A7V333 and RAID - how to get it working?

[brianblair]

I just hooked up my new A7V333 w/Raid last night. I have two Western Digital 120 GB drives that I want to hook up in a RAID 1 configuration. For some reason, the RAID controller has listed the drive on channel 2 as setup in Array 1 (I think the cable connecting to channel 1 was bad, so only channel 2 was recognized the first time I booted up)

When I go to option 4 and try to delete Array 1, nothing happens.

Now, after messing replacing the cable on channel 1, both drives show up, but as part of Array 1, again a RAID 0 configuration.

I still cannot delete Array 1.

Since I didn't want to wipeout the drive on channel 1 (until I have backed up the data), I have put the drive on the Primary IDE connector and left the 2nd drive on the Promise connector.

Any thoughts on how to delete an array - or even reset the configuration data for the promise controller. I tried clearing the CMOS, by removing the battery and shorting the jumper, but that didn't seem to affect the Raid array (unless it stores some configuration information on the drive).

Any help would be greatly appreciated.


There is a funny story to all of this...i had the A7V333 w/o RAID, but I wanted the option of setting up a RAID, and having more drives without adding a PCI card. If I had realized all the problems with setting up the RAID, I would have maybe waited and purchased a RAID card later. It isn't easy like it was on my old A7V133.

 

[IndyJaws]

Check out the forums at amdmb.com. They have an Asus-specific forum that will really help you out with your RAID array deleting problem. Check out the sticky post at the top that deals specifically with the A7V333, plus do a search on A7V333 and RAID. You'll get the info you need there.

 

[brianblair]

Thanks IndyJaws. I will check out amdmb.com. I did flash the bios last night to 1005, and was able to delete the array. Now I just need to backup a few things before I set the RAID up.

Your New System looks very similar to mine...good choices. Can you tell a big difference with the Gig of memory versus 512 MB of memory. Just wondering because I am considering boosting my memory to 1 GB, if there will be a noticable amount of performance gain.


The following is a bit OT, but I noticed you are from Indianapolis. My wife just went shopping up at Castleton yesterday.

Hey, too bad about the hoosiers. Being from Paris, IL, I am an Illini fan myself. But since they got beat, I was rooting for the Hoosiers. About once a month I head to Indy for business, are there any good computer stores over there?

L8tr

Brian Blair
bsblair@comwares.net

 

[NicColt]

>A7V333 w/Raid last night. I have two Western Digital 120 GB drives

How long does it take you to format this ?

 

[brianblair]

I am not sure how long to format as I have one drive partitioned into 5 separate drives. The other drive is blank right now, but I will just mirror the other drive. Hopefully I will be doing this tonight and can get back on the time to replicate a drive.

 

[IndyJaws]

Brian,

Thanks for the nice words about the Hoosiers. Disappointing that we lost, but we went much deeper in the tournament than we ever expected!

Also, if your wife went shopping at Castleton recently, how do you have money for a new computer?

No good computer stores over here, unfortunately. I buy most of my stuff through Newegg.


I was going to suggest that you flash your BIOS to clear the RAID, but that was off the top of my head and couldn't remember for sure without looking back at the forums. I'm running the 1006 Beta 2 BIOS (usually never use a beta BIOS but everyone over there said there were no problems).

When I first put my system together, I would constantly lock up whenever the system would run anything processor-intensive, such as 3DMark or Prime95. At first, I thought it was the infamous Nvidia loop problem, but I traced it to the RAM. I pulled out one of the DIMMS and moved the remaining one into the 2nd memory bank, as the first bank is right by the heatsink and I thought that might have been the problem. I haven't had time to pop the other one back in to test functionality, but from all that I've read, you will get no benefit from the extra 512MB unless you're working with Photoshop or editing digital video. I bought these two last fall when they were only $60 (using them for the first time last week when I finally bought and built my new PC). I plan on doing DVE later, but for now, I'll just leave the single stick in. Plus, I've heard that a system will overclock better with a single DIMM, and I've got mine up to 1812 MHz (from 1670), so no need to mess it up yet!

Let me know if you run into any more problems. I've got to set mine up with 2 drives on the RAID IDE channels, but in a non-RAID configuration. Not looking forward to that.

 

[brianblair]

Well, luckily I am able to get work to pay for my computer as I do a lot of work from home - (working for the family construction business has its perks).

Being from Indy, do you follow the Colts? I was just informed today that our company has gotten season tickets - so I guess I'll probably have another reason to visit Indy.

Thanks for the help....right now I am installing Windows XP (with my fingers crossed) - I haven't had any eXPerience with it, but I would hope that with all new hardware I won't have any trouble.

 

[NicColt]

I would be interested in knowing the final outcome of this, like in raid setup, partitions ect...

 

[IndyJaws]

With the weekend coming up, I'm going to play around and I'll let everyone know the (hopefully happy) results.

And, yes, I'm a die-hard Colts fan from the minute they arrived in '84. Haven't had much to cheer about, though, except for the last few years when Manning and Co. came to town - last year was a joke, though. Way too much talent to have the record they did. Looking forward to a very strong season with Dungy at coach. If they can get their defense together, they're very close to appearing in the Super Bowl.

 

[IndyJaws]

<< >A7V333 w/Raid last night. I have two Western Digital 120 GB drives How long does it take you to format this ? >>



My WD 80 GB drives took about 20-30 minutes to format, IIRC. (Pretty sad, it was only a week ago and I've already forgotten )

 

[brianblair]

OK, i just installed WIn XP last night with one of the 120GB drives on the Primary IDE channel. The other is on the Promise controller. I have been reading the forum over at AMDMB.COM, and I am a little leary about hooking up the RAID, as it seems there is a performance drop unless the USB 2.0 is disabled.

That, and the fact that this is my first eXPerience with XP, and I am not sure how the best way to install the driver for the RAID controller (before I move it to the Promise, or after - but if it is after, then how will I boot?)

We shall see what happens.

 

[CoDerEd]

Before you can install win xp on promise you will have to setup the RAID Array first.
your choice RAID 0 or 1 setup, it's in there by pressing Ctrl-C when you boot.

Mine can not go with both of the controller neither, looks like the 2nd Raid controller is
not working so i install both of my hd on RAID1 controller as Master and Slave, instead
of install it as Master on each controller.

Then when you boot on win XP installation press F6 and put the floppy disk [driver]that
comes with the mobo on you drive, it should install the driver.

after you done with the installation don't forget to go to BIOS setup and change the boot up device to
FTAry 1[ spelling??? I think that's what it's called on Promised controller] instead of IDE-0

 

[brianblair]

I am setting up the RAID 1 Array right now (as I type on my old Rig). It seems that both channels work on mine. I have both drives set up as Master (not Master w/ Slave present - I was up till 4 AM two nights ago trying to get the drive to work, when lo and behold I realized I had the jumper on wrong...boy did I feel stupid). The controller recognizes both of the drives, so I'll see what happens.

L8tr

 

[brianblair]

For anyone that is interested...

I began the imaging of the first drive in the raid array at 2:30 yesterday. I left to go out at 5:10 and it was 92% complete. I am guessing that it took about 3 hours to image the 120GB drive. I restarted the computer when I got home, and it booted right into windows. I was very suprised that I didn't have any problems, but I had installed the RAID drivers before I started setting up the array, so I guess that helped.

Now on to getting everything else installed.....

 

[IndyJaws]

Congrats on your success! I'll let you know how my non-RAID install goes tomorrow.