand Serial-ATAII2controlsthe
SATAII2/3connectors).If you wishtocreateRAIDarray,press ENTERon the IDE/SATAII RAID
Configitemtoenterthe submenu .

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries)- 3-
Figure1
Inthe IDE/SATAII RAIDConfigsubmenu,enableIDE/SATAII RAIDfunction.Then enablethe SATA
portswithharddisks thatyou wanttouseforRAID.Inthe exampleinFigure2,enableSATAII 1Primary/
SecondaryRAIDorSATAII 2Primary/SecondaryRAID).(Forexample,ifyou wishtocreateRAID
withharddisks on the SATAII0and SATAII1connectors,setSATAII 1Primary/SecondaryRAIDto
Enabled).
Figure2
The BIOSSetup menusdescribed inthissection maynotshowthe exactsettingsforyour
motherboard.The actualBIOSSetup menu optionsyou will see shall depend on the motherboard
you haveand the BIOSversion.
CMOSSetup Utility-Copyright(C)1984-2005 AwardSoftware
IntegratedPeripherals
IDE/SATAII RAID Config [Press Enter]
On-Chip IDE Channel0 [Enabled]
On-Chip IDE Channel1 [Enabled]
IDE1 Conductor Cable [Auto]
IDE2 Conductor Cable [Auto]
Serial-ATAII 1 [Enabled]
Serial-ATAII 2 [Enabled]
On-Chip USB [V1.1+V2.0]
USB Keyboard Support [Disabled]
USB Mouse Support [Disabled]
AC97 Audio [Auto]
Onboard LAN2 Function [Auto]
Onboard SATAII/IDE3 [Enabled]
Onboard SATAII/IDE3 Mode [BASE]
Onboard 1394b Function [Enabled]
Onboard LAN Function [Enabled]
Onboard Serial Port 1 [3F8/IRQ4]
i-Lock [Enabled]
Onboard Parallel Port [378/IRQ7]
Parallel Port Mode [SPP]
Item Help
Menu Level}
higf:MoveEnter:Select+/-/PU/PD:ValueF10:SaveESC:Exit F1:GeneralHelp
F3:LanguageF5:PreviousValuesF6:Fail-SafeDefaultsF7:OptimizedDefaults
CMOSSetup Utility-Copyright(C)1984-2005 AwardSoftware
IDE/SATAII RAIDConfig
Item Help
Menu Level}
IDE/SATAII RAID function [Enabled]
IDE Primary Master RAID [Disabled]
IDE Primary Slave RAID [Disabled]
IDE Secndry Master RAID [Disabled]
IDE Secndry Slave RAID [Disabled]
SATAII 1 Primary RAID [Enabled]
SATAII 1 Secondary RAID [Enabled]
SATAII 2 Primary RAID [Enabled]
SATAII 2 Secondary RAID [Enabled]
higf:MoveEnter:Select+/-/PU/PD:ValueF10:SaveESC:Exit F1:GeneralHelp
F3:LanguageF5:PreviousValuesF6:Fail-SafeDefaultsF7:OptimizedDefaults

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries) - 4-
Ác
Åé
¤¤
¤å
Step 2:
If you do notcreateRAID,selectHardDisk BootPriorityunderthe AdvancedBIOSFeatures menu.
Inthe HardDisk BootPrioritysubmenu,selectthe modelofthe SATAharddriveontowhichyou wish
toinstall Microsoft Windows2000/XP.You shouldsee ascreen similartoFigure3below.
Figure3
Afterconfiguring the SATAcontrollermode insystemBIOS,ifyou wishtocreateRAID,savethe settings
and exit. Then go toRAIDBIOS(refertopage 6)toconfigurethe RAIDarray.Afterfinished,re-enterthe
systemBIOSSetup tosetharddisk bootprioritybeforeOSinstallation.SelectHardDisk BootPriority
underthe AdvancedBIOSFeatures menu.Inthe HardDisk BootPrioritysubmenu,selectthe RAID
arrayontowhichyou wishtoinstall Microsoft Windows2000/XP (Figure4).
Figure4
CMOSSetup Utility-Copyright(C)1984-2005 AwardSoftware
HardDiskBootPriority
1. CH2 M. : ST3120026AS
2. CH3 M. : ST3120026AS
3. Bootable Add-in Cards
hi: Move PU/PD/+/-: Change Priority F10: Save ESC: Exit
Item Help
Menu Level }}
Use <h>or <i> to
select a device, then
press <+> to move it
up, or <-> to move it
down the list. Press
<ESC> to exit this
menu.
CMOSSetup Utility-Copyright(C)1984-2005 AwardSoftware
HardDiskBootPriority
1. SCSI-0: NVIDIA MIRROR 111.7
2. Bootable Add-in Cards
hi: Move PU/PD/+/-: Change Priority F10: Save ESC: Exit
Item Help
Menu Level }}
Use <h>or <i> to
select a device, then
press <+> to move it
up, or <-> to move it
down the list. Press
<ESC> to exit this
menu.

