Normal order of progression?

[David M]

What is the normal order of progression from when you boot a computer for the first time untill you are ready to load the OS?

-Select the RAID array
-Create a bootable floppy disk
Download the newest bios from ASUS, unzip and then load to a floppy.
Update the bios

How do you get a DOS prompt if you have not loaded the OS? The BIOS has to be updated from a DOS prompt correct?...(from the floppy)

Please let me know if I am missing any important steps

Is the ASUS Post Reporter something that only works after the OS has been installed?

Specs: ASUS A8N-SLI mobo with 4 drives to become a RAID 10 configuration. The manual is very confusing for a novice like myself.

[pillainp]

Hello David M,
Head on over to www.bootdisk.com and download one of the boot floppies for Windows 98 that you will find there.

It comes as an executable that you can double click to have it written to floppy. You will need a formatted and empty floppy disk.

Once you have got the boot disk prepared, copy the BIOS flasher to it (this will usually consist of a .BIN file and a .EXE file).

Reboot your system and go into BIOS. Set your system to boot from floppy, put the disk in the drive and reboot.

At the prompt, type the name of the flasher utility (.exe) and press ENTER. Follow instructions.

DO NOT FLASH YOUR BIOS UNLESS YOU ABSOLUTELY NEED TO.

NEVER TURN OFF THE POWER WHILE THE UPDATE IS IN PROGRESS. WAIT FOR THE UPDATER TO LET YOU KNOW WHEN TO POWER DOWN AND REBOOT.

Hope that helps,

NPP

[David M]

You mentioned Windows 98. Does it matter that I am loading Windows XP Pro as the OS?

Are boot disks created after the OS has been installed?

Is it possible to update the bios after the OS has been installed?

If ths is true, why would the manual insist that the Bios be updated before the OS is installed?

If thats the case, can you access DOS from Windows XP in order to update the bios?

[Statica]

Bootdisk.com only provides you with a bootdisk to start your computer up. XP (windows 2000, NT) follow a different schema of powering up, and does not provide you with a method to start a computer and get to a functional boot prompt from a floppy disk.

This method (with a win98 bootdisk) for example, allows you to get to the command prompt merely for you to update your RAID BIOS. It does not write to or partition your hard drives unless you specifically ask you to. In essence, when you turn off your computer, the command files - or in essence the "Win98 environment" is lost.

Why do you want to update your BIOS before checking to see if it works with XP in the first place? The ideal scenario should be, an attempt to load XP with the BIOS shipping with the mobo - UNLESS YOU HAVE SPECIFIC AND DOCUMENTED PROOF that the BIOS is bad.
Personally, I would first load XP. Check for stability. Then download a copy of the new BIOS and a copy of the older BIOS (the one that came with the mobo) and then update the RAID BIOS. At least this way, I would have the old one to fallback on, in case of any issues.

[pillainp]

Basically, any boot disk will do. If you want to create a boot disk from Windows XP, you can do so:

Insert a floppy disk in the drive, open My Computer, right click the floppy icon and select "Format..". On the dialog that pops up, check "Create an MS-DOS startup disk", and clidk the "Start" button.

Windows XP does not have DOS, so it will not boot to command line like Windows 95/98.

[David M]

Here are the most recent changes to the bios from the Asus website. It apears there are documented changes which fixed previous problems.

1.Fixed after resuming from S3, the CPU multiplier and CPU clock will be restored to default value if user overclock.
2.Fixed show wrong device (ZIP) on summary screen when PATA controller was disabled. It should show None.
3.Change the CHIP fan fail threshold RPM to fix sometimes POST will wrong show CHIP Fan fail Msg.
4.Update A8N-SLI Deluxe Logo.
5.Add Memory Re-map function SETUP Item

Fixed S3 resume fail in SLI mode.
Add CPU, CHIP, Chassis Fan check Item in Setup and set Chassis Fan checking default to Disabled.
Show SATA mode on summary screen.
Update NVRAID BIOS to 4.81.

So as you said, all I really need to do is select the RAID I want (0+1) and then load Windows XP Pro?

I can upgrade to the latest bios later?

Gawd I feel so lame...but I have never done this and do not want to mess it up.

Thanks so much

[Statica]

There isn't anything pressing that will deny proper functionality of XP Pro by the looks of it. Personally, I would load to see if XP runs stable with this BIOS and then upgrade. Don't get me wrong, I do not believe in the "if it aint broke dont fix it" scenario, I usually like to have a well updated system. But in this case, since its a new system installation doing a BIOS upgrade later would prove advantageous in diagnosing an issue if u have one.
For example, say you update it and then install XP .. XP doesn't work .. now you are adding another variable into the mix with the "is the new BIOS stable?". If you used the stock BIOS, and install XP, and it doesn't go over well, then your first step is already to try a BIOS upgrade and see how it goes from there. You now eliminate mobo BIOS incompatibility as a possible reason.

[David M]

Statica,
Thanks for your help. Your right about adding an extra variable. Im going to go ahead and load WinXP.