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ChandlerL

44 Posts

154169

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#1-- Forget the DELL drivers-- they don't work-- at least they certainly didn't for me and they're also out of date.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

proimage1

82 Posts

February 20th, 2007 13:00

When you are booting up - at the very first screen right after the Dell logo comes up - you can note that the word -- RAID is within the first part of the screen -- if it has that - it is RAID capable - I'm not using a RAID setup - BUT - it is RAID capable and that seems to be where the problems lay in installing Vista - and where the drivers that Chandler has noted must be installed for Vista to install. I haven't tried to install Vista yet using this method - but will try it sometime today if time permits and my nerves allow me to. Regards

kuhnesito

140 Posts

February 20th, 2007 13:00

Well, this is a xps 710, its set up with 2 hard drivers set as mirror drives.
 
im pretty sure thats raid right? im kind of new at this

proimage1

82 Posts

February 20th, 2007 13:00


@kuhnesito wrote:
What I just did is reinstall windows media center then made a partition with partition magic (logical) and installed windows vista ultimate there, i didnt have the need to add new drivers as the vista instal detects my partitions just fine so Im not sure exactly what drivers are what I need?




I think the instructions that Chandler has noted here only apply if you have a RAID system - if you don't - then it probably wouldn't matter - but if you did and didn't have to use the drivers to do the install - you are lucky - I haven't tried it this way yet - after completely crashing a week or so ago - I'm pretty gun shy to try again and I'm trying to make sure it goes perfect before I try again - I'm running very good right now on XP and would hate to trash the system and start all over again.
Good luck

kuhnesito

140 Posts

February 20th, 2007 13:00

What I just did is reinstall windows media center then made a partition with partition magic (logical) and installed windows vista ultimate there, i didnt have the need to add new drivers as the vista instal detects my partitions just fine so Im not sure exactly what drivers are what I need?

proimage1

82 Posts

February 20th, 2007 14:00

I don't blame you one bit -- if this last work around that Chandler has given here doesn't work - I'm probably done with VISTA - of course I've said that several times already - but this time is the last attempt by me. Good luck using XP - it's still a great OS - if only I would get in the same boat and just forget Vista for the time being. Regards

kuhnesito

140 Posts

February 20th, 2007 14:00

This is so annoying, now even with dual boot, when im in vista and instaling the gtx 8800 nvidia drivers, the driver says that the machine its instaling on is not a windows vista machine.... sight.. screw this im gona keep on using only media center.. until theres a way i can make this work safely on 710

cuffless

8 Posts

February 20th, 2007 16:00

thanks so much. finally got vista up and running

kuhnesito

140 Posts

February 20th, 2007 17:00

Yea I am with you, this machine was working so perfectly with xp media center, I had some software I used big time, I had a software called tunebite that let me make purchased itune videos into wmv so I could see them in my media center extender (didnt have to buy apple tv thanks to it)
 
etc..
 
 
and when I installed VIsta, the nvidia video driver didnt let me adjust hardware accel which means tunebite wasnt gona work anymore, to top that off it started blue screening and god.. even trying to install it was a pain.
 
I HOPE dell releases a solution soon or some driver for this machine to work with vista eventualy, as for now, im sticking with xp media center 2005.. a great OS..

proimage1

82 Posts

February 20th, 2007 19:00

Well - I hate to bring bad news to this very hopefull thread and work around to the ongoing saga of installing Vista - I followed the exact instructions -- to the T -- had files ready of my floppy - it copied them fine - everything looked great - windows copied completely to 100% -- then I get to the expanding files -- at the now familiar 27% - it reboots - acts like the install is going to continue and BOOM - crash to the now very familiar blue screen of death or BSOD as it's commonly called -- !!! Well - gang - that's it for me -- I can honestly say without reserve that I'm done with VISTA -- I WILL NOT MAKE ANY ATTEMPT to install Vista on this machine again - once I go in and kick out the dual boot option - I will be back with good old XP for now and the future - Will I ever have Vista - yes, probably - but anytime soon - very doubtful. At any rate - good luck to all of you with the same troubles - and congrats to all that have successfully installed and are enjoying Vista. Regards Tom

UPDATE: I just did away with the dual boot option - I'm back running XP and I plan to stay that way -- at this point I have NO DESIRE to have Vista on my most excellent running machine -- I'm not trying to start a Vista debate here - because I do know that Vista is going to be an awesome OS at some point - and for some it is now - but for me -- it just doesn't work on my machine - yea, I'm jealous - but I've fooled around with this enough - with all the headaches and hours I've spent fooling around with trying to get it to work - I could have used that time working my real job and bought another pc just like this one with Vista installed and running - oh well, you live and learn - ROFL.
Take care and good luck !

