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ChandlerL

44 Posts

154140

February 18th, 2007 19:00

Vista Installation solution for RAID setup/dual-boot that get worker_thread BSOD

The following instructions should solve the issue users have been having with installing Vista on Dell systems that use a RAID bios that, by default, is turned on.
 
Firstly, we know that going into your BIOS settings and changing the RAID BIOS parameter to Autodetect enables you to install Vista without any special instructions-- So if you're willing to give up a RAID array or willing to do a clean Vista install that wipes your old XP install then you're good to go.
 
However the above "solution" doesn't help those that wish to dual boot XP/Vista (probably a very good idea for now) and want to keep their entire XP install with all settings and files and/or are using an enabled RAID setup and wish to continue using that functionality (turning that functionality off would be tantamount to erasing your hard drives). See DELL shipped these RAID supporting computers with the RAID setting defaulted to ON even if your HD setup is not using it. So the default Windows XP installs shipped on these Dells REQUIRE this setting to remain on. If you turn it off, you will no longer be able to boot up your XP install without getting the same BSOD we see in Vista forcing you to do a clean install only. So how do we keep our RAID setups and/or install Vista in a dual-boot XP/Vista configuration?
 
These instructions are meant to solve the issue that people have been having with the "WORKER_THREAD_RETURNED_AT_BAD_IRQL" BSOD. Keyword: Worker Thread Returned at Bad IRQL (Keyword placed here to facilitate people that are searching the forums for this solution)
 
#1-- Forget the DELL drivers-- they don't work-- at least they certainly didn't for me and they're also out of date.
 
#2-- From Windows XP, go to Intel's site and download the latest (6.2.1.1002) Intel Storage Manager exe for Vista. Run it but don't hit the NEXT button through the prompts-- you don't want to install it-- the good news is that if you do install it into your Windows XP install by accident the Vista driver release does work with Windows XP as well so you won't have an unbootable XP install. *whew* Either way the reason why I want you to hold off its installation is because we need to pull drivers from it that you can only get to from the a temporary folder that is created when you run the Intel setup. (there is another way that uses flags but we'll skip that idea for now)
 
 
 
#3- Go into your Windows\temp ($windir$\temp) directory and look for the IIF folder-- this is a temporary folder created by the Intel Storage Manager setup. Dig into that folder looking for the Driver or Driver64 folder (it's inside the WINALL folder). The correct folder will have the "iaStor.sys" file within it along with a few others such as "iaahci.cat" and "iastor.inf" Take the contents of that folder and write it to the root directory of a floppy disk, USB key, or CD. Don't write the folder "Driver" or "Driver64" to your media-- just the contents (I'm trying to keep things simple). The 32bit drivers are in "Driver" folder and the 64bit drivers are in the "Driver64" folder.
 
#4- Cancel the Intel Storage Manager for Vista installation since you got what you needed from it.
 
#5- Now try and install Vista again-- run the install from Windows XP and do a clean install-- if you wish to setup a dual boot and have a partition ready be sure to select that destination. While you're going through the install, look for the Load Driver icon (it's quite small) and click it. Be sure the USB key, floppy disk, or CD is inserted/connected to your system and browse to it. Then select OK. It will take the Vista install a long time to find it (god knows why). You should eventually see the Intel RAID driver pop up as an option. Select it and click OK or NEXT (I believe NEXT is the available button).
 
#6- Vista install should then copy the drivers and continue with the installation.
 
#7- Keep the USB key, CD, or Floppy Disk inserted/connected throughout the installation-- the Vista install may need to reinstall the driver again and will look for it later in the installation-- without it you may BSOD again so don't eject the media or disconnect your USB key until Vista is running properly.
 
#8- Vista should now install for your system with RAID capability allowing you a successful installation whether dual boot or clean and no more WORKER_THREAD BSOD.
 
I hope this helps everyone who's been having major issues-- as a medium-business DELL customer, I am troubled that DELL hasn't posted these instructions for users of its higher end systems that have this issue (such as the Dimension 9200, XPS 410, 700, etc.) It took a number of install retries along with a measure of sharing everyone's frustration for me to realize that I needed to look outside of Dell's support site to find what is needed to remedy the issue.
 
I also took the time to erase my newly working Vista install and doing this over again using my instructions to make sure they worked. Not exactly a controlled experiment but good enough for now.
 
Regards,
 
Chandler


Message Edited by ChandlerL on 02-19-2007 12:48 PM

scott784

388 Posts

February 19th, 2007 01:00

Chandler,
You did an outstanding job of giving instructions on this major problem with the Vista setup on Dell systems with Raid technology!  I just wished I had your reference a couple of weeks ago when I went through all my troubles.  No one at Dell or Microsoft seemed to have any awareness about this issue of the Raid BIOS settings.  You are correct, they should have had this information out there for everyone to be aware of! 
 
I do have a question about my system.  Since I determined the problem was the BIOS setting for RAID after "muchado", I no longer have Raid set to "raid on" in my BIOS.  It is set to "raid auto detect".   It was the only way I knew how to get Vista up and going since I kept getting the IRQ error and the blue screen of death before.   Actually, once I saw the settings in the BIOS (Raid On or Raid Auto Detect), I did not think I could have left "raid on" because I have Win Vista on Drive D and Win XP on Drive C.
 
