VIA V-RAID 5.40a Software Package Release Note

Updated: 2006-12-27


Support Platforms

Microsoft Windows 98SE, Windows Millennium

Microsoft Windows NT4 plus Service packs 6

Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP, Windows Server2003, Windows Vista

Microsoft Windows XP-x64, Windows Server 2003-x64, Windows Vista-x64

 

Note: Only support RAID5 on VT8251, and the controller’s subclass code must be RAID mode (Subclass Code = 04) to enable RAID5

Note: Begin from Version 5.20b, VIA Combo-RAID Driver was renamed to VIA V-RAID Driver

Hardware:

VT8237/S/R/R Plus/A, VT8251, VT6421, VT6410 and CX700/VX700


Driver/Tools version description inside this package

Item

Version

Microsoft Windows 98SE/Me driver

    v5.40

Microsoft Windows NT4.0 driver

    v5.40

Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/Server2003/VISTA driver

    v5.40

Microsoft Windows XP-x64/Server2003-x64/VISTA-x64 driver

    v5.40

RAID Utility

    v5.40

 


Pre-OS Installation Notice:

After 4.20P5, the package had included Microsoft Windows x64 drivers and supported txtsetup installation in the meantime. By following the new feature on Microsoft Windows Server2003SP1 for “F6” installation, there are more than one txtsetup files distributed on Drvdisk root, \amd64 and \i386. All of them should be kept with same folder structure with Drvdisk.

Please just copy all files under \Drvdisk to make up the floppy disk for pre-OS installation instead of copying specific platform files. Otherwise, the text mode installer can’t find the driver files with opposite folder structure.

 

Installation steps on Microsoft Windows Vista:

1. Text setup

(1) Switch to the floppy disk(driver disk), and enter .\i386\NT5 directory, then copy all files to the floppy disk's root.

       Following are dos commands to complete the actions.

       >a:

       >cd \i386\NT5

       >copy  *.*  a:

(2) When Microsoft Windows Vista setup program prompt dialog box including "load driver" button, please insert the floppy disk, click the button” load driver”, set “drive A” as target directory, then the VIA V-RAID driver can be installed.

 

2. Install driver in Device Manager after Microsoft Windows Vista was installed

  (1) Open the "Device manager", and select the VIA RAID Controller, then update its driver.

  (2) Insert the driver disk, select the inf file in the .\i386\NT5 directory, then VIA RAID driver can be installed.

 

Installation steps on Microsoft Windows Vista-x64:

1. Text setup

(1) Switch to the floppy disk(driver disk), and enter .\AMD64\2003x64 directory, then copy all files to the floppy disk's root.

        Following are dos commands to complete the actions.

           >a:

        >cd \AMD64\2003x64

        >copy  *.*  a:

(2) When Microsoft Windows Vista-x64 setup program prompt dialog box including "load driver" button, please insert the floppy disk, click the button” load driver”, set “drive A” as target directory, then the VIA V-RAID driver can be installed.

 

2. Install driver in Device Manager after Microsoft Windows Vista-x64 was installed

  (1) Open the "Device manager", and select the VIA RAID Controller, then update its driver.

  (2) Insert the driver disk, select the inf file in the .\AMD64\2003x64 directory, then VIA RAID driver can be installed.

Driver limitations on Microsoft Windows Win98/ME and Windows NT4:

1. On Microsoft Windows 98/Me and Windows NT4, don’t support “Create/Delete/Repair RAIDs without reboot”

2. On Microsoft Windows 98/Me, RAID5 not supported

3. On Microsoft Windows 98/Me, RAID0 migration not supported.

4. On Microsoft Windows 98/Me and Windows NT4, doesn’t support “notify OS when hot-plug happens”

5. On Microsoft Windows 98/Me and Windows NT4, don’t support VIA SATA controller work at IDE mode(subclass code = 01)

 

Driver limitations Microsoft Windows 2000 and above:

1.       On Microsoft Windows Server 2003 and VIA VT8251 platform, hard disks with OS on can not execute “turn off hard disk” since there is no spin-down command been sent to VIA RAID driver, it’s an OS limitation.

2.       On Microsoft Windows VISTA and Windows VISTAx64, RAID Utility must run with the method of Right-Clicking the Application and select “Run as Administrator”.