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries)- 5-
Step 3:
TobootfromWindowsinstallation CD-ROM,setFirstBootDevice underthe AdvancedBIOSFeatures
menu toCD-ROM(Figure5).
Step 4:
Saveand exitBIOSSetup.
Figure5
CMOSSetup Utility-Copyright(C)1984-2005 AwardSoftware
AdvancedBIOSFeatures
}Hard Disk Boot Priority [Press Enter]
First Boot Device [CDROM]
Second Boot Device [Hard Disk]
Third Boot Device [CDROM]
ROM Boot Priority [PROMISE]
Boot Up Floppy Seek [Disabled]
Password Check [Setup]
CPU Hyper-Threading #[Enabled]
Limit CPUID Max. to 3 [Disabled]
No-Execute Memory Protect [Enabled]
CPU Enhanced Halt (C1E) [Enabled]
CPU Thermal Monitor 2(TM2) [Enabled]
CPU EIST Function [Enabled]
Full Screen LOGO Show [Enabled]
Intel Onscreen Branding [Enabled]
Init Display First [PEG]
higf:MoveEnter:Select+/-/PU/PD:ValueF10:SaveESC:Exit F1:GeneralHelp
F3:LanguageF5:PreviousValuesF6:Fail-SafeDefaultsF7:OptimizedDefaults
Item Help
Menu Level}
Select Hard Disk Boot
Device Priority

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries) - 6-
Ác
Åé
¤¤
¤å
(3)Configuring RAIDsetinRAIDBIOS
Enterthe RAIDBIOSsetup utilitytoconfigureaRAIDarray.Skipthisstep and proceed toSection 4if
you do notwanttocreateRAID.
Step 1:
Afterthe POSTmemorytestbeginsand beforethe operating systembootbegins,lookforamessage
whichsays "Press F10 toenterRAIDsetup utility"(Figure6).Hitthe F10 keytoenterthe RAIDBIOS
setup utility.
Figure6
Step 2：
The Define aNewArrayscreen isthe firstoption screen when you enterthe NVIDIARAIDsetup utility.
(Figure7).You can press the TAB keytohighlightthrough options.
Step 3:
Inthe RAIDMode field,usethe UPorDOWNARROWkeytoselectaRAIDmode.The supported RAID
modesinclude Mirroring (default),Striping,Stripe Mirroring,Spanning and Raid5.The following isan
exampleofRAID0arraycreation.
Step 4:
If RAID0(Striping)isselected,you can manuallysetthe striping block size.Inthe Striping Block field,
usethe UPorDOWNARROWkeytosetthe Striping Block size.The KB isthe standardunitofStriping
Block size.Werecommend you leaving ittothe defaultsetting--Optimal(64K).The sizerange isfrom
4Kto128K.
Figure7
MediaShield IDE ROM BIOS 5.16
Copyright (C) 2005 NVIDIA Corp.
Detecting array ...
Press F10 to enter RAID setup utility ...
MediaShield RAID Utility Feb 8 2005
- Define a New Array -
RAID Mode: Mirroring Striping Block: Optimal
FreeDisks
Loc Disk Model Name
2.0.M ST3120026AS
2.1.M ST3120026AS
ArrayDisks
Loc Disk Model Name
[g] Add
[f] Del
[ESC] Quit [F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [hi] Select [ENTER] Popup

