Installng windows 7 on RAID 0 Asus P6T SE

[kerryburn]

Guys

I am experiencing a very frustrating problem.

I have an Asus P6T SE Motherboard with 6gb RAM, Core I7 etc and 3 x Samsung 1.5tb disks. Purchased specifically for RAID config. I wish to RAID 0 2 of the disks and then use the third to back up data.

I initially set up the rig with RAID 5, it was a disaster for me (using the built in Intel sotrage manager) as I had a slight error and it was still rebuilding the array some 3 days later so I decided to cut my losses and go to RAID 0.

The problem I now have is that despite Windows 7 seeming to install correctly, when it comes to the reboot section (just before 'completing installation) the machine cannot find a bootable device!!! I am removing the USB key at this stage to stop it from starting all over again.

it reports 'reboot and select proper device, or select boot media etc'

I have already tried

- Destroying and rebuilding the array with different sizes in case W7 struggles with large boot partitions
- Resetting BIOS to defaults
Even reverting to an IDE set up and this still wont boot!

Can you help guys, I cant see how the PC could have been corrupted at a pre OS level that would stop the disks from working as I have configured. But nothing would surprise me.

I hope you can help

Regards


Kerry
- Ensuring, in BIOS, that the correct boot order is observed

 

[gregrocker]

Win7 is frequently allergic to RAID.

Try setting SATA controller to AHCI with only one HDD.

Reset CMOS, or return BIOS to defaults.

Remove all but 2gb of RAM during install.

 

[kerryburn]

Thanks Greg

Will do, this seems extreme to fix

I have reset the BIOS to defaults etc etc, obviously removing the other two disks kinda doesnt help as the aim is to create a RAID 0 array. I should mention I did manage to install successfully on an IDE config to one disk.

I hadnt thought of removing the me but will do so based on your reply.

Any other pointers or is it a case that I have lost the ability to RAID 0 with these disks, which doesnt make any sense at all!!

Regards


Kerry

 

[kerryburn]

Update

Greg

just an update for you and anyone reading this to help

I have just managed to get it to complete the install (after the reboot problem) by making sure that at the start Windows install sees only one primary partition (there were two, one on the RAID and the other on the 3rd disk)

I deleted, in setup, the primary on the 3rd disk and that seems to have worked, it is finishing as we speak

I guess it couldnt work out where to go with two primaries???

THanks for your help

Kerry

 

[gregrocker]

Kerry - Thanks for letting us know results, glad you got your Win7 installed.

I dont' think having more than one primary drive would affect install. You tell it where to install.

It surely had something to do with the RAID array, which is always a wild card during install.