This issue is MS Policy and driver limitation, but it is being investigated.

 

Known Issues:

1.       After installing V-RAID driver on VX700/CX700 platform, the Pioneer DVD-123A PATA DVD-ROM can not be recognized in Device Manager.

This issue is not observed with other PATA DVD-ROM. It is being investigated.

2.       When using BENQ EW162U SATA DVD ROM to install Microsoft Windows 2000/XP/SRV2003/x64 OS by V-RAID driver txtsetup on RAID controllers of VT8237/VT8237A/VX700/CX700, the system is BSOD.

This issue is not observed with other SATA DVD-ROM. It is being investigated.

1.       For VT8251 AHCI Mode: V-RAID driver V5.30B can not be removed successfully by U-Setup or Device manager under Microsoft Windows 2000+SP4 and Microsoft Windows x64 systems.

This issue is being investigated.

 


Release History

Version

Release Date

Comment

5.40a

2006/12/27

1.         support VIA new chipset VT8237S;

2.         support Multiple Language in RAID Utility;

3.         new GUI for RAID Utility;

4.         fix 5.30c bugs;

Vista WHQL Logo Certified Drivers

5.30c

2006/06/06

Correct wrong version string showed at setup program.

WHQL Logo Certified Drivers

5.30b

2006/05/26

Fix 5.30a RAID Tool and Setup bugs

WHQL Logo Certified Drivers

5.30a

2006/05/12

1.         support VIA new chipset CX700/VX700;

2.         support hard disk spin-down on VT8251 platform;

3.         support new device IDs;

4.         display broken RAID0/5 status;

5.         use Microsoft new technology, DIFX, for setup program

6.         WHQL Logo Certified. 

5.20c

2006/01/20

fix 98/Me Copy&Compare issue

5.20b

2005/12/29

fix Raid5 functions and Raid0 migration on Microsoft Windows NT4

fix Microsoft Windows 98/Me Copy&Compare issue

5.20 formal release

2005/11/3

fix RAID5 rebuild issue

fix the RAID TOOL display issue

5.20 Pre

2005/10/25

fix the HCT issue

fix the RAID5 rebuild issue

fix the install Microsoft Windows NT4 by SATA ATAPI fail issue

fix the RAID TOOL version mismatch issue

5.10a

2005/8/12

1. support VT8251 on Microsoft Windows 98/ME/NT4

2. Fix Microsoft Windows X64 OS, S4, and RAID 5 display bugs.

3. Add RAID5 help info into RAID Utility.

4. Remove unstable RAID 5 Migrate function button from RAID Utility.

6. Release Microsoft Windows XP X32/X64, Windows Server 2003 X32/X64 WHQL Logo Drivers.

4.40

2005/7/6

Modify the version number to 4.40

4.30G

2005/6/24

Fixing Raidtool can’t be updated under Microsoft Windows NT4

4.30F

2005/06/20

Fix setup problem

Fix authorization problem

4.31

2005/05/20

Extend supporting to include VT8237A

Update RaidTool to be 5.21

4.30E

2005/05/20

Update RaidTool to be 5.21

4.30D

2005/05/11

Update RaidTool to be 5.20

4.30C

2005/04/25

Suppoort silent install

4.30B

2005/04/21

Add Microsoft Windows XP x64 Logo

4.30A

2005/04/15

Microsoft Windows XP/2000 Logo package

4.30

2005/04/08

 

4.20P5

2005/03/01

Include Microsoft Windows x64 driver

4.20A

2005/02/24

Microsoft Windows XP/ SRV2003 i386 Logo’d

4.20P4

 

Microsoft Windows XP/ SRV2003 Driver HCT Passed

 

 

 

Version 5.40a release

1.  Support the following new Device IDs:

 

 

 

IDE

(Subclass Code 01)

RAID

(Subclass Code 04)

AHCI

(Subclass Code 06)

VT8237S

Device ID

0x5372

0x7372

NA

Supporting OS

NA

Microsoft Windows 98/Me/NT4/2000/XP/SRV2003/ Vista

NA

 

2.  Support Multiple Languages in RAID Utility, including English, German, French, Dutch and Simplified Chinese.

If the executed Windows OS is in an un-supported language OS to the RAID Utility, the user interface of the RAID Utility will be represented in English.

