How can I update controller card driver?

Ford Prefect · #1 (**permalink**) 17-10-2006, 05:27 PM

Hi Folks,
I'm running XP Pro on a 1.4GHz DELL with 512MB RAM.
I use the system for video editing so I have the system disc on a 120GB drive plus 2 x 120GB hard drives for video, all connected via a Promise Ultra 100 TX2 controller card.
Now I need to update the Windows drivers for this controller card to make it recognise drives over 137GB so I can add my new 250GB drive.
The problem is this, once windows is loaded, this driver is in use and hence can't be changed.
But if I replug the system disc from the controller card back to IDE01 on the mobo, it still looks for it on the controller card and so will not load.
I can't delete the driver or uninstall it from windows because it's in use.
The Promise tech support suggest booting from my WinXP CD, but the system either won't boot from it or bypasses it and tries the controller card.
Any ideas or suggestions welcome.
Regards.

jephree · #2 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 01:09 AM

Do you have the latest BIOS for the controller:

http://www.promise.com/support/downl...ory=all&os=100

What was the Promise techs idea after booting the CD? To reinstall windows with the F6 driver prompt or was there another idea?

Is your BIOS set to boot the CD drive prior to the hard drive?

Ford Prefect · #3 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 01:52 PM

Hi Jephree,
Thanks for your response.
Yes, I do have the latest BIOS for the card, it's 2.20.0.15 and downloads as a Flash utility which runs under DOS, so I booted from a Win98 floppy and ran the utility. All OK.
And, yes, the promise techs idea was to reinstall Windows using the F6 driver prompt (What's that?)after booting from the WinXP CD.
However, I can't boot from the CD, the boot sequence seems to be 1. floppy, 2. controller card.
So, firstly, I can load my WinXP CD after loading Windows and it asks if I want to upgrade or clean install, but neither of these options seem to give me the F6 entry point or driver update option.
But I'm not sure at which point to press F6 and how far down the install/upgrade it has to go before giving me the option.
Last night I let it go as far as downloading all the new files befopre stopping it.
Secondly, I can't seem to get into my PC BIOS to change the boot order.
I've tried pressing Delete, F1, F2, Escape etc but no joy.
My BIOS is a DELL (Intel) version A11 and is the latest for my PC.
Regards.

jephree · #4 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 08:36 PM

First off is this a Microsoft XP CD or a Dell XP CD?

If the former even if inserted during Windows the first thing it will do is reboot the system to the CD.

The F6 will be on the first screen after you boot before any files move. Before the choice of Repair or Clean even. Pressing F6 will then ask you to load whatever drivers from a floppy or another CD before proceeding.

What is the Dell model and #? Most Dell's use F2 or Delete to enter the BIOS Setup.

You could also try the 6 floppy setup from MS if this is a MS CD:

http://support.microsoft.com/?kbid=310994

Ford Prefect · #5 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 09:49 PM

Hi Jephree,
Thanks for your continuing help.
The CD is a genuine MS WinXP Pro CD.
It doesn't boot to the CD if loaded while Windows is running.
I've attached a couple of screenshots.
The first appears as the CD spins up, you can see Windows is still running in the background.
the second is after selecting "upgrade" and that is then followed by the screen requesting the serial number, then it starts looking for and downloading updated files. After that it's a one way street, only option is cancel.
If I cancel, the CD spins down and I'm still in Windows.
Thanks for the link info on XP boot floppies.
I've tried using Delete and F2 to enter my BIOS but it didn't work.
I'll try again holding the key down from the start rather than letting it get going first.
I've still got a Win98 boot floppy, will that give me the F6 option?
Thanks again.

Ford Prefect · #6 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 10:09 PM

Here are the screenshots.

jephree · #7 (**permalink**) 18-10-2006, 10:26 PM

The 6 floppies will boot the computer then ask for your XP CD.

You need to get the proper set to match your CD version i.e. XP Pro SP2 etc.

I think that you will need to do a Clean Install to load drivers.

http://michaelstevenstech.com/cleanxpinstall.html

Ford Prefect · #8 (**permalink**) 20-10-2006, 04:50 PM

Hi Jephree,
Thanks for all your help.
All my problems are now solved, I think!
While rebooting last night I got a "stuck key" which caused the BIOS to stop loading and allowed me to enter "setup".
As I already knew, the boot order was floppy, hard drive, CD, so I changed it to have CD as second option.
But before re-installing windows I thought I'd try something else.
One of the things I had already done was install a second "clean" version of XP on a new partition to use for Video Editing. So I loaded into this version, navigated back to my standard system, Windows, System32, Drivers, then replaced the driver for the controller card. I know it wasn't a proper "install" but I thought what the heck, my next step is to blitz it anyway.
I then reloaded into my standard system and Bingo! my two large drives, the 160GB and the 250GB which had previously shown up as 128GB (137GB) now showed up as 160 and 250 with loads of "unallocated" space after the 128GB point.
I used Partition Magic to initialise the space and all is now fine.
I then navigated to the driver in my Video Editing system and replaced it with the new one.
Now both systems seem to boot OK and the large drives can be seen in both systems with the correct size.
Regards.

jephree · #9 (**permalink**) 21-10-2006, 12:03 AM

Thanks for the detailed update and the thanks!

Let us know if we can help further in the future.

If you want this thread reopened just PM me.