Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

[Jerm1970]

Hi All,

I originally posted this question in another thread, but thought maybe it was being overlooked. Please excuse me if I've missed this question being posted elsewhere. I'm just now to the point where I feel comfortable starting to migrate stuff from my old box to the new one and would like to get it right as opposed to having to redo anything.

Here's the question I'd originally added to this thread:

http://forums.tweaktown.com/showthread.php?t=38467&page=4

....I have the system in AHCI mode with Win7 64 on a 60GB SSD drive (for OS and apps). I also have (2) 750GB Seagates in my old system in RAID-1 controlled by Intel Matrix Storage manager. If I want to move those drives to this machine and am not concerned about losing data or having to wipe them, do I simply add them to the available 'yellow' ports?
Do I have to change anything in the BIOS to set those 2 only up as RAID-1 storage? (Not to include the boot drive.) I see a quick flash during POST for the JMicron controller and it shows 'No Drives Detected' I'm assuming this is the RAID controller.(?) and both settings in BIOS are set to AHCI...but not AHCI/RAID. Will changing that to RAID mess with the SSD at all? I can't IDE because AHCI is recommended by OCZ for better SSD performance.

Thanks in advance for the help!

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage - HELP!

Please HELP! I'm stuck, but seem so close....


I was hoping I would be able to get some input, but I decided to try moving the drives myself. I didn't have any luck putting them on the 'yellow' SATA ports (where the SSD is on the first port). When I'd switch to RAID mode in the BIOS it would no longer boot from the SSD. So, I plugged the (2) Seagates into the 'purple' SATA controllers and set the 2nd AHCI setting to RAID/IDE.

Now...when I boot, I can see the drives listed in the JMicron Utility. I entered Ctrl-J and used the utility to set the 2 mechanical drives to RAID-1, Save and Exit...
I can boot into Windows (the SSD) but can only see the RAID configuration if I go into the Gigabyte Raid Configurator. It lists both drives as 'Master' though. I'm not sure what's wrong or if that's correct, but here's what I'm trying to accomplish...

SSD is the boot drive. Must run in AHCI mode (it is currently and I can boot to it)
(2) Seagates in RAID-1 (configured, shows up in BIOS-JMicron, but NOT in Windows)
I want to be able to save files on the RAID configuration such as documents, pictures, Mail Archives so they don't take up precious space on the SSD and I need the 2 drives in RAID-1 so if there's a failure, I don't lose the files.

If anyone's bored I'd REALLY appreciate some help getting through this. It sure has been a long hard climb

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Hi,

A RAID 1 will show in Windows as only one drive. Is that what is happening?

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

If I change both of the settings in the BIOS like this:
SATA RAID/AHCI Mode: [RAID]
Onboard SATA/IDE Control Mode: [RAID/IDE
The machine won't boot to Windows from the SSD drive...just a quick flash of a BSOD right at Starting Windows then it reboots.

If I then use Ctrl-I to go into Intel Matrix Storage Manager and create a RAID-1 Array it shows:
Vertex SSD (Non Member Disk) Port 0
Member Disk 0 Port 2
Member Disk 0 Port 3
But still won't boot off the Non Member SSD. So I removed the RAID and made them both Non-Members.
Now there should be no RAID Array and all drives are Non-Members.

So I changed the settings back to:
SATA RAID/AHCI Mode: [AHCI]
Onboard SATA/IDE Control Mode: [RAID/IDE]
During POST it lists the SSD then the 2 added drives, but I can't see them in Windows under Computer.
Using Intel Matrix Storage Manager from within Windows gives me no options or Actions that I can take although it lists the Vertex SSD and the 2 other drives, all separately...I just can't create a Volume or do anything.

This is so very frustrating...I've literally been trying everything I can think of for nearly 2 days.
Just can't understand why it won't boot when both settings are on RAID in the BIOS.
If I change the settings in BIOS to [AHCI] and [RAID/IDE] in order to be able to boot off the SSD, I cant see the RAID volume in Windows that I created in Ctrl-I (Intel Matrix Storage Manager)
But during POST it lists all of the drives, i just can't ever seem to get to them.

