BSOD, plus odd Windows error

Mezzy, to Arc's surprise, I am going to agree with him. Your raid is not doing you any good at all. Besides that, no matter what you have heard, raid is not a backup. It is causing you a lot of grief right now, and I suspect with the messages you are getting, the raid is not working at all. If the controller is dropping drives, then adding it back, it is not doing what you think it is doing. Plus, it is killing your performance. As for backups, what's the big issue? I back my computer up every night and it takes me less than 10 minutes, and I am not suffering the issues you seem to be having.

Mezzy, I have run raid of all stripes before and will most likely run it again. However, raid of any kind is not a backup. You need to be running backups anyway. I am not opposed to raid, but if I was running a Raid array and having the same problems as you, I would back up all my personal information, break the array, wipe the disk and do a clean install on 1 hard drive. A clean install is not the nightmare you have always heard it was if you are ready for it. Whenever you get ready, please let us know and we will help you get ready and help you do it. If you prepare before the install, the longest time will be installing windows updates. You can be back and functioning in a few hours after the updates are through.

You may install windows on either of the HDDs.

For the best result, disconnect the SATA cable from one of the HDDs, install windows on the other one. When the installation is done then connect the SATA cable back.

To wipe the discs, there are ways.

• Format a HDD or USB
• Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command
• SSD / HDD : Optimize for Windows Reinstallation

But the easiest option is to allow the windows installation disc to do it. When you are on Step 8, first Delete the existing partitions, and then create your own New partitions in the blank disc.

Answer to Question 1:

No need to change the boot sequence. Follow the Boot menu key in your motherboard's screen during powering up teh computer. It will be found in the manual too. Press and hold that key during startup. The boot menu (a list of all possible locations to boot from) will appear. Select the USB flash using the up/down scroll key and hit enter. The computer will boot from the USB flash.

Answer to Question 2:

Format a HDD or USB
Disk - Clean and Clean All with Diskpart Command

Also, be sure to go to Acer's web site and download your Lan driver and tour Wi Fi driver. In case Windows has no driver for them. That will allow you to get on the INTERNET and run the windows updates and download any other driver you may need after Windows is installed. Get as many of your installer disks and files as you can before starting. In that way you can have your computer up and functional very quick.

I prefer AHCI, it is much more advanced and allows a lot of options IDE does not. And, yes I meant HP' site. Just get all your installation files for programs you want to install, installation disks and activation numbers before you do the install. That way you have everything you need right in front of you and don't have to hunt them down. That will make the install go much faster and easier.