Windows on SSD, and Raid 5 HDD for storage?

[nightninja7]

Hey everyone,

I have a question. I currently have the MSI 970A-G45 mobo and I'm trying to get Windows 8 onto my Intel SSD. Following that, I wanted to have my 3 HDDS (same brand, etc.) in Raid 5 array. Currently, I have played around with my bios setting and I set it into Raid mode and toggled between legacy and UEFI drivers.

I have no success installing Win 8 onto my SSD under RAID mode. It constantly crashes saying it was not able to install and when I check out the drive options, it says that the ssd does not have a boot partition (forgot the entire message). However, it does install just fine under AHCI and IDE mode.

When I installed, I only had my ssd there and none of my hdd were even there.

Any idea what I did wrong? Is it even possible to have this combination?

Thanks!

 

[Bubbaleone]

Install Windows 8 in UEFI mode as the SSD won't be part of the RAID 5 array. To prevent the installer from possibly writing the BCD to one of the HDDs instead of the SSD; leave the HDDs disconnected until the installation is completed. Reconnect the HDDs, go into the BIOS and enable the RAID function for SATA devices then reboot. As soon as the computer restarts; press Ctrl+F to enter the RAID option ROM utility and configure your array. Read the 970A-G45 AMD RAID Manual for further clarification.

 

[nightninja7]

Just to make sure. Install Win 8 in UEFI mode (under RAID or ACHI?)

When it was under raid by itself, I couldn't get Win 8 to install; something about not having a boot record

 

[Bubbaleone]

Install Windows 8 in AHCI mode and under UEFI, so that the SSD uses the GPT partitioning scheme which will allow Windows to recognize individual HDDs and/or RAID arrays larger than 2.2 Terabytes in capacity. Select the advanced installation option and delete all existing partitions on the SSD. When you click next to begin the installation, Windows will automatically create the GPT partition scheme.

 

[nightninja7]

Install Windows 8 in AHCI mode and under UEFI, so that the SSD uses the GPT partitioning scheme which will allow Windows to recognize individual HDDs and/or RAID arrays larger than 2.2 Terabytes in capacity. Select the advanced installation option and delete all existing partitions on the SSD. When you click next to begin the installation, Windows will automatically create the GPT partition scheme.

Alright, I've done that. I installed Win 8 under AHCI mode onto my SSD.

Now I have no idea how to get my three hdds to be in Raid 5. Any idea on that? I tried going into bios and changing it to the various RAID modes (legacy rom, UEFI, and disabled) and none were able to boot from my SSD. Farthest I got was with RAID mode running under legacy rom and having it attempt to load and freeze/restart.

Under data management, my three hdds are there unallocated. I see RAID 5 option grayed out. Changed it around with Dynamic/MBR disc and no avail

 

[Bubbaleone]

Windows 8 does not control the configuration and management of the RAID array if you're using the built-in Asus RAID feature. As I stated in my previous post; the RAID Option ROM utility, which is accessed at startup by pressing the Ctrl+F keys, is used to configure the array. I've previously posted the link for you to download and read the Asus/AMD RAID Manual in order to help you learn how to access the option ROM and configure the RAID 5 array.

 

[nightninja7]

Windows 8 does not control the configuration and management of the RAID array if you're using the built-in Asus RAID feature. As I stated in my previous post; the RAID Option ROM utility, which is accessed at startup by pressing the Ctrl+F keys, is used to configure the array. I've previously posted the link for you to download and read the Asus/AMD RAID Manual in order to help you learn how to access the option ROM and configure the RAID 5 array.

That's the problem I'm currently having. I booted into the option rom through the MSI Raid manual, and I set up the 3 hard drives in RAID 5 following those instructions. But I cannot boot into Windows on RAID mode (or install) from the SSD. I can only boot under ACHI.

Note, I also installed the latest AMD chipset/raid drivers. A little confused on how I should approach this. Thanks for your patience.

