Windows 7 - SSD & Unwanted RAID

Hello All:

I've had two SSDs on my system for several months.

I use the Intel Management Tool to monitor these drives from time to time.

Today, I tried to run the Optimization Tool and got this (snapshot). I have never intentionally set these drives up in a RAID configuration. It worked fine last week.

What's going on here?

TIA,

Hi Rap,

It looks like the Intel Management Tool did an automatic update? Is there a way to check that?

Regards,
Golden

@Golden:
That message means the latest firmware needs to be installed for it to function- not that it has been downloaded and is awaiting installation. I have the latest firmware installed for both drives. I checked at the Intel site.

The problem is the message on the right about the RAID configuration- there is no RAID configuration extant on my computer.

Hi Rap, firmware and software are different animals. You may need to update the Intel SSD software for it to properly read your setup.
Firmware is resident within a hardware device's ROM and runs with the hardware with no input from the user.
Software is a program the user starts, runs, terminates at will.
Upload a snip of your Computer Management>Disk Management with the window opened to see your disk info. Right-click Computer/Manage.

@Britton30:
I know the difference and this is not the issue.
In fact, software has nothing to do with it. Nor does firmware...
The drivers are the only issue that I can think of, and that doesn't make sense to me either.
The mystery is- "Why the sudden change?"
I've changed nothing.
I have a ghost! I've offended the Great Keyboard in the Sky!
I'm certain of it!

The problem is that the Intel Toolbox suddenly sees a RAID configuration where one does not exist.

Whoa! Maybe it is software! Maybe I should try re-installing the Intel Toolbox to see what happens?

Windows has been, and always shall be, a mystery to me. Perhaps that's the whole point?

Hi Rapp,

I guess what I'm trying to say is that the Management Tool updated itself, and it now erroneously thinks a RAID has been configured? Does that make sense? In other words, perhaps it is a software issue?

Regards,
Golden

The Intel Tool Box program does not self-update to my knowledge.

SATA controler mode setting in BIOS is: IDE, AHCI or RAID?

even tought intel recommends to always set to RAID if possible.
i had problems with that setting on some SATA controllers and set it to ACHI.
so if you never plan to use raid ACHI is OK i think.

@vaidas3:

Checked and both drives are set to AHCI.

Any other BIOS settings I should be looking at?

TIA