3.  New GUI for RAID Utility:

More beautiful graphical user interface;

Easier operation flow;

Add a new function: “Rescan Array Status”.

4.  Fixed issues and related changes:

 

Issue: After installing V-RAID driver V5.30c and creating the RAID array onCX700/VX700 RAID controller, the Disk drives name will show 'VIA CX70 0' in Device manager.[Should be spelt CX700 not CX70 0]

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix a coding bug

 

Issue: If inserting the VT6421 PCI RAID card on VT8237R/VT8237A/VT8251/ICH7R platform and then installing

Microsoft Windows 2K/XP/SRV03/x64 OS on VT6421 by txtsetup, the RAID controller's name will be something

wrong in the 'Nero Info Tool' hardware monitor utility. (It also happens if you insert and install VT6421 PCI RAID

 card on VT8237R/VT8237A/VT8251/ICH7Rplatform with Windows OS already installed.)

A. For VT8237R/VT8237A/ICH7R platform: There will be two VIA VT6421 RAID Controllers.

B. For VT8251 platform: There will be two VIA VT8251 AHCI RAID Controllers.

 

Fix result: It is not a driver bug, but an Nero Info Tool’s bug

 

Issue: Microsoft Windows OS should not Boot from broken RAID1 array which have the invalid data.

 

Fix result: fixed(need update OPROM to cooperate with this package)

 

Fix method: Add codes to RAID Utility

 

5.  Vista WHQL Logo Certified Drivers

 

Version 5.30c release

Issue: The V-RAID driver version is description error in the U-Setup program of V-RAID driver V5.30B. [Should be V5.30B not V5.30A]

 

Fix result: the version numbers is corrected.

 

Fix method: 1. Change SCF version number string from V5.30B to V5.30c.

           2. Change CIF version number string from V5.30a to V5.30. (In other word, we only show driver version, not package version.)

 

 

Version 5.30b release

Fixed issues and related changes:

 

Issue: While VIA SATA controller is set to be IDE mode, VIA RAID Tools still can be installed successfully by U-Setup of V-RAID driver V5.30beta4 for VT8237 serious chips (not including VT8237A).

 

Fix result: it is HW Limitation for VT8237 serious chips (not including VT8237A).

 

Fix method: User need to choice the correct driver package according the selection of BIOS Setup items

 

Issue: While removing V-RAID driver V5.30a from VT6421 RAID controller, there are some issues as following:

A.       Error-1: V-RAID driver can not be removed under Microsoft Windows 2000 SP4 while installing the driver by U-Setup and then removing by U-Setup. [Not fixed]

B.       Error-2: V-RAID driver can not be removed under Microsoft Windows ME while installing the driver from Device Manager and then removing by U-Setup. [Not fixed]

C.       Error-3: RAID controller will show yellow mark under Device Manager of Microsoft Windows XPSP2 and Windows Server2003+SP1 x86 while installing the driver from Device Manager and then removing by U-Setup. [Windows XP+SP2 is still failed]

 

Fix result: Fixed.

 

Fix method: update U-Setup source code

 

Issue: While installing V-RAID driver package V5.30A under German Microsoft Windows 2K+SP4, VIA RAID Tools V5.30 can not be executed successful.

 

Fix result: U-Setup coding error issue, fixed

 

Fix method: Fix this coding error.

 

Issue: The driver string is not uniformity in the txtsetup file of V-RAID driver package V5.30A

 

Fix Result: Correct this string. (Remove “s” character.)

