Solved BSOD, plus odd Windows error

[essenbe]

Mezzy, to Arc's surprise, I am going to agree with him. Your raid is not doing you any good at all. Besides that, no matter what you have heard, raid is not a backup. It is causing you a lot of grief right now, and I suspect with the messages you are getting, the raid is not working at all. If the controller is dropping drives, then adding it back, it is not doing what you think it is doing. Plus, it is killing your performance. As for backups, what's the big issue? I back my computer up every night and it takes me less than 10 minutes, and I am not suffering the issues you seem to be having.

Mezzy, I have run raid of all stripes before and will most likely run it again. However, raid of any kind is not a backup. You need to be running backups anyway. I am not opposed to raid, but if I was running a Raid array and having the same problems as you, I would back up all my personal information, break the array, wipe the disk and do a clean install on 1 hard drive. A clean install is not the nightmare you have always heard it was if you are ready for it. Whenever you get ready, please let us know and we will help you get ready and help you do it. If you prepare before the install, the longest time will be installing windows updates. You can be back and functioning in a few hours after the updates are through.

 

[mezzy316]

Okay, I've got everything backed up. I've read the Clean Install tutorials but I'm still a little confused on how I wipe the discs and get a clean copy of Windows 7 installed. Also not sure where/how to install it now that I will have two separate hard drives if I eliminate the RAID.

 

[Arc]

You may install windows on either of the HDDs.

For the best result, disconnect the SATA cable from one of the HDDs, install windows on the other one. When the installation is done then connect the SATA cable back.

To wipe the discs, there are ways.

• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/168358-format-hdd-usb.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
• http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/91339-ssd-hdd-optimize-windows-reinstallation.html

But the easiest option is to allow the windows installation disc to do it. When you are on Step 8, first Delete the existing partitions, and then create your own New partitions in the blank disc.

 

[mezzy316]

Well as one last shot before I went through all of this I unplugged the hard drive cables and power cables and plugged them back in. Worked perfectly up until now, but now I'm back to exactly where I was before. So I'm about to do this, but I have two questions:

#1 - I know I need to go into the BIOS to disable RAID, and that once I do that I won't be able to boot to Windows. However, I will have to also change the boot sequence in the BIOS so that it runs off the USB flash stick. Do I make the RAID change and boot sequence change at the same time? If I do just the RAID change, will I be able to get back into the BIOS to change the boot sequence?

#2 - You said to unplug one of the hard drives and let the Windows 7 installer delete those partitions and reformat it. Once that is done and I reconnect the second hard drive, how do I best wipe/reformat that one? I'll be past the reinstall so I can't the the installer do it.

Thanks!

 

[Arc]

Answer to Question 1:

No need to change the boot sequence. Follow the Boot menu key in your motherboard's screen during powering up teh computer. It will be found in the manual too. Press and hold that key during startup. The boot menu (a list of all possible locations to boot from) will appear. Select the USB flash using the up/down scroll key and hit enter. The computer will boot from the USB flash.
​

Answer to Question 2:

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/168358-format-hdd-usb.html
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/52129-disk-clean-clean-all-diskpart-command.html
​

 

[essenbe]

Also, be sure to go to Acer's web site and download your Lan driver and tour Wi Fi driver. In case Windows has no driver for them. That will allow you to get on the INTERNET and run the windows updates and download any other driver you may need after Windows is installed. Get as many of your installer disks and files as you can before starting. In that way you can have your computer up and functional very quick.

 

[mezzy316]

Thanks. @essenbe, I assume you mean HPs web site (not Acer's)? Also, my desktop does not have a WiFi card, just LAN.

 

[mezzy316]

Okay, so I went into the BIOS/Advanced/Controller and other than RAID it gives me both IDE and AHCI (it does not mention ATA). Which one do I pick?

 

[essenbe]

I prefer AHCI, it is much more advanced and allows a lot of options IDE does not. And, yes I meant HP' site. Just get all your installation files for programs you want to install, installation disks and activation numbers before you do the install. That way you have everything you need right in front of you and don't have to hunt them down. That will make the install go much faster and easier.

 

[mezzy316]

Thanks. From what I was reading AHCI was faster/better but I wanted to check before I did anything. I've got all my installation files, Product Keys, etc. and everything is backed up. Here goes!

 

[mezzy316]

Sorry, one more question....@arc said that when I change it from RAID to AHCI I should also "Disable Intel Rapid Storage, Intel Smart Response or anything in this line." I don't see anything like that in the BIOS.

 

[essenbe]

Good luck. If we can help, don't hesitate to ask.

 

[mezzy316]

@arc said that when I change it from RAID to AHCI I should also "Disable Intel Rapid Storage, Intel Smart Response or anything in this line." I don't see anything like that in the BIOS.

 

[essenbe]

Most retail motherboards have an option in bios to enable or disable it. However, HP and all other OEM Manufacturers have their bios locked down pretty well so you have limited options. Look closely to see if you have an option for Intel Rapid Start or Intel smart response. If you don't, don't worry about it right now.

I may be wrong, but it won't matter if my understanding is correct. Whether it is enabled or not won't matter. Your sata controller has to be set to Raid for it to work.

 

[mezzy316]

I looked again and I can't find any way to turn it off. If I go into each hard drive (not in ADVANCED) there is "SMART support". But the only options there are SMART Status Check, SMART Short Self Test, and SMART Extended Self Test. No option to disable.

 

[essenbe]

Those are completely different, you want smart test.

 

[mezzy316]

Okay, thanks. I'll just proceed as-is then.

 

[essenbe]

If there are no settings to change, there's little you can do about it.

 

[mezzy316]

Okay, so I changed the storage controller to AHCI.....and the computer booted to Windows just like normal. I even went back in to the BIOS to make sure, and it is set to AHCI. The only difference I see is that the Intel Rapid Storage Technology says that it is not running. Now what?

 

[Arc]

It is the first time I am seeing that a computer is booting back perfectly after changing the storage controller mode.

Now give it a time. Observe how everything is going. Inform us for any further issue.