Win8.1 Preview doesn't detect RAIDed SSDs [incl. workaround]

Fernando 1

Senior member
Jul 29, 2012
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As I have already written >here<, I have yesterday updated the OS of my Intel Z77 RAID0 system from Windows 8 Pro (with WMC) to Windows 8.1 Preview (with WMC).
Interesting findings:
The Windows 8.1 "Optimizer" (former Defrag Tool) doesn't detect my SSDs (2xSamsung 840 Pro as RAID0) anymore and shows them as HDDs.
Look here:
ja42y9e9sguo.png

Now I am a little bit afraid, that the "Optimizer" will defrag my SSDs instead of sending TRIM commands to them.
Usually the detection of SSDs can be forced by running the Windows Experience Index (= WEI, file name: WINSAT.EXE), but within the Properties of my System I cannot find the option to (re)run the WEI.
Here is the related screenshot of the System Properties:
ezmyk8o5z4b.png

Trying to run the WINSAT.EXE manually was without any effect.

Question:
Does anyone know how to execute the Windows Experience Index on Win8.1?

By the way: TRIM is working within my SSD RAID0 array (tested with the TRIMCheck Tool).
 
Last edited:

aigomorla

CPU, Cases&Cooling Mod PC Gaming Mod Elite Member
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Sep 28, 2005
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DO NOT DEFRAG ANY SSD's
Its a good way to EAT the life cycle off them.
 

Fernando 1

Senior member
Jul 29, 2012
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DO NOT DEFRAG ANY SSD's
Its a good way to EAT the life cycle off them.
Exactly this is the reason why I started this thread.
By the way: Meanwhile I have installed Win8.1 Preview in AHCI mode from scratch from the ISO onto another SSD. The Windows Experience Index is still missing, but the Win8.1 Optimizer detected the SSD at once.
Obviously only Intel RAID systems are affected by the reported issue, when Win8.1 has been installed ontop of an existing Win8 as Update.
 

Z15CAM

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Nov 20, 2010
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Try UpDating the Intel Rapid Storage Technology RAID Driver - It solved my SDD on SATA 3 in RAID Mode issues with the Samsung 840 Pro's.
 
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Fernando 1

Senior member
Jul 29, 2012
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Try UpDating the Intel Rapid Storage Technology RAID Driver
That didn't work for me.
Meanwhile I have done some additional tests:
  1. Fresh install of the OS onto an SSD in AHCI mode
    Result: The Optimizer has detected the SSD automaticly.
  2. Fresh install of the OS onto my Z77 RAID0 array
    Result: The RAIDed SSDs are not detected by the Optimizer (the same as with the Update from Win8 to Win8.1 Preview).
    An update of the Intel RST(e) RAID driver from the in-box v12.0.1.1011 to v12.7.0.1022 didn't help at all to solve the problem.

Conclusion:
Win8.1 Preview has a severe bug regarding the detection of RAIDed SSDs. Affected users should not run the "Optimizer". It will not optimize the SSDs, but minimize their life time!
 

Fernando 1

Senior member
Jul 29, 2012
351
9
81
Meanwhile I was able to solve the problem, that Win8.1 Preview doesn't detect SSDs, which are members of a RAID array (or just running in RAID mode?).
The key was to find the tool respective the file, which is doing the Windows Experience Index, and the command for the execution (the EXE file itself doesn't do anything without a special command).

Here is the solution about how to force the detection of the RAIDed SSDs by Windows 8.1 Preview:
  1. Run the Powershell as Administrator (you find it in the popup menu after doing a right klick into the left bottom angle of the Desktop).
  2. Just enter the words "WinSAT diskformal" and hit the Enter key.
    This is what you get to see:
    29ysakg8jg2.png
  3. Now run the Win8.1 Optimizer again.
    It will look like this (surprise-surprise!):
    2fay6v1d3nh.png

    Now you can use the Win8.1 Optimizer for SSDs as it has been designed for by Microsoft: It sends a thunderstorm of TRIM commands to the SSDs and doesn't defrag them.
  4. If you want to execute the complete Windows Experience Index for all relevant hardware devices (incl. Graphics, CPU etc.), the command will be "WinSAT formal".
Have fun!
Fernando