Version 5.30a release

1.       WHQL Logo Certified Package.

2.  Support the following new device IDs:

 

 

IDE

(Subclass Code 01)

RAID

(Subclass Code 04)

AHCI

(Subclass Code 06)

VT8251

Device ID

0x5287

0x3349

0x6287

Supporting OS

NA

Microfost Windows 98/Me/ NT4/2000/ XP/ SRV2003/ Vista

Microfost Windows 98/Me/ NT4/2000/ XP/ SRV2003/ Vista

VT8237A

Device ID

0x5337

0x0591

NA

Supporting OS

NA

Microfost Windows 98/Me/ NT4/2000/ XP/ SRV2003/ Vista

NA

CX700/VX700

Device ID

0x5324

0x0581

NA

Supporting OS

NA

Microfost Windows 98/Me/ NT4/2000/ XP/ SRV2003/ Vista

NA

 

3. Fixed issues and related changes:

 

Issue: When running ACPI S1, the hard disk can not spin down

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix a coding bug

Issue: name in driver disk is too long, and will be truncated in txtsetup screen display

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: unify the display name in driver disk to “VIA V-RAID Controller Series”

 

Issue: RAID 0/JBOD/5 array is disappearance from VIA RAID Tools after unplugging one disk by static and enter Windows system.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: add this feature

 

Issue: V-RAID driver V5.30 can not be removed successfully by U-setup while OS is installed on PATA IDE of 0571. (Only occurs while ATAPI device is connected to RAID controller and ATA device is connected to PATA IDE of 0571

 

Fix result: Known issue and it maybe OS Limitation at current stage.

  

Note:

1.       It can repro by some special configuration. Not all platforms.

2.       After we checked the U-setup log; the log recorded DifxAPI had removed the device successfully, but it was not to be removed successfully, we still trying to find the root cause and report it to MS. It maybe MS DiFX API issues.

 

Issue: While hot plugging and re-plugging in the SATA hard disk from SATA RAID controller of VT8237A/VT8237R/VT8251/CX700/VX700, the file or the folder will be lost from FAT16/FAT32 partition.

 

Fix: known issue.

 

Note: RAID driver hotplug is used for replacing failed disk in a fault tolerance RAID array without reboot OS, and it has no notification mechanism for user to let OS and driver flush data in disk write cache, when the plug-out event occurs on FAT/FAT32 file system, it possiblely loses data

 

Issue: If inserting the VT6421 PCI RAID card on VT8237A/VT8237R/VT8251/VT3287/ICH7R platform and then installing Microsoft  Windows 2K/XP/SRV03/x64 OS on VT6421 by txtsetup, the RAID controller's name will be something wrong in the 'NeroInfo' hardware monitor utility. A. For VT8237A/VT8237R/ICH7R platform: There will be two VIA VT6421 RAID Controllers.B. For VT8251 platform: There will be two VIA VT8251 AHCI RAID Controllers.

 

Fix: not a driver bug.

 

Note: It is not a driver bug, but a neroinfo bug.in neroinfo, it uses a name of all for controllers supported by same driver. If change driver name and install it to VT6421, it displays correctly.

 

 

 

Version 5.20c release

fix issues and changes

 

Issue:After installing V-RAID driver V5.20B by U-Setup on VT8251 platform, SATA/SATAPI device can not be recognized by VIA RAID Tools under Microsoft Windows 98SE/ME. [Update RAID driver to be 5.20a will PASS]

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix a coding bug

 

Issue: Microsoft Windows 98/Me Copy&Compare issue.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix a coding bug

 

Issue: After installing the Combo RAID driver V5.10A under Microsoft Windows 98SE/ME, the SATAPI devices are still not recognized in the My Computer and Device Manger.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix a coding bug

 


Version 5.20b release

fix issues and changes

Issue: Not Support Raid5 functions and Raid0 migration on Microsoft Windows NT4

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: open these functions in raid tool

Issue: In Microsoft Windows 98/Me on VT8251, Can not Copy&Compare

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID driver

Version 5.20 formal release

fix issues and changes

Issue: when dynamic repair a broken RAID5, RAID TOOL show the newly plugged free disk as OS disk, and reboot fail after repair.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Utility

 

Issue: The word “Hardware” is spelt “Hareware”. When plug/Un-Plug SATA/SATAPI device, the RAID tool will pop-up the dialog “Hareware Hotplug

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Utility

Version 5.20 Pre

fix issues and changes

Issue: Storage Data Verification Filter test item is failed at HCT12.101

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Driver

 

Issue: Enable RAID5 migration function on Microsoft Windows 2000/XP or later OS

 

Fix result: add new feature

 

Issue: install Microsoft Windows NT4 through SATA ATAPI Cdrom on VT8237A fail

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Driver

 

