I Can't acess ULi RAID BIOS!

[Darkfield]

I am trying to create RAID 0 on my two HDD's. This will be my primary drive so it will include windows XP Home 32bit. I have read my mother board manual many times and the instructions just aren't working.
The instuction state" boot up computer and enter bios by pressing delete key. In main menu go to storage configuration and set onboard SATA Boot ROM to [Enable]. Press F10 to save and exit. During POST, press Ctrl+A." Thats supposed to open the RAID bios setup utility.
Well it doesnt and thats my current problem. I want to use my ULi RAID controller and I cant even open its BIOS. I even tried enabeling RAID mode under RAID mode selection, save, reboot then system says something like, ULi RAID BIOS V1.1F M5288 identifying hard drive, and it just freezes there. I have to hold the power button down for it to turn off.
If someone has experiance with this and especially with my motherboard (ASUS A8R32-MVP Deluxe) I will really appreciate your help.

 

[Slikkster]

While it sounds simple, did you do the following? From the manual: "Enable the Serial ATA Controller and Onboard SATA Boot Rom items in the Bios if you want to use the Serial ATA Raid feature. See section "4.3.6 Storage Configuration" for details.

I can see that you've enabled Onboard SATA Boot Rom, but how about the controller itself?

 

[Darkfield]

What do you mean by the controller itself? First I go to Serial ATA Contrller and I choose enable. Then I go to RAID Mode Selection and choose RAID mode instaed of SATA mode. I reboot and the screen says ULi RAID BIOS V1.1F M5288 identifying hard drive. It makes no progress after this and I cant do anything. Also my HDD's are never recognized in my main BIOS. I dont know what to do. I cant imagine both drives would be bad they are brand new never been used. I have even tried hooking up the drives seperatly with different cables and still nothing.

 

[Slikkster]

Well, if the drives aren't recognized by the bios, they'll never be recognized by the raid controller.

I have to ask very basic questions here, so don't be insulted. Sounds like you've enabled the Serial ATA controller correctly.

How about the power to the drives? Are you sure they are even powering up? What drives are they, and what model power supply do you have?

 

[Darkfield]

My power supply is in my sig, Antec Neo He 550watt. Yes I have correctly pluged in the power connectors. I am using 2 brand new Western Digital 74Gb Raptors. I have plugged the SATA data cable into the ULi SATA connectors on my motherboard and to the connectors on my HDD's. I have also plugged the SATA power cables only into the two drives.
I have just plugged my old Western Digital SATA Caviar 160Gb using the same method and it works. But stangely windows took about five minutes to boot up and once booted it said I had about ten new programs installed. These programs have been installed for monthes so that doesnt make sence. And I still cant get the computer to recognize my new HDD's.

 

[Slikkster]

Are you using the Western Digital "SecureConnect" SATA cables? The ones that cover both the data and power connectors with a wide connector piece? If so, you need to also plug in the standard 4 pin power connectors to the Raptor drives.

 

[Darkfield]

No I am using standard SATA cables that came with my motherboard. I have now tried the HDD's on my other pc and they are also not recognized. One drive makes absolutely no sound when powerd on, the other drive makes four clicks exactly the same every time followed by spinning rotation sound. But it only makes the sound when the pc is first powerd on, rebooting doesnt produce the sound.

 

[Slikkster]

Well, I think you answered your own questions. They are DOA. RMA them. I've read reports of many Raptors being DOA out of the box.

 

[Darkfield]

Thank you for the support, I have RMA'd them back to newegg. I hope my replacement HDD's work.