Model name: KG7 / KG7-RAID / KT7A / KT7A-RAID / KT7 / KT7-RAID
Version: ALL
Symptom:
Why can't I boot from a SCSI CDROM attached to Adaptec 29160 SCSI
card then install operation system onto assigned hard drive? Or
fail to start Windows with Adaptec 29160 SCSI card plugged on KG7-RAID
mainboard?
Explanation:
- Some users encountered problems on RAID onboard mainboard and
thought it's owing to mainboard BIOS bug. Actually this issue
is caused by basic limitation of AWARD BIOS- all the PCI add-on
cards' BIOSes use C000~DFFF memory address, which is a quite limited
space. Especially the BIOS size of current VGA, RAID and SCSI
card become larger and larger. While two or more cards are plugged
into the system, the initial sequence, allocated memory address,
and different characteristics may lead to a very complicated situation
and configuration. Sometimes mainboard BIOS cannot afford enough
ROM space to PCI cards BIOSes and cause abnormal functionality.
Please note that for RAID onboard mainboards, users can't see
PCI add-on card but the RAID BIOS does exist and be included in
mainboard BIOS. If the add-on SCSI card's BIOS is with too large
size and quite different characteristic, the boot issue may occur.
- For Adaptec 29160 SCSI card users, we suggest the following
troubleshooting and workable configuration:
- Use an IDE CDROM to boot up and install the operation system.
Please set the boot sequence to "1st: CD-ROM, 2nd: ATA100RAID,
3rd: SCSI", thus you will be able to boot from a Windows
2000 installation CD disk and install the OS onto IDE RAID drive
or SCSI drive. If wrongfully set the boot sequence to "1st:
CD-ROM, 2nd: SCSI, 3rd: ATA100RAID", the installation process
may fail because mainboard BIOS cannot afford enough ROM space
to RAID BIOS.
- Use an SCSI CDROM to boot up and install the operation system.
Please set the boot sequence to "1st: ATA100RAID, 2nd:
SCSI, 3rd: any", thus you will be able to boot from a Windows
2000 installation CD disk and install the OS onto IDE RAID drive
or SCSI drive. If wrongfully set the boot sequence to "1st:
SCSI, 2nd: ATA100RAID, 3rd: any", the installation process
may fail because mainboard BIOS cannot afford enough ROM space
to RAID BIOS.
- We highly recommend choosing one option from IDE RAID and SCSI
solution. This will simplify the system configuration and keep
insufficient ROM space issue away from users. For Adaptec 29160
and high-end SCSI RAID solution, KG7/KT7A that without IDE RAID
function is the better choice. And for non-SCSI solution, KG7-RAID/KT7A-RAID
is the better choice.
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