Is my SSD a dud?

[l1ghtm4st3r]

Hi,

Hoping for some help with my SSD.
Just bought a SanDisk Extreme Pro 240gb, received it today and my initial intention was to set up an SSD + Raid 0 hdd on my system (see sig).
I tried everything and followed many different instructions to a T but it never worked.
In the end I gave up and thought screw the RAID and just stick to what I had before which were all the drives in AHCI.

Then I found that the same problem persisted after installing win 7, as did when using the RAID setup. Each time the installation would finish, the SSD would cycle it's boot but trying to start up for the first time it would either hang for an age at the Starting Windows animation (without actually getting to the animation).
Or it would (more often), say 'x' driver is missing or corrupted.
Where 'x' keeps changing to different fundamental Windows 7 drivers.

Usually I'd straight off contact Scan (supplier) and get an RMA, but these SSD's have 10yr warranties and thought it was strange for a dud to come through the door.

What should I do?

Thanks

 

[USAFRet]

an SSD + Raid 0 hdd

Spectacularly bad idea.

On the regular no-RAID attempt, did you completely wipe the drive during the OS installation?

 

[l1ghtm4st3r]

Yep, everything was done with completely wiped drives.

Update: Its not a bad idea, the SSD would be used for OS while the hard drives are used for storage.

 

[USAFRet]

During the install, the SSD is the only drive connected?

 

[USAFRet]

Yep, everything was done with completely wiped drives.

Update: Its not a bad idea, the SSD would be used for OS while the hard drives are used for storage.

SSD + HDD in a RAID 0 is a very, very bad idea.
Having them as two discreet drives is very common and useful.

 

[l1ghtm4st3r]

Agreed, those 2 in raid 0 is a terrible idea. Should've made myself clearer in initial post.

Yes every other drive was disconnected, including all usb's.

 

[USAFRet]

OK.
Now...as to why this clean install does not work....

 

[l1ghtm4st3r]

Not sure if you're waiting on my response but would just say that this was the same set up I used with my OCZ Vector, and now it's not working with this drive. Which is why I think for some reason it's holding the data but not being able to pull data off it.
I believe a broken controller. The data is there as one each fresh install it shows as having the same amount free (I.e. 216gb free rather than 220 something).

 

[USAFRet]

During the install, when it asks 'where'...select Advanced.
What partitions does it show?

 

[l1ghtm4st3r]

I delete what partitions there are and make new ones. It makes the standard big partition and a small system reserved one.
Not sure if that helps. (I format the partitions after creating them)

 

[USAFRet]

I delete what partitions there are and make new ones. It makes the standard big partition and a small system reserved one.
Not sure if that helps. (I format the partitions after creating them)

Right. As it should be.
I have no idea why this is not working.

Maybe someone else will chime in.

 

[l1ghtm4st3r]

I delete what partitions there are and make new ones. It makes the standard big partition and a small system reserved one.
Not sure if that helps. (I format the partitions after creating them)

Right. As it should be.
I have no idea why this is not working.

Maybe someone else will chime in.

Decided to go ahead an RMA it. Thanks for your support, guess I'll just give you best answer for helping out as best as you could.

Thank you.