I Broke Windows 7

Your System Configuration tab has the SATA controller option, but it's not called SATA on your BIOS. It's Intel Rapid Storage Technology enabled or disabled. That's the equivalent of the SATA option on an Intel board where you can select RAID, AHCI or IDE.

The more I think about it, the more I think that it's not possible to dual boot Win 7 and Linux on the same RAID volume comprised of a 500GB hdd and 32GB ssd.

I think you should focus your efforts to restore this machine to the RAID volume running Win 7 single boot.

I suspect your previous partition efforts caused your fix to just see the one small partition. The previous RAID configuration file must be corrupted or deleted by the third party disk utility.

Does this work as an HD diagnostic tool: Ultimate Boot CD - Download the UBCD ?

Regarding the SATA, thanks for the clarification. I thought I was looking for intel smart response technology.... Names are confusing.

Yeah, I think I just trashed my raid while trying to get the partitions in order. I'll try the diagnostic tool CD and see if that gets me anywhere. I might also try booting to a live Ubuntu CD too just to see if I can see what's up with partitions there.

You should check to see that your BIOS is set for verbose POST. See if there is a options menu during POST where you hit Ctrl-I or something like that to get into the RAID configuration menu. You will need to enable Intel Rapid Storage Technology in the BIOS to see this menu if that's how it was implemented on your motherboard.

If you have the POST RAID configuration menu, take some screen shots so we can see what options you have.

At this point in time, I think you should restore the hdd and ssd drives to as new condition by using the manufacturer's disk utilities and do a clean install with your BIOS settings all back to out of the box configuration and your POST RAID configuration menu the same as well. I think you would then be able to install the Win 7 and have the RAID volume as well.

Stay away from all third party utilities until we figure this system out.

I don't think you can fix your current install. Kiss it goodbye.

Where did you get the USB Win 7 install? Did it come with the computer?

You should go to the computer manufacturer's website and download all the drivers and software that are meant for your computer.

The Intel Rapid Storage Technology is built into the chipset and configured in the BIOS. If you have a POST RAID configuration menu, you can likely wipe your drives clean there.

The Intel Rapid Storage Technology, or IRST, needs a driver and likely has a configuration file in the OS. I suspect you corrupted or deleted the RAID configuration file when you were playing with the partitions using that third party utility. Once you corrupt or delete the RAID configuration file, you've lost the key to the RAID volume which the OS sees as a virtual disk formed from the underlying hdd and sdd.

I think the IRST in your application uses the hdd and sdd as a sort of hybrid drive. It's not clear to me yet how that is configured, because I'm only familiar with the Intel RST RAID 0 and RAID 1 which are the only two-hdd options for an Intel RST RAID as implemented on my x58 chipset Intel board. A RAID 0 or RAID 1 that I'm familiar with would need two drives of the same capacity. So, I'm very interested to figure out how your system works with a 500GB hdd and a 32GB ssd.

Regards

What other settings are available for IRST?

What is your HD maker?

Look over the Clean Reinstall tutorial below to see how this is best handled After we resolve the HD and IRST issue.

The windows 7 install USB isn't the one I got with the computer. I downloaded the ISO (I get free access to win7 as a student) and put it on the USB with Rufus. I'll download the drivers as you suggested. Upon downloading all the appropriate drivers, how should I go about getting them properly configured on my ailing computer friend?

In other news, I'm looking into finding the POST RAID config menu as you suggested. I'll let you know if I make any headway.

You do not need any drivers as this is a driver-complete OS. A prompt for drivers during install means a bad installer. Any exceptions are handled in IRST tutorial. Use the ISO and tool in Clean Reinstall tutorial.

Waiting to hear the IRST settings and HD make. If your maker doesn't have diagnostics ISO to burn to disk with Windows Image Burner then use Seatools from the list in Troubleshoiting tutorial below

He should check the computer manufacturer's website for drivers. Win 7 doesn't have all the drivers for my Intel DX58SO & DX58SO2.

There may be a Win 7 ISO on the computer manufacturer's website that has IRST drivers installed. I suggest he follow the manufacturer's procedure to restore this system using their tools, because of the unique RAID configuration.

Ok, that makes it easier.

Just got the HD info. I booted to live Ubuntu to check, and, conveniently, I was able to save ~50GB of pictures and school documents, which is nice =). Which also means the hard drive is detected and alive and whatnot.

ATA Hitachi HTS72755 (500.1GB)

So I'm looking for the POST RAID config menu thing, and all I can find is some Intel documents that state that pressing F2 should let me choose some raid stuff under the advanced settings. My F2 just gives me memory test and HD check options. ctrl+i only gives boot to win7 or memory diagnostic tool options. Google doesn't seem to be offering any alternatives....