Message Edited by proimage1 on 02-20-2007 03:42 PM

Message Edited by proimage1 on 02-20-2007 04:54 PM

scott784

388 Posts

February 21st, 2007 00:00

Cufless wrote:
thanks so much. finally got vista up and running
 
Scott784 wrote:
So what was your situation Cufless?  You've indicated you got Vista up and running but I don't see any previous posts from you on this thread.  What is your system type?  Did you have raid enabled in your bios?  Did you follow the suggestions of Chandler as far as using downloaded files from Intel?  Please give more information to help other users on this thread.  Thanks.

scott784

388 Posts

February 21st, 2007 00:00

Well, I wouldn't spend your money on another computer unless you "really" need another one for your business.  Your XPS 410 is a great computer, whether its XP or Vista. 
 
As for me, I've got my XPS 410 plus an older Dell Dimension that I've had for about 5 years.  That old one (the dimension) still works fine, just a little bit dated.  But I've got all I need for my situation.
 
Regards,
Scott
 

scott784

388 Posts

February 21st, 2007 00:00

I'm sorry to hear that Tom (Proimage1).  That really stinks!  Your problem has been of particular interest to me because you have the exact same system as I have, you purchased it around the same time as I did, and the scenario you ran into with Vista was also exactly like mine.
 
The feedback Chandler provided seemed very hopeful as far as allowing you to keep the raid setting on in your BIOS and also allowing you to keep from reinstalling your XP drive.  We all know that your pc will NOT boot to XP if you reset the BIOS to raid autodetect because the current installation you have under XP is with raid on in the BIOS.  (Just like what I experienced).  Any ideas Chandler why those Intel files didn't work?
 
Tom, I will say this much.  If you cut off raid....that is change it from "raid on" to autodetect" in your BIOS settings, you should NOT experience any further problems as far as getting Vista to load on your machine.  However, as you know, changing your BIOS from "raid on" to "autodetect" will force you to reinstall Win XP in addition to your new install of Vista.  So yes, this method IS very time consuming.  I know all to well having been through this myself.
 
I hate what I went through as far as getting Vista up on my computer!  It was a pain in the you know what!!  However, I will tell you that I've been very happy with my dual boot system (XP and Vista on separate drives).  I've got the advantages of using XP (with no worrys about program compatibilities) while at the same time getting to use the new OS (Vista) which has some cool features and is generally faster than XP....particularly at the bootup to the desktop!  Like you though, I didn't want to get rid of XP just yet either. 
 
As far as having raid in autodetect mode, that is not affecting me because with a dual boot system, you cannot use a raid array anyway with two different operating systems.  Heck most people don't even know what Raid is! 
 
Best of luck, Tom :-)
 
Regards,
Scott
 










Message Edited by scott784 on 02-26-2007 10:23 PM

proimage1

82 Posts

February 21st, 2007 00:00

Hey Scott - yep - I was pretty bummed when this happened AGAIN - but it really didn't surprise me - you know - just that feeling that it's not gonna work - at any rate - no big deal - I've got my 2nd hard drive back going as I had it - plenty of storage which I always need - sure - at some point I'll have Vista and enjoy it - the truth is - I'm gonna put this in the past - and maybe just wait until ALL the bugs are worked out or maybe just hold off until I get another pc which really isn't that far off - I've got several and one more could always help - my other main one is a Dimension 8200 around 4 years old - but I could go ahead and get another one similar to this one or even the same and have Vista pre-installed on it - that could be my best option in reality. Anyway - IF - I do decide to install Vista the way you did - no doubt I'll be in touch. Hopefully Dell and MS will get their act together with Vista - and we could all benefit from it. Take care and thanks for all of your help. Regards Tom

scott784

388 Posts

February 21st, 2007 01:00

Yes, these toys are very expensive!  Like you, I sometimes "want" more than I really "need" something and end up spending too much money on stuff, like an overpriced digital camera I bought myself for Christmas.  Nice!!  but not really necessary at over $500.00, especially considering that I am just an amature photographer! 
 
Save your money and be happy with your XPS 410 for a good while.  That machine has plenty of life in it before it's ready to be outdone by anything better!!  Understandably, you're fed up with the repeated failed attempts to get Vista going and I'd probably give it a rest.  Just know that if you want to try it again sometime in the future, your system WILL accept Vista. 
 
I'll try to answer any questions you might have in the future if you decide to change your BIOS.  Otherwise, just wait until they come out with new service pack releases.  Btw, I am not sure if you are going to get an upgrade copy of Vista from Dell, but if you do, it might have the drivers already on it.  If not, Dell is going to really hear it from all these upgraders patiently waiting on their DVD's from Dell!
 
P.S.  I could not imagine spending 6 grand on a camera!  I wouldn't know what to do with it :-)
 
Regards,
Scott
 




Message Edited by scott784 on 02-20-2007 10:34 PM

proimage1

82 Posts

February 21st, 2007 01:00

I hear you - that's where I am to -- I've got this one - the 8200 - a very old Compact , an even older HP, and even older Packard Bell - ROFL - and an outdated laptop. I'm covered as far as needs - but wants - ha ha - that changes everything - my wife tells me all the time - the only difference between me and our kids are my toys are more expensive - she's right of course. Anyway - I'll hang with what I've got for a while - I'm not sure if I'd try Vista again even if Bill Gates or Micheal Dell showed up at my front door. Well, they could probably talk me into it again. Take care and thanks a ton for your support. Regards Tom

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