Issue: RAID TOOL show different version info in About Dialog Box

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Utility

 

Issue: Microsoft Windows 98/ME, Windows NT4 can’t work on 3349

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: Add  this feature

  

Version 5.10a

fixed issues

Issue: For VT8237/VT6410/VT6421 RAID Chip: When the Windows OS is installed by txtsetup, the ACPI S4 can not be implemented.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Driver

 

 

Issue: The VT6410/VT6421 RAID chips are not supported the RAID 5 function, but it can be created by VIA RAID Tool.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Utility

 

 

Issue: Microsoft Windows x64 system, txtsetup, create partition, and RAID0 migration fail

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix Method: fix coding bug in RAID Driver

 

 

Issue: When the Microsoft Windows XPSP2 OS is installed by txtsetup and then running ACPI S3 by Microsoft Bootvis on VT8251 platform, the RAID driver delay time is greater than 5 sec.

 

Fix result: A known issue

 

 

Issue: Remove un-stable RAID 5 Migrate Function Button from RAID Utility.

 

Result: Add a new feature

 

 

Issue: Release Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows XP X32/X64, Windows Server 2003 X32/X64 WHQL Logo Drivers

 

Result: WHQL Logo certified driver package

 

 

Version 4.40

 fixed issues

 Issue: Modify the version number, change inf to RAID sub class code (04)

 

Result: update sub class code

 

Version 4.30 G

Fix setup problem

 

Issue: After updating the VIA RAID Tools from V4.06 to V5.20, the system will pop up an error message “raid_tool.exe – Entry Point Not Found” under Microsoft Windows NT4.0+SP6.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: fix coding bug in RAID Utility

 

Issue: When removing the Combo RAID driver V4.31P1 by U-Setup/Control Panel/Silent, the system will hang at the driver removed dialog under Microsoft Windows XP+SP1 X64 and Windows SRV03+SP1 X64.

 

Fix result: fixed

 

Fix method: update U-Setup source code

 Version 4.30 F

fixed issues

While the setup program is executing, a console box windows is popped up for a long time under Windows AMD64 system.

When execute the silent uninstall from MS-DOS, all of VIA drivers and tools can not be removed under Windows XP 64bit and Server 2003 64bit.

 

Version 4.31 P1

fixed issues

While the setup program is executing, a console box windows is popped up for a long time under Windows AMD64 system.

When execute the silent uninstall from MS-DOS, all of VIA drivers and tools can not be removed under Windows XP 64bit and Server 2003 64bit.

After installing the RAID driver 4.31, the system will show the error message "Windows Protection Error" under Windows 98SE/ME. [Check RAID driver installation from Device Manager à FAIL too]

RAID driver v4.31 can not be installed by U-Setup under Windows 2K+SP4.

 

Version 4.31

Provide down-mode algorithm for worst motherboard quality issue with VT3210

Version 4.30E

fixed issues:

 

After installing the RAID Tool v5.20 and restart the system, the RAID Tool will pop up an error message “Error Starting Program” under Windows 98SE/ME. [Check VIA RAID Tool v4.06 à PASS]

 The authorization problem of RaidTool is only fixed with WinXP, Win2000 and SRV2003.

While executing the RAID 0 Migration and RAID 1 Synchronization, the completed status will hang at 100% on the demo board VT8369B2 (317A2+227A9) and VT8288B1 (275A4+227A9). [Check VIA RAID Tool v4.06 à PASS]


 

User authorization problem on Microsoft Windows 2000, Windows Server2003

Version 4.30 D

Update RaidTool to be 5.20

RaidTool 5.20 fixes

User authorization problem on Windows XP

Add sound effect

Version 4.30 C

Update U-Setup kernel to be 5.2.1.12

Version 4.30 B

Add Windows XP-x64 Logo

Fix:

Windows 2000 txtsetup BSOD problem

Version 4.30 A

Windows XP/2000 Logo version

 

Version 4.30 P1

Fixed issues:

VIA VT6410 RAID chipset name is written VT6210 in the txtsetup.oem file.

Readme file update with correct file name and driver disk operation

 

Version 4.30

Fixed issues:

All OS, RAID 0 migration hang at 99%

AMD64 install pop up console window.

Serv2003 SP1 can not install.