GA-990FXA-UD3 HDD/SDD/BR setup

[TPM]

Hi,

Search came up with a few bits but nothing 100% relevant so I'll try a new topic.

I'm trying to get the HDD's setup properly for my new build. Currently I have a new OCZ agility 3 in sata_0, Pioneer blu-ray in sata_1 and two WD 640GB Blacks that I'm looking to put into a RAID0 array in 4 and 5. In the future when I get more power points I'll be looking to add two other HDD's to sata_2 and 3.

The problem I'm having is that to setup the RAID array sata's 0-3 need to be in AHCI mode rather than IDE but when I do that neither my SSD or optical drive are detected in the bios anymore (and hence windows won't boot since there's nothing to boot from).

I haven't tried flashing the BIOS yet and don't really want to unless I know it will fix the issue (last thing I want to do is break a new system utterly).

Any suggestions/tips etc would be most appreciated.

On another note how do you bring up the full boot sequence rather than just "Loading operating system"? Can't seem to see the option.

[autotech]

Did you install windows to SSD with achi enabled in bios?

[TPM]

Windows is on the SDD but in Native IDE because the BIOS won't detect the drive if I enable AHCI. I've had this problem since I built it three weeks ago. I know about the registry fix for enabling AHCI drivers post install which I've done but the problem isn't with windows as far as I can tell.

[autotech]

What version of windows are you using?

[klh591]

One of your problems is that sata optical drives like your BlD drive MUST be connected to a sata connecter in IDE mode ONLY.  They don't
like RAID or AHCI modes at all and all kinds of crazy things happen.

Second - In your BIOS have you set the SSD as your  boot device.

Third - AHCI  ( and RAID ) devices don't show up on the First BIOS screen as you boot.  They have their own screen right  after the 1st BIOS
screen. On my machines it goes by VERY fast.

[TPM]

Sorry it's taken so long to reply, haven't had the time of late.

Thanks klh591 that sorted it nicely, moving the optical drive to sata_5 and leaving it in IDE fixed the issue. Decided not to bother with the RAID array in the end and just use them separately for different forms of data but all running in AHCI.

Thanks again.