Step 14.1 : Setting Up Windows

Before you begin installing Windows, you'll first need to prepare a floppy disk containing the drivers for the Silicon Image SATA RAID controller. There are two ways to do this :-

1. Copy the Silicon Image controller driver files directly from the driver CD provided with the Gigabyte GA-K8NSNXP-939 motherboard. You can find the files in the following path :\Other\SiI\Si3112r\Si3112r. Copy all the files into an empty floppy disk, or,

2. Download the latest driver set directly from Silicon Image's website , unzip and copy the drivers into the floppy drive. Make sure you download the SiI3x12 SATA RAID driver for Windows (not Windows 64-bit).

Next, insert the Microsoft Windows XP setup CD into the optical drive and boot the system. It should boot from the CD. Follow the steps below:-

The Windows Setup screen. At the beginning of this stage, it will prompt you to press F6 to load additional storage drivers. Quickly press the F6 key and wait.

After pressing F6 and waiting for a few minutes, you'll get to this screen where it will ask you to specify additional mass storage drivers. Press the 'S' key now.

It will now ask you to insert the drivers which you have copied to your floppy disk earlier. Now, put the floppy disk into your floppy drive and press the ENTER key.

Windows Setup will read the floppy and identify two drivers found in the disk. Since you're installing Windows XP, select the first driver by pressing the ENTER key.

Once the driver is loaded, press the ESC key to continue with the setup process. Leave the floppy disk inside the drive. Windows will continue to load the necessary files for the setup to continue. You'll reach this screen when setup is ready to continue the installation process. Now, press the ENTER key to set up Windows XP.