Windows Vista drivers for Adaptec SCSI Controller

Question

Hi, I am trying to install Windows Vista on one of my partitions on my Precision 670. I am running Windows XP x64 and have a Ultra320 SCSI Controller. The drivers that work with XP x64 don't work with Vista. In fact, I got the blue screen of death. 1) How do I find out exactly what Adaptec SCSI drive and controller I have so I can see if there are Vista drivers available? 2) Does anyone know if drivers are available? 3) Can anyone give me any advice ... I am a software guy ... not a hardware guy. Chris

Chipstone · Answer

If you are using Dell’s 670 build-in Adaptec AIC-7902 Host RAID adapter, I don’t believe that there is a “digitally signed” driver for the x64 version of Vista.

If you are using a PCI based SCSI controller card, the Vista installation disk may have a native driver, and you would not require a floppy disk to install the driver.

However, if there the Vista x64 installation does not have a native SCSI drives, you can try to find a “digitally signed” driver for Windows Server x64; it may work.

I did an installation of the x32 Vista with an Adaptec 39320A-R HostRAID, and fortunately the installation disk contained a native driver for the card.

Microsoft announced that the x64 version of Windows Vista will require all kernel-mode code to be digitally signed. This is very different than the current WHQL program, where the user ultimately decides how they want to handle unsigned drivers.

crussi · Answer

Hi Chipstone,
Thanks for your reply. I was able to install Vista x64 on my Precision 670. Vista x86, which is what I wanted to also install, would not install. I bought an IDE drive in order to accomodate Vista x86.
Chris

stefano in uk · Answer

Is there a Vista (32 bit) version of the Apatec Embedded SCSI Host RAID Controller driver available for a Dimension 670? Many thanks!!!

stefano in uk · Answer

Sorry I mean Precision 670 of course!!

hdFatBoy2003 · Answer

I was able to use the XP drivers for the onboard HostRaid Controller on my 670 for both 32 and 64 bit versions of Vista.  Just make sure you have the drivers on a floppy, CD or USB drive to load during setup.  If you don't have a SATA or IDE drive as your boot drive then I'm not sure that Vista will load.

stefano in uk · Answer

Thanks for your reply, I've only got a SCSI harddrive but I will try installing again with the XP driver on a CD as you suggest! Thanks again

stefano in uk · Answer

I tried loading the XP driver for Embedded Adaptec SCSI Controller from a seperate CD but I seem to go around in a loop. The Vista install program finds the driver and after about a minute it prompts me again to load the driver again. I guess I'll have to wait for the full version of Vista/buy a SATA drive/buy new PC! ( I did notice during the Vista compatibility check it did identify the SCSI controller as needing the latest vista driver!)

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