Windows 7: RAID 1 install Win 7

Hello. I just had a turn-key system sent to me:

Win 7 Prof
ASUS Sabertoth x79 Mobo
Intel i7 6 core 3.2
1 SS drive @ 250 gb
2 Seagate drives @ 3 TB each


However the company forgot to set up my RAID 1.

I have 2 Seagate 3 TB drives in the box set up currently as AHCI that the system currently reads as separate drives.

When go back into the BIOS and set up the RAID 1, I get BSOD, ofcourse, which is a known issue.

So I decided to do clean re install after setting up the RAID 1 in the bios. Windows loads the install disk but gives me the "A required CD/DVD drive device driver is missing...." song and dance.

Does this mean I need to install the Intel RAID drivers prior to Win 7 reinstall?? (I thought this wasn't necessary with Win 7)

I went ahead and downloaded the drivers form the Intel site:

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Sear...ntel%C2%AE+RST)

i put them on USB stick, (I don't own a floppy because I am from 2012) but the USB disk is not present during installation.

Any input would be appreciated!!!

Hi,

You can build the RAID1 from within Windows using Intel Rapid Storage Technology as shown below. Do you have that installed on your system? In your BIOS, have you nominated the drives to be controlled by the RAID controller, as opposed to to AHCI?

Regards,
Golden

Thanks for your response.

I have Intel RST Enterpise installed, and the interface looks quite different:

2012-07-28_1459 - eatdrinkadam's library

There is an regular RST version, which I downloaded but could not install. "This computer does not meet the minimum requirments...."

I have tried to set the drives to RAID in the BIOS, however I get BSOD on boot up.

Hi,

What options are presented when you click on 'Create' in the image you referenced?

Regards,
Golden

None, because the button is greyed out:

2012-07-28_1505 - eatdrinkadam's library

Hi,

Are your motherboard drivers up to date? Look under the SATA tab here to download the latest chipset drivers. You should be able to install the driver within Windows, then in the BIOS enable RAID.

ASUS - Motherboards- ASUS SABERTOOTH X79

From the manual, it appears you can load the RAID driver from a USB stick.

Regards,
Golden

Thanks for the input. I will give that a shot and repost with results.

BTW, I believe my chip is overclocked, should this be a problem?

A

Hi,

No, the overclock is not necessarily a problem.

Regards,
Golden

Go to the Asus website and see if there are F6 SATA/RAID drivers available for your motherboard. You may have to provide them during the install process. The drivers you downloaded might not include your motherboard, which is very obvious if Windows is unable to find the RAID after you give it the drivers.

Also, review your motherboard manual - there are detailed instructions on how to create the RAID 1 array in section 4.4, and how to create the driver disk in 4.5. Beware - you need a floppy USB drive, according to those instructions.