System won't boot in RAID mode - Single SSD as system disk & 2x HDD's in RAID1

[JBT]

Recently I've built a Z68 system see signature for other specs. I've got a SDD as System disk as well as trying to RAID1 on two 1.5 TB HDD's.


When I set the HDD's to RAID in the BIOS instead of AHCI the system will not boot. It will BSOD. I revive a STOP error that looks like this.

STOP 0x00007B (0xFFFFF8800097E8, 0xFFFFFFC000034, ....

There is no driver or file listed at the bottom.

The thing is when I set it to RAID I will then get the RAID controllers BIOS to load. I was able to set up a RAID 1 array on the two 1.5 TB drives. After saving I will see Windows start to load, then it will blue screen.
I then power it down and set it back to AHCI and it will boot (no RAID controller BIOS shows up after this). Intel RST shows both 1.5 HDD's with a Usage of unknown with in Windows.

Windows will show one 1.4 TB volume, and I can put data on it. Everything seems fine but I can't really tell if the RAID array is working. I assume it actually is because I can only see one disk as available.

Any ideas if the RAID is working or why Intel RST shows unknown usage? Should I do this a different way?

thanks!

 

[JBT]

Its possible I installed Windows 7 on the SSD, then later configured the RAID array. I'm thinking that may be part of the problem?

 

[tweakboy]

ahci and raid are almost identical..... just use ahci and yur set.. maybe try a firmware upgrade etc.. thx gl

 

[Informant X]

I think you have to clean install if you switch from ACHI to RAID otherwise you will BSOD. I too went from IDE and tried to port my system over when I got my mSATA SSD to use in my Z68 for Intel RST. I bsod'ed. Had to do a clean install. Question though, are you trying to use RST when you already have a SSD? Are you trying to make your RAID 1 array faster? I mean it makes no sense. If you do RST on that RAID array (As it make no sense to RST the SSD drive itself) then why even set up a RAID array? Can you explain this a little bit more?

 

[Informant X]

Also the need for a clean install is discussed here

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1587/4/

I tried that registry trick thought and it didn't work for me.

 

[bryanW1995]

I just did that exact thing while setting up an os partition + SRT cache on my x25m g2 the other day. I couldn't get raid to work after the OS was originally installed in ahci mode so I had to reinstall the OS.

 

[iamgenius]

I learned this the hard way. Always change the mode in BIOS before installing windows. You will have to do a clean install again. That's what I would recommend.

 

[Herald85]

The most safe way is reinstalling, but I succesfully used the following on an existing W7:

1. Exit all Windows-based programs.
2. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
3. If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
4. Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesMsahci
5. In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
7. On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.

Do this, reboot and you will see Windows installing several drivers. Additional note: I tried the same on an illegal Windows 7 and there it failed. Could be coincidence though

 

[bryanW1995]

Windows 7 installs so fast anyway it's probably better just to reinstall in most cases. Of course, an exception would be my last computer... I installed in ide mode, then could never figure out why ahci mode didn't work. Once I realized what was wrong, I already had so much crap on the ssd and it was so fast anyway that I just never bothered to change it. When I used ahci mode with my new z68 mobo I realized what I'd been missing, only to have to revert back to raid!

 

[JBT]

Thanks, guys looks like I need to reinstall then. Oddly enough If I look under Disk Drives in Device manager I see one disk called "Mirror" which is the volume I named the RAID 1 array while RAID was enabled in the BIOS and then of course the SDD.

I suppose I could just unplug one of them boot up and verify the contents, reboot plug that one back in and unplug the other, and verify its contents and see if they match up.

 

[JBT]

The most safe way is reinstalling, but I succesfully used the following on an existing W7:

1. Exit all Windows-based programs.
2. Click Start, type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
3. If you receive the User Account Control dialog box, click Continue.
4. Locate and then click the following registry subkey: HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINESystemCurrentControlSetServicesMsahci
5. In the right pane, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
6. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
7. On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.

Do this, reboot and you will see Windows installing several drivers. Additional note: I tried the same on an illegal Windows 7 and there it failed. Could be coincidence though

thanks, I had tried this on my Legit Win 7, and it didn't help.

 

[winoutreach5]

Hi,

After switching your SATA mode from AHCI to RAID in the BIOS, you may be able to run a Windows 7 repair operation from a valid Microsoft Windows 7 DVD in hopes of repairing the startup functionality of Windows 7. To learn more about Windows 7 startup repair, you find this article helpful.

If the startup repair proves to be unsuccessful, you will have to proceed with a clean or “custom” installation of Windows 7.

When installing Microsoft Windows 7, or any Microsoft operating system, the desired SATA mode of operating should always be configured prior to proceeding with the installation. Any alteration in the boot configuration within BIOS is likely to result in a blue screen or error upon restart.
If proceeding with RAID-1 as your desired configuration you will want to perform the following steps prior to proceeding with the reinstallation of Windows 7.

1. Change the SATA mode of operation in the BIOS from AHCI to RAID

2. Build the RAID array in the RAID configuration manager

3. Restart computer and boot from Windows 7 DVD

4. When the Windows 7 DVD installation manager proceeds with the destination of the install, proceed with selecting the newly formed 1.5TB HDD

5. Format accordingly (If Microsoft Windows 7 install does not format for you.)

Jessica
Windows Outreach Team – IT Pro