Intel Matrix Storage missing on Dimension 8400

The drivers for the Dimension 8400, including the Intel Application Accelerator RAID Edition, are located on this page:  Dimension 8400 Drivers.  Look under the heading of SATA Drives.  You will find two files there; the first is the full version of the application accelerator that you install on the hard drive.  The second is the drivers only file that gets used on a 3.5" diskette to support the reinstallation of the Windows operating system.

Why the file from the Intel site didn't work, I can't tell you.  The Dimension 8400 was one of the first from Dell that used one of the Intel RAID chipsets; perhaps it is a bit old for the Matrix Storage Manager.  I would try installing the file from the Dell site instead to see if you get the same message.

Another thing you might want to do is run the diagnostic for the hard drive.  An error of this type could be caused by a gradually failing surface on the drive.  Before going much further you should back up anything you don't want to lose from the drive in the event you need to replace it.

JackShack, 

Thanks for the information!  If I understand correctly, if I use the first file, R82884.exe, I should be able to install the driver without doing a clean install of Windows XP Professional.  

The installation instructions for the second file, R82876.exe, state that I will be prompted to choose between 'Intel(R) 82801FR SATA RAID Controller' and 'Intel(R) 82801FR SATA AHCI Controller,' depending on my hardware version and configuration.  I am assuming that R82884.exe will ask the same question, do I just choose the RAID Controller option?  

On the 8400, the choices are RAID/AHCI, RAID Autodetect/ATA, and RAID. You want  to change to RAID Autodetect/ATA before you install the Matrix Manager and then back to RAID/AHCI afterwards.

Been there, done that on my 8400. :emotion-5:

Ron

To be sure, you might want to check system setup (F2 during the self test following a restart or start) and see what your controller is set for.  RAID On leaves no question which one you want, but I'm pretty sure that is the one given the behavior you have reported.  I don't have an 8400 to look at, but you may find two other choices.  RAID Autodetect/AHCI (which would likely want the second choice you described) and RAID Autodetect/ATA.  The ATA option places the controller into an IDE translator mode that supports the native drivers on a typical Windows XP installation CD.  We often advise the use of that setting if you aren't really using RAID because it simplifies installation of the operating system; no need for the SATA drivers disk.

Yes, the Application Accelerator does not require a reinstallation of Windows.  You may not even get a question regarding which controller to choose.  Don't forget that your controller has already been installed so the Application Accelerator will likely figure the proper setting on its own.

First, manually set a System Restore point, just to be safe. :emotion-5:

Read this from Dell about reinstalling the Intel Matrix Storage Manager. Be sure to change the BIOS settings before and after, as instructed.

If you continue to get the error message, you may need to download the chipset driver, and reinstall that in Safe Mode.

Ron

EDIT: And it might be a good idea to run chkdsk c: /f from Start>Run to check out your hard drive before you install the Storage Manager, since you had a major "event".

Your message is appreciated, Ron.  It's been long enough ago since I saw that message that I had forgotten about the Dell note.  Also, the OP did not mention the iastor stop error.  One thing I was wondering; on some of the machines if the controller was not set to an AHCI compatible mode, the Matrix Storage Manager would not load.  Would you confirm for me that you had no problem doing that in ATA mode?

Thanks.

Jack

Jack-

I realize the OP didn't mention an Iastor stop error, but the reinstall procedure should be the same. If you do a Google search, Iastor is alternatively identified as the Intel Application Accelerator and/or as the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver.

My 8400 wouldn't boot with SATA Operation set to RAID/AHCI in BIOS ("No boot device detected")  when the Matrix Storage Controller went missing. I had to change to RAID Autodetect/ATA, install the driver, and then change BIOS back to RAID/AHCI afterwards.

Now when I launch the Intel Application Accelerator Application (from Dell's 8400 download page), it recognizes my hard drive brand, serial number, size, and correctly reports "SATA Transer Mode:  Generation 1".

The one thing I don't understand, is why the .exe offered on the drivers/download page for the 8400 has a different number than the file at the Dell link in my earlier post. Not sure what the difference is (if any) between these 2 files - part of the reason I encouraged the OP to manually set a System Restore point before doing anything else, and then running chkdsk to clean up any file allocation errors.

Ron

Toronto1;

Most of the original problems with the error you seem to have encountered happened five years ago.  Fortunately, Ron had direct experience with the problem and recalled the solution.  The difference between the file contained on the Dimension 8400 download page and the file referenced in the link in RoHe's post is the version of the driver set.  The download page has version 4.5 while the referenced document links you to version 6.1.  It was discovered five years ago that versions 4.x and earlier of what was called the Application Accelerator RAID Edition was not fully compatible with Windows.  This was fixed in version 5.1 and later.

My question was prompted by experience with some other Dell machines.  The Intel Matrix Storage Manager will not install on a few of them unless it can identify a compatible controller.  It appears from the Dell instruction that this is not true on the Dimension 8400.  Therefore, if you have not already done so, please follow the directions contained in the link provided by RoHe.

Thanks for the clarification JackShack.  I haven't had an opportunity to work on the desktop this weekend, but I will follow RoHe's instructions when I do.  

My 8400 has version 4.5.0.6515 of the SATA AHCI driver installed (dated 6-29--04).  I've never (knowingly) had any problems running Win XP pro on this system. 

And if it ain't broke, I'm not going to break it! :emotion-4:

Ron

Ron, I completely agree with that sentiment!

I installed the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, so I will cross my fingers and hope that the blue screen error doesn't reappear.  Thanks to both of you.

It has been our pleasure.  Best of luck to you.

:emotion-21:

Very informative thread; thanks to all. I'm having this same issue with my Dell 8400 and I have a follow-up question that I hope one of you can help me with. My 8400 has only one hard drive, so RAID isn't possible. Which controler setting should I choose: RAID/AHCI, RAID Autodetect/ATA, or RAID. (I'd guess that the third, "RAID", is certainly not it!)

TIA