My computer is working fine now with a dual boot system.  I have Vista on drive D and XP on drive C.  (Raid was changed from "Raid On" to "Raid Auto Detect".
 
Your instructions are very clear in explaining the intel files, how to get them, and why they are important during the installation of Vista "when you want to retain a Raid array".  Your instructions with those Intel files also prevent a user from having to worry about changing anything in the BIOS (just leaving Raid On) when you want to retain a Raid array.  However, I have just a few questions about your post as it pertains to the dual boot side of this topic when a person wants XP and Vista on two separate drives.
 
Would there have been any advantage (in my case) to leaving "Raid On" if I had known about the Intel Files you described?  Obviously, I am thinking if I could have avoided reinstalling Win XP that would've been a huge time saver.  But now that I've installed both OS from scratch, is there any difference?  I am thinking Raid cannot really do anything for you if you have two different operating systems (even if it's set to on in the BIOS).
 
From your comments, I am assuming you are saying that even when a person does not want a raid array, this method of downloading those Intel files (while leaving raid on is still best because it allows you to keep the factory installed XP drive without having to do a clean install of that drive.
 
However, I was told there was no way around crashing my C drive if I wanted XP left on there (in a dual boot setup) because once Vista was installed on its respective hard drive, it's master record was going to overwrite the boot ini file that XP uses.  Apparently, Vista has its own unique boot system that is different from XP, Win 2000 or Win 98.  I don't know a lot about this topic but that much seems to be true about Vista's unique boot system.  This new boot system by Vista seems to come into play when you get into a dual boot system with Vista and XP.....adding more complexity to the situation.
 
But I guess most importantly, I'd be interested in knowing if my "auto detect" setting (now that both operating systems are back on there) makes any difference (versus "raid on").  In other words, if you've got Vista on one drive and XP on the other drive, why would a person need to have "raid on" unless this feature really can prevent you from having to reinstall Win XP like I had to do.  Please advise.  Thanks.
 
Regards,
Scott
 
Dell XPS 410
Intel Core 2 Duo Processor
(3 months old)
 












Message Edited by scott784 on 02-18-2007 11:06 PM

scott784

388 Posts

February 19th, 2007 03:00

Tom,
I forgot to mention earlier.  I would be interested in knowing the outcome of your situation when you get ready to put Vista on.  In case I didn't already mention it, you have the exact same system specifications that I have.  So if you have time, add something back to this thread when you get Vista going. Good luck :-)
 
Regards,
Scott
 

proimage1

82 Posts

February 19th, 2007 03:00

WOW -- Thanks Chandler for taking the extra time to do this - you can't imagine what I've gone through with this ordeal - well, yea, I guess you can - that's how you came up with all this -- I'll try this within the next day or two - once I get my nerves up to go through it all again -- so you are basically saying that we can leave the RAID turned to on and not have to set it to auto detect - and by doing this procedure we can keep from wiping out XP on the C: drive and re-installing it + Keep our system turned to RAID ON ? Wow - if this works and I'm assuming it will - incredible. I did just download the drivers and WELL - finished the install by mistake - I wasn't sure at what point to stop - and when I went in and looked for the folder you mentioned I didn't see it - at any rate - I did install it - found the folder - rebooted from XP and back in and no problem at all - I haven't started the Vista install yet - but look forward to doing so hopefully with no problems -- I do have the Dimension 9200 - with 2 gigs of ram - 2x250 gig WD HDD -- and was close to throwing the Vista OS cd in the woods behind the house - ROFL -- Thanks again for your time and consideration. Regards Tom

proimage1

82 Posts

February 19th, 2007 12:00

Hey Scott - I surely post here to let you know - I should do it within the next day or two. Thanks again Tom

proimage1

82 Posts

February 19th, 2007 15:00

Very Good - thanks again - I'll do that the correct way this time - I sure am glad you figured this out - I was at the point where I had just given up on Vista for now - and had no plans at all of getting back into it - after I crashed my system the first time - it was a nightmare having to re-install XP again -- thought I had it all figured out and boom - BSOD - very nerve wracking - of course a couple of times when the BSOD came up at the fist re-boot during the installation - I was left with a dual boot option that didn't work other than reverting back to XP - if I didn't hit that one - it would just keep trying to go back into setup of Vista - and BSODing again - I'll post my results back here within a couple of days - I do look forward to using Vista - but for the time being until things are completely stable with Vista - I need XP at the same time - I have wondered how complicated it's going to be when I finally get to the point that I only want Vista - how big of a mess is it going to be to have Vista ONLY on my C: drive and do away with XP -- considering once I do the dual boot with XP on the C: drive and Vista on the D: drive - would I just delete the Vista on D: and then re-install Vista on C: re-formatting C: to do a clean install of Vista and therefore doing away with XP? Does that make since. Anyway - thanks for posting this - from what research I've done - I haven't found an answer anywhere on this situation - and you did - two thumbs up my friend. Regards Tom

ChandlerL

44 Posts

February 19th, 2007 15:00

QUOTE :
 
Correct.
 
