Need help setting up RAID

pjreis · 06 Dec 2010

Hi,
im trying to setup a RAID0 with a vertex2 as my OS and 2 x 1tb hdd drives. i know the SSD works cause i had it running earlier today in non-RAID mode. Now for Raid, I Secure Erased Windows 7 to start from scratch. Checked made sure the boot wasn't frozen and set RAID setting in BIOS, but I can't get Win 7 to load. After Bios, I get black screen saying "Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key." Also I have HDD's disconnected and only the SSD plugged in. I've checked the forums and I can't find anything..What am I doing wrong? should i set to RAID first in BIOS and then load OS or can i load Win 7 first, add drivers and then change setting to RAID in BIOS?

parabellum · 06 Dec 2010

Look in your motherboard manual. It will have step by step steps.

gregrocker · 06 Dec 2010

May I ask why you want to use RAID for Win7 on an SSD?

pjreis · 06 Dec 2010

followed manual step-by-step.. still didn't help. checked the mobo website also, but nothing..

gregrocker · 06 Dec 2010

RAID is dated technology which Win7 doesn't much like. We see a lot of install problems here on RAID. Most of the experts here don't run RAID so can't be of much help.

You should be getting best performance having the SSD. I'm not sure what else you hope RAID can give you. If you lost one HD you lose everything. Better to use one HD as a backup drive for built-in Win7 backup imaging, which makes redundancy redundant.

pjreis · 06 Dec 2010

Thx for the info. I thought if I used RAID format would be faster, but I guess you're right.. It's been such a headache, I think I'll follow your advice and use SSD as OS and HDD's as storage non-raid.

gregrocker · 06 Dec 2010

The reason I asked is because occasionally we have film editor who uses RAID to get really huge drive space for storing movies they're editing. So RAID does have some purposes, but I dont' think performance is one when you have an SSD.

With the 60gb SSD you might want to consider putting your User folders on another HD using this method: User Folders - Change Default Location

This allows the OS/Programs backup image to be lean so that if Win7 becomes irreparable, you can quickly reimage to the SSD or its replacement while your User folders are current and waiting in their data "vault." Backup Complete Computer - Create an Image Backup

I'd back up the User data externally or to another HD, as well: Backup User and System Files

Here are some tips on getting a perfect install based on hundreds done here: re-install windows 7

Let us know how it goes.

Tepid · 06 Dec 2010

I might be wrong, but it reads like,, you have 2 HDD's and 1 SSD
You are trying to setup Raid 0 on the SSD?
You can't, you need 2 drives.

2nd, RAID or AHCI should be selected in the BIOS first, it's just easier.
This should also not create any issues with installing Win7 to a single drive.

You need to build the array first anyway, by hitting Ctrl-I (on intel board, others might be different).

I would certainly advise setting up a mirror, with External Drive Backup. Definitely not a bad thing to do.
I would not setup a Raid 0 however. Due to minimal performance increase (in everyday use) and no redundancy.

Greg's advice is not bad or wrong at all. Just another way of doing it.

I have 4 drives in my system...
I broke my Raid 0 because it was wasting space and there was not much performance increase, but have a Raid 1 for storage redundancy, and it has saved my ass once already.

PS. I would also agree not to setup Raid 0 on SSD either. I have not used SSD, but I assume the results might be the same, If I had the money though, I might try it just to see, but would probably disable it at some point.