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries)- 7-
Step 6:
Press F7afterselecting the targetharddisks.Amessage whichsays "Cleardisk data?"will appear(Figure
9).If you aresuretoclearthe datainthe selected harddrives,press Y.(If the harddrivescontain
previouslycreated RAIDarray,you need topress Ytoclearthe datafromthe harddrives.)
Figure9
Figure8
Step 5:
Next, selectthe harddriveswhichyou wishtobe included inthe disk array.The Free Disks section
displays the information aboutthe currentlyinstalled SATAharddrives.Press the TAB keytomoveto
the Free Disks section.Selectthe targetharddrivesusing the UPorDOWNARROWkeyand usethe
RIGHTARROWkeytoadd the harddrivestothe ArrayDisks section (Figure8).
MediaShield RAID Utility Feb 8 2005
- Define a New Array -
RAID Mode: Striping Striping Block: Optimal
FreeDisks
Loc Disk Model Name ArrayDisks Loc Disk Model Name
[g] Add
[f] Del
[ESC] Quit [F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [hi] Select [ENTER] Popup
2.0.M ST3120026AS
2.1.M ST3120026AS
MediaShield RAID Utility Feb 8 2005
- Define a New Array -
RAID Mode: Striping Striping Block: Optimal
FreeDisks
Loc Disk Model Name ArrayDisks Loc Disk Model Name
[g] Add
[f] Del
[ESC] Quit [F6] Back [F7] Finish [TAB] Navigate [hi] Select [ENTER] Popup
1.0.M ST3120026AS
1.1.M ST3120026AS
Clear disk data ?
[Y] YES [N] NO

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries) - 8-
Ác
Åé
¤¤
¤å
Toread moreinformation aboutthe RAIDarray,press ENTERtoenterthe ArrayDetail screen (Figure
11),whereyou shouldsee detailed information aboutRAIDmode,disk block size,disk modelname,
and disk capacity,etc.
Figure11
Figure10
Afterthat, the ArrayListscreen displaying the RAIDarrayyou created will appear(Figure10).
If you wanttosetthe disk arrayasbootdevice,usethe UPorDOWNARROWkeytoselectthe array
and press B.The Bootsection will showYes.
Todeletethe array,press Dinthe ArrayDetail screen.When the "Deletethisarray?"message appears,
press YtoconfirmorNtocancel.Press ENTERtoreturntothe ArrayListscreen.
Toexitthe NvidiaRAIDutility,press ESCinthe mainmenu orCtrl+Xinthe ArrayListscreen.
Now,you can proceed toinstall the SATAcontrollerdriverand operating system.
MediaShield RAID Utility Feb 8 2005
- Array List -
[Ctrl-X] Exit [hi] Select [B] Set Boot [N] New Array [ENTER] Detail
Boot Id Status Vendor Array Model Name
No 2Healthy NVIDIA STRIPE 223.58G
Array 2 : NVIDIA STRIPE 223.58G
- Array Detail -
RAID Mode: Striping
Striping Width : 2 Striping Block: 64K
Adapt Channel M/S Index Disk Model Name Capacity
2 0 Master 0ST3120026AS 111.79GB
2 1 Master 1ST3120026AS 111.79GB
[R] Rebuild [D] Delete [C] Clear Disk [ENTER] Return

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries)- 9-
(4)Making aSATAcontrollerdriverdisk
Toinstall Windows2000/XP ontoaSATAharddrive/RAIDarrayon the nVIDIAnForce4 SLIcontroller
successfully,you need toinstall required driverforthe SATAcontrollerduring OSinstallation.Without
the driver,the harddrive/RAIDarraymaynotbe recognized during the Windowssetup process.
Firstofall,you need tocopythe driverforthe SATAcontrollerfromthe motherboarddriverCD toa
floppydisk.The instructionsbelowexplainhowtocopythe driver.
Step 1:Find an availablesystemand insertthe motherboarddriverCD intothe CD-ROMdrive.The
installation utilitywill appearautomatically.Quitthe installation utilityfirst.
Step 2:GotoMyComputerand right-click the CD-ROMdriveicon and selectOpen(Figure12).
Figure13
Figure12
Step 3:Gotothe BootDrvfolderand lookforan executableprogramnamed MENU.exe(Figure13).
«Â?±

SATAConfigurations(P4nForce4 SLIseries) - 10 -
Ác
Åé
¤¤
¤å
Figure14
Step 5:
Insertan emptyfloppydisk and selectthe nVIDIASerialATAdriverbypressing the corresponding letter
fromthe menu (forexample,fromthe menu inFigure14,press GtoselectnVIDIAC19 Series Raid
(XP)ifyou wishtoinstall WindowsXP orpress HtoselectnVIDIAC19 Series Raid(2K)ifyou wish
toinstall Windows2000).Then itwill takeaboutone minutetocopythe SATAdriverfromthe
motherboarddriverCD tothe floppydisk.
Step 6:
Press 0toexitwhen the procedureiscomplete.
Step 4:
Double-click MENU.exe.AnMS-DOSpromptscreen similartoFigure14 belowwill appear(Note).
(Note):The nameofthe driversinthe menu mightdiffer,depending on the version ofyour
driverCD-ROMdisk.