Quote:
 
You didn't see the folder because when you finish the installation the way you did, it deletes the temporary folder. You must grab these drivers from the temporary folder and then CANCEL the installation since you don't need to install it but you do need to grab the drivers from it. So start the Intel setup, then find the folder, then cancel the setup.
 
 
 


Message Edited by ChandlerL on 02-19-2007 11:22 AM

proimage1

82 Posts

February 19th, 2007 16:00

Thanks again Chandler -- so Vista would reside on D: as the bootup OS as Vista and C: would be a clean empty disk ?

ChandlerL

44 Posts

February 19th, 2007 16:00

QUOTE:

 

You could but if I were you, I would simply erase the C:\WINDOWS (XP) and C:\PROGRAM FILES (XP) directories. That essentially erases XP. All you'd have left is the remnant of its existence in the bootloader (choose "earlier version of Windows" or Vista)

To fix that. Google VistaBoot Pro-- get the beta (free). It supports altering the bootloader so you can erase the "earlier version of Windows" and just have "Vista" as the choice. When that exists by itself it no longer pops up and just loads Vista.

 

 



Message Edited by ChandlerL on 02-19-2007 01:58 PM

ChandlerL

44 Posts

February 19th, 2007 16:00

Quote
 
Yes, sir. :)
 
Don't format it though because you could risk losing your bootloader which enables you to load any OS (XP, Vista, etc.). Erasing C:\Windows and C:\Program Files would do the trick with a lot less fuss.
 


Message Edited by ChandlerL on 02-19-2007 12:58 PM

scott784

388 Posts

February 19th, 2007 17:00

Chandler wrote:
I would simply erase the C:\WINDOWS (XP) and C:\PROGRAM FILES (XP) directories. That essentially erases XP. All you'd have left is the remnant of its existence in the bootloader (choose "earlier version of Windows" or Vista)

To fix that. Google BootMagic Pro-- get the beta.. It supports altering the bootloader so you can erase the "earlier version of Windows" and just have "Vista" as the choice. When that exists by itself it no longer pops up and just loads Vista.

Scott wrote:

So would BootMagic Pro (or other similar utility program) be installed on the XP drive and the Vista drive?  It seems like it would need to be installed on the Vista drive to acomplish the task of getting rid of the XP bootloader from the C drive but I am not sure??

scott784

388 Posts

February 19th, 2007 17:00

Thanks Tom (Proimage1),
As I said before, you have the exact same computer as I do so your results will be most interesting for me.  Actually, my step father also has an XPS 410 computer (same as mine and yours) and I will be helping him with Vista in another month or two so all of this feedback is helpful and a learning experience for me too (even though I already went through the nightmare dealing with my machine a couple of weeks ago).

ChandlerL

44 Posts

February 19th, 2007 18:00

Quote:
 
Made an error in the program name in the previous post. The software I was referring to is the freely available VistaBoot Pro. I've updated the original message to avoid confusion.
 
At any rate, you can install it in XP or in Vista and use it in either OS to modify a Vista bootloader setup (remove an OS selection, change the # of seconds it waits before it automatically loads an OS, etc.).
 
Chan
 
 

kuhnesito

140 Posts

February 20th, 2007 10:00

I also tried to do a clean install (100% formated hard drives) with windows vista with the drivers you said on a floppy, i got a lot of blue screens again when windows setup was loading up.. eventualy it got there (had to turn off the machine and on lots of times) when i got where it asks for the driver of the hard drive I loaded the floppy you said and it showed no drivers.. i had to click the compatibility check thing that shows only the compatible devices and it showed a lot of files.. clicked them all and none of them worked

kuhnesito

140 Posts

February 20th, 2007 10:00

Hi Chandler, thanks for this info.. I have a question.
 
I have a new XPS 710 with Raid Mirror config, 500gig
 
it came with windows xp media center, however I separetly bought a copy of windows vista ultimate edition so I completly formated my dell (100%) and I tried a vista install.
 
for starters, the computer went bluescreen when i booted with the vista disk but eventualy it loaded (after many tries) and of course, it didnt detect a hard drive, it needed a driver (which i didnt have or at least didnt know where to look for)
 
so what I did was, load up my windows xp media center cd that dell gave me, it loads the files but then i reboot the computer and switch it with the vista disc, then vista detects my hard drive and install the OS.. .everything seemed fine but now i realise every once in a while (more often actualy) i get bluescreened... and i have to reboot... I dont know whats going on.. Im gona install media center again .. which s cos i wanted vista ultimate in this pc...
 
how am i gona be able to fix this eventualy? i dont know if dell is gona release and vista hard drive drivers? for my machine

proimage1

82 Posts

February 20th, 2007 13:00

Hey Chandler - Thanks again for the information and research you've done here - just one last question before I try and do the install again - could you verify that the page you load the drivers is very close to the beginning - if I remember correctly - it's maybe right after you put in your COA? - but basically before it starts installing the windows page -- is that correct - I do remember seeing the box on the lower left to load drivers - There again I'm just trying to head off any problems beforehand. Thanks in advance. Tom

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