Windows 7 - Problem installing to RAID0

Am attempting a fresh install (RC1 64bit) to a new RAID 0 configuration - ICH8 slots on a Gigabyte P965-DQ6 board. First time thru the very first step 'Copying Windows Files' failed with 'Could not format partition' ... rebooted and restarted the install and this time was shown 2 partitions...one system reserved with around 85gig - the other with the balance of the drives combined total. So it wrote _something.

But install is unable to get any further...attempted to choose 'next' tosses:
"failed to format the selected partition" error-0x80070057

No joy attempting to use the 'delete' or 'format' choices at that screen either. I've copied the motherboard's ich8r driver to a usb but install doesn't recognize any valid drivers.

what next?

thx
--steve...

Hi Steve, Welcome to the Forum.

How much RAM do you have installed??

Try it with just one stick

I hope this helps

Pooch

Thx much for the welcome and the suggestion. Removed one of the 2 sticks gained a line at the bottom of the 'partitions' window telling me that window could not be installed to this drive because it is a non-bootable drive. Have poked around CMOS without finding anything amiss...at this point i have only the RAID array plugged in and they _should be bootable.

Any thoughts? From my perspective it seems like the partition on the RAID array can't be formatted and I'm looking to ways to format it manually before attempting the install.

Hello juststeve,

Have you created the raid array within the bios?

If so how did you configure it?

Hi Steve,

Is this on-board RAID, or is it an add-in card?

For onboard RAID, you need to enable it in the BIOS. Once you have done so, and once there are a minimum of 2 drives assigned to an array, you need to configure it. Boot up your system and press F10 (or the appropriate key - watch the screen).

You can then set the RAID mode and striping size (I have mine set up as RAID0 with default striping size). Simply follow the prompts, and refer to your manual.

For an add-in card, you should also be prompted to press a key during boot up in order to set up and configure an array. Follow the instructions that came with the card.

Reboot your PC with the Windows 7 disk inserted and let us know what happens.

upon additional troubleshooting it appears there's a hardware failure with one of the drives.


thankx much the time and attention.

Unless you havent done so, check that its not the sata cable thats faulty!!

Yes put the other RAM stick in (different slot) Remove the one that was in try again

would you mind saying why? or how you came to this answer

After seeing the exact same behavior on a vista install attempt I plugged each drive into an external SATA enclosure - one drive offered itself for formatting...the other didn't even register with windows enuff to get a drive letter.

Thankfully these are WD Raptors and well within WD's warrenty period.

thnx much for the assistance.