 

[Bubbaleone]

I'll assume you switched the BIOS back to AHCI mode to install the AMD RAID storage driver under Windows, and after installing the driver the RAID array isn't recognized in either Disk Management or Windows Explorer.

In order to install Windows to a HDD/SSD with the BIOS in RAID mode (rather than AHCI) and UEFI , the RAID storage driver needs to be copied to a USB stick prior to beginning the Windows installation, then made available to the Windows installer. Otherwise; the Windows media has no compatible RAID storage driver and the Windows installer doesn't recognize the RAID storage controller in BIOS, thus Windows installation fails. Even though the SSD won't be part of the RAID 5 array, Windows must be installed in RAID mode to recognize it.

When you reach the Windows installation screen select the advanced option, delete all existing partitions, then select to add drivers and point the Windows installer to the USB stick containing the RAID storage driver. When the installer confirms the driver as valid; click next and the RAID storage driver will be automatically installed during the Windows installation.

Leave the USB stick connected until Windows is installed (see page 8 of the AMD RAID manual). Note that the if the driver package you have is a .zip or .exe file; you have to first extract the .inf and other files to a folder, then copy the folder containing the unpacked driver files to the USB stick (7-Zip is an excellent unpacker).

 

[nightninja7]

I'll assume you switched the BIOS back to AHCI mode to install the AMD RAID storage driver under Windows, and after installing the driver the RAID array isn't recognized in either Disk Management or Windows Explorer.

In order to install Windows to a HDD/SSD with the BIOS in RAID mode (rather than AHCI) and UEFI , the RAID storage driver needs to be copied to a USB stick prior to beginning the Windows installation, then made available to the Windows installer. Otherwise; the Windows media has no compatible RAID storage driver and the Windows installer doesn't recognize the RAID storage controller in BIOS, thus Windows installation fails. Even though the SSD won't be part of the RAID 5 array, Windows must be installed in RAID mode to recognize it.

When you reach the Windows installation screen select the advanced option, delete all existing partitions, then select to add drivers and point the Windows installer to the USB stick containing the RAID storage driver. When the installer confirms the driver as valid; click next and the RAID storage driver will be automatically installed during the Windows installation.

Leave the USB stick connected until Windows is installed (see page 8 of the AMD RAID manual). Note that the if the driver package you have is a .zip or .exe file; you have to first extract the .inf and other files to a folder, then copy the folder containing the unpacked driver files to the USB stick (7-Zip is an excellent unpacker).

Hmm... I'll try it once more and reinstall the raid drivers. Maybe I messed up a step somewhere in the middle.

Thanks for all the steps Bubbaleone, I really appreciate the help.

Just getting a little frustrated with all the attempted installations and wondering what went wrong.

 

[nightninja7]

Yep. I cannot detect the raid hdds when I boot from my SSD in ACHI mode. I will attempt to see if I can get the drivers to install on the SSD.

 

[Bubbaleone]

Just curious; did you do a fresh install with the BIOS in RAID mode and loading the RAID driver from the USB stick at the beginning of the installation?

 

[nightninja7]

Just curious; did you do a fresh install with the BIOS in RAID mode and loading the RAID driver from the USB stick at the beginning of the installation?

Yeah, my first attempts were bios in raid mode. I'm trying to figure out how to get the AMD RAID drivers to be read by windows. -_-;

Also messing around with UEFI mode, and I think I need the win8 install on a USB set up for UEFI mode.

This is getting painful

 

[nightninja7]

Yeah, my first attempts were bios in raid mode. I'm trying to figure out how to get the AMD RAID drivers to be read by windows. -_-;

Also messing around with UEFI mode, and I think I need the win8 install on a USB set up for UEFI mode.

This is getting painful

Alright figured out what was wrong with UEFI mode. Had to have it set up to boot in a particular order with UEFI mode selected as 1st boot (boot order for each UEFI device was shown in another menu). Also had to fiddle around with older Win 7 Raid drivers. But all is well!

Thanks for the advice.