At this point, I'd be happy just being able to add the 2 SATA drives to the yellow SATA ports and not even dealing with RAID, but I can't access them no matter what I try.
I also tried adding them to the purple SATA ports and setting up RAID that way, but still couldn't see it in Windows, so I put them back on the yellow ones.

Has anyone ever experienced this?
I'm losin it....

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

You won't be able to change the Intel controller to RAID without modifying the registry.
Normally you need to select RAID or ACHI at install time. You should be able to use the purple (Jmicron controller) ports though. Just set the BIOS to RAID for them and create the array. You will have to install
a driver for them in Windows. That is why you can't see the drive. I would get it from Jmicron.

BTW that is what I have configured.

Download the R1.17.53_WHQL

ftp://driver.jmicron.com.tw/jmb36x/XP_Vista_Win7/

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Thanks for the help pbcopter.
Yeah with the SSD I've read on OCZ forums I had to be in AHCI mode and to install Windows in that mode as well.
I just put the 2 other drives back on the purple ports (although I've heard the performance is less than on the yellow ports...?)
I installed the jmicron driver you linked above and set up a new volume by going into Ctrl-J JMicron utility.
Booted to windows fine off the SSD (the other 2 drives are blank due to creating the previous RAID attempt).
If I go to Computer (My Computer) I still can't see anything except the C: drive and a USB external.
Opened the JMB36X Raid Configurer and can see both of the drives (Channel 0 and Channel 1). They're both listed as 'Master'.
Maybe I can't see them because they're not formatted? I just can't access them since it doesn't seem they have a drive letter or anything.
In Device Manager I see the SSD, the USB external and the JRAID1 all under Disk Drives, but can't figure out how to access them (or it since it's RAID1)
Any ideas?

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Having them both listed as Master is normal for the Jmicron.

Have you looked in Disk Manager to see if the drive is there?

Here is where you can format the drive so it can be seen in Computer.

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Is Disk Manager something within Windows or a JMicron utility?
I only seem to have the RAID Configurer.

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

It is in Windows.

Right click on Computer and select Manage.

Then select disk management.

Scroll down to find the drive.

Most likely it will say unallocated.

Right click to get to format.

It may require initialization first.

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Sorry, I spaced on that one. I'm getting tired :)
I can now see it as Unallocated, but I don't see a Format option.
If I right-click I have options for New Simple, Spanned, Striped, Mirrored Volumes.
Am I correct in assuming I would want to choose Simple and the JMicron controller will do the mirroring?
Or should I set up the mirroring here? I only see one of the 2 drives in Disk Management....(still can't believe I had to ask where that was...I'm in IT) :lol

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

The mirroring has already been set up (the mirroring mentioned there is for software RAID). My fault, yes you need to set up a new simple partion ( I usually just set up just 1). Then format it.

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

If you ever reinstall your operating system, you can set the Intel controller to RAID (it is really RAID/AHCI) and have the SSD for your operating system and then use other yellow ports for your RAID and other single drives if you like.
It can be done with an already installed operating system but as I said, it involves editing the registry.

BTW, what version Windows are you using?

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Dude, you rock!

As simple as that seemed, I've been hung up on it.
Thanks so much!
If ever I can return the favor I will.
Do you listen to much music? If so...favorites?

[Jerm1970]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Missed yer question about the OS...I'm running Win7 x64 Ultimate.
btw...do you happen to have any info or a link on that registry edit?

[pbcopter]

Re: Advice needed for adding RAID-1 Storage

Good morning. I'm glad it all worked out. I am also running Windows 7 x64 Ultimate.

This article discusses it. This is the key that needs to be changed for RAID as the article discusses both
RAID and AHCI.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Servic es\IastorV

I must tell you that I have not done this personally and I would make sure to set a restore point and backup that key as well.

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976