GA-X58-UD3R Raid 0 Help

[HostileParadox]

I need help setting up a Raid 0 array on my new PC. I have installed the OS on a SSD, and would like the RAID 0 array to hold my programs.

The hard drives would not shot up on their own after they were put in to Windows 7, 64 bit. They do not show up when they are put in RAID. The system did recognize the array, and installed it, when it booted up, but they still cannot be seen in my computer.

I am very new to RAID, so if someone could give some step by step instructions I would appreciate it.

I have only gone as far as put the BIOS into XHD mode, and set up the 2 drives in array, as per the Manual. Which is very confusing.

But even after installing XHD from the MB disc, it won't start up. I click it, the PC thinks about it, but does nothing.

Both of the Hard drives are identical. WD500AAKS and set up on the first two SATA ports of the board.

Thank you.

[Dark Mantis]

Well one problem is that the standard Western Digital desktop hard drives are not meant for RAID use as the do not support TLER, which means that the array can just drop them. You need "Enterprise" versions for a RAID array.

Try turning off XHD and setting the disks to IDE mode instead and then RAIDing them.

[HostileParadox]

That seems kind of strange, most people reviewing this specific hard drive mention being able to raid them with no problem. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822136073

[Dark Mantis]

My information comes from Western Digital's own website. That isn't to say it is impossible to run a RAID array with ordinary drives just that they will be far less reliable and more like for the array to fall apart.

Please see my post regarding this with the copy of the WD websites explanation here:

http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,2336.45.html

[Peteruk]

Many of the Desktop Hard Drives by Seagate that are not low power are classed for Desktop RAID without any of the features their enterprise drives have.

Desktop drives may not be idea for RAID but how RAID is done is not special when setup on them.

Heres where you went wrong and how to setup a RAID with a SSD as a OS.

Reinstalling your OS will be needed!

Have all drives on the blue SATA port > go in to the BIOS and set the following.
ICH SATA Control Mode > RAID(XHD)
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode > Enabled

On boot you will see “Ctrl-I” which you use to setup the array for your WD500AAKS which is not for your OS so you could do it in windows after you install it but you can do it here.

Now install your OS you may need to do a custom setup to be sure the OS installs on your SSD! And drivers by a USB drive if asked or setup can't see your drives.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18861&lang=eng

When you have installed your OS install Rapid Storage Technology (which can be used to setup the array if you didn’t by “Ctrl-I”) and format the array in windows by disk management.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18859&lang=eng

[HostileParadox]

Thanks for the detailed advice. I will try this as soon as I get a chance.   

One thing though, the SSD is SATA3. Do I leave it plugged into the white SATA3 port or do I need to move ALL Drives to the blue SATA 2 ports? If I must move them all, can I later move the SSD back to the SATA 3 port after installing the OS and RAID array?

[Peteruk]

Thanks for the detailed advice. I will try this as soon as I get a chance.   

One thing though, the SSD is SATA3. Do I leave it plugged into the white SATA3 port or do I need to move ALL Drives to the blue SATA 2 ports? If I must move them all, can I later move the SSD back to the SATA 3 port after installing the OS and RAID array?

Yes move them all to the blue SATA ports you will get better performance with the SSD on the Intel SATA 2 ports moving it back to the SATA3 after setup may not work.

[Dark Mantis]

If his SSD drive is SATA3 then he should get better performance on the Marvell 9128 SATA3 port as long as he isn't trying to run it as part of a RAID array.

[HostileParadox]

On boot you will see “Ctrl-I” which you use to setup the array for your WD500AAKS which is not for your OS so you could do it in windows after you install it but you can do it here.

Now install your OS you may need to do a custom setup to be sure the OS installs on your SSD! And drivers by a USB drive if asked or setup can't see your drives.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18861&lang=eng

When you have installed your OS install Rapid Storage Technology (which can be used to setup the array if you didn’t by “Ctrl-I”) and format the array in windows by disk management.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18859&lang=eng

Ok, so you are telling me NOT to CTRL-I because it won't work with win 7 64 bit.

If I am not asked for drivers for the Hard Drives, should I put it in anyway? the 64 bit ones from the MB disc.

Do I need to leave the option eXtreme Hard Drive (XHD) disabled or enable it?

[Peteruk]

Ok, so you are telling me NOT to CTRL-I because it won't work with win 7 64 bit.

NO I never said that your WD500AAKS in RAID will not have the OS on it right? therefore you can either setup the RAID by Ctrl-I at boot or in windows using the Rapid Storage Technology *if* the RAID was going to have the OS on it then you need to setup the RAID by Ctrl-I first.    

If I am not asked for drivers for the Hard Drives, should I put it in anyway? the 64 bit ones from the MB disc.

If you have enabled RAID like I said  ICH SATA Control Mode to RAID in the BIOS and windows sees your SSD disk in a custom windows setup just to be sure its going on the SSD you can install windows on the SSD without drivers then yes install windows
. If you need drivers download these put them on to USB to load them so you can see your SSD and install windows.
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&ProdId=2101&DwnldID=18861&lang=eng

Do I need to leave the option eXtreme Hard Drive (XHD) disabled or enable it?

Doesn’t matter and I think it gets greyed out when you enable RAID for ICH SATA Control Mode.

[HostileParadox]

Thank you, I have raided the drives using the Intel Storage program. Now what do I do when using Windows Disk Management?
It says the RAID is unallocated. And not showing in the top portion with all the details for the drives.

[NoSpeakWelsh]

Go to Start, Right Click My Computer, Manage, Select Disk Management, where it shows the drive in back as unallocated right click and then allocate the space, it will give you some options volume name, file system and how much space to allocate, but the default is the whole drive array. Then it will appear with the other drives in blue and show as a drive in my computer and will be useable.

[HostileParadox]

Sorry to be a bother, but could I get precise instructions?
I don't have access to the PC all the time to test things, it's a friends and I'm responsible for piecing it together and delivering what I promised.

The Disk Management is divided into the top portion and the bottom portion.

I have provided a screen shot of Disk Management from Win XP as an EXAMPLE, this is not the PC in question.



There are two parts I can right click and get different options. P1 & P2.

What do I need to do from this point on?

[Peteruk]

Well I'm sorry but I don't know how you messed this up as far as I'm concerned you have two dead WD500AAKS drives.

I'm done.

[HostileParadox]

Well I'm sorry but I don't know how you messed this up as far as I'm concerned you have two dead WD500AAKS drives.

I'm done.

Not sure what you mean, I was able to RAID the drives using the Intel Rapid Storage tool, now I just need the last step to get them to show up in My computer. I used to format and partition Hard rives in MS-DOS, so I don't know how to do it in Windows.

Did I need to format and partition the drives before I RAID them?