System hangs on reboot with Windows XP with ServeRAID 7t card - IntelliStation A Pro

Resolving The Problem

Source
RETAIN tip: H067610

Symptom
 
After installing a ServeRAID 7t Card in any slot, upon a reboot of Microsoft Windows XP, the system will hang.
 
Affected configurations
The system may be an IntelliStation A Pro, type 6224, any model.
 
The BIOS levels affected are:  

• BIOS 23 - BIOS 26

Solution  
This behavior will be corrected in a future release of BIOS. The target date for the release is:

4th Quarter, 2004
 
It will be available from IBM's xSeries Support Web site, at the following URL:
 
http://www.ibm.com/systems/support
 
The following NOS is affected:  

• Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 1

Workaround
After installing a ServeRAID 7t card in any slot, upon a reboot of Windows XP, the system will hang. You must disconnect AC power and reconnect AC power to continue. Reapplying AC power will cause the system to automatically reboot.
 
Additional information
System characteristics:
 
BIOS: 23
CPU: 2x1.8Ghz
Memory: 2048MB
 
Hardware:
 
IBM ServeRAID 7t
Slot: 5
BIOS: 4.1-0 Build 5912
Driver: 4.1.0.6154
Driver Date: 3/11/2004
OS: Windows XP Pro with Service Pack 1
 
Problem:  
When Windows reboots you are forced to perform a power cycle.
 
Steps:  

1. Install ServeRAID 7t in slot-5
2. Connect 2 SATA drives to the 7t and configure a RAID 1 mirror.
3. Install Windows XP using the driver level shown above.
4. During the install Windows will reboot 2 times. When the reboot starts, the screen will go blank and will not reboot. After a while you have to perform a power cycle.
5. Once Windows is installed, install Service Pack 1.
6. After Service Pack 1 is installed, the reboot problem still exists.

Troubleshooting:  
We have tried slots 1,2,3,4,5 and 6 and the problem follows with every slot.
 
Here are some additional facts about this problem.  

1. This issue is also present if you do a warm boot, by doing a restart under windows.
2. This issue is present with single and dual processors.
3. This issue is present in any slot.
4. This is not an issue with a SCSI drive connected to the onboard connector.

The referenced file will be available from the Servers - ServeRAID Software Matrix.