Install Windows on Mac Pro with Software RAID present

Discussion in 'Mac Pro' started by sirris101, Mar 11, 2008.

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  1. sirris101, Mar 11, 2008

    sirris101 macrumors member

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    Jan 9, 2008
    #1
    I've got 4 hard drives in my Mac Pro that are each used for a variety of software RAID arrays for Mac OS.

    The problem is I can't get Boot Camp/Windows to work on a second partition on any of the drives. It would seem that any semblance of a RAID slice partition on a drive prevents Windows from booting.

    I can get into the Windows XP installer CD, format and copy the installation files to the NTFS partition, but when the system reboots to complete the Windows installation, I get the "missing or corrupt HAL.dll" error.

    Does anyone know a way to fix this? I just need to trick the Windows bootloader/boot.ini to boot.

    On the Mac OS side, I can see the NTFS partition just fine and all of the Windows XP setup files are present.

    Alternatively, I could try to install Windows/Boot Camp on a 5th drive plugged into the mobo's SATA port , but I don't know if that's possible either (see the other post).
     
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  2. cowm007, Mar 11, 2008

    cowm007 macrumors regular

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    #2
    I have a similar situation and I just got around it by moving the drives around. Just put the Windows drive in any of the bays and put the RAID slice in the 5th SATA port.

    Btw, the problem is that Windows won't be able to read the RAID partitions since it's in software RAID which OS X handles. The only way to get around that would be to have hardware RAID compatible with both OS X and Windows.
     
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  3. sirris101, Mar 11, 2008

    sirris101 thread starter macrumors member

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    #3
    Thanks- I was considering this as a last resort; it's a good solution. Does anyone know if there is a spare eSata power cord in the mac pro or do I need an adapter?
     
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  4. kittiyut, Mar 11, 2008

    kittiyut macrumors regular

    kittiyut

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    #4
    Beware..... Apple RAID card is NOT one of them!!!!!! :cool:
     
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  5. sirris101, Mar 11, 2008

    sirris101 thread starter macrumors member

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    #5
    Yeah, I'm intrigued by the new CalDigit RAID card; which claims to be compatible with both. But nobody knows if it does Boot Camp yet.
     
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  6. cowm007, Mar 11, 2008

    cowm007 macrumors regular

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    #6
    I put my extra drives in the optical drive bay. There's an extra Molex connector there. You can get a Molex->SATA adapter at any local computer store or NewEgg.com. You can also look at http://www.maxupgrades.com/istore/i...y&Product_ID=158&CFID=248175&CFTOKEN=13489828 for an easy way to mount the drives securely.

    If you go external, your enclosure should be able to provide power to the drive.
     
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  7. aLoC, Mar 11, 2008

    aLoC macrumors 6502a

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    #7
    You could take all the Mac drives out temporarily, install Windows with the NTFS disk being the only one in there, and then once it's all up and running put the Mac disks back in.
     
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