Issue with RAID setup on new build

[wutangclams]

Hi-

Im working on a new build with the following specs:

CPU:
Intel Core i7-2600K Sandy Bridge 3.4GHz (3.8GHz Turbo Boost) 4 x 256KB L2 Cache 8MB L3 Cache LGA 1155 95W Quad-Core Desktop Processor BX80623I72600K
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16819115070

MOBO:
ASUS P8P67 PRO (REV 3.0) LGA 1155 Intel P67 SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX Intel Motherboard
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813131703

RAM:
G.SKILL Ripjaws X Series 8GB (2 x 4GB) 240-Pin DDR3 SDRAM DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800) Desktop Memory Model F3-12800CL8D-8GBXM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16820231445

HEATSINK:
Zalman Performa Cpu Cooler
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00350O5DK

VIDEO:
VisionTek 900307 Radeon HD 4670 X2 2GB 128-bit DDR3 PCI Express 2.0 x16 HDCP Ready Video Card
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814129158

SSD:
Intel 320 Series 80 GB SATA 3.0 Gb-s 2.5-Inch Solid-State Drive - Retail Box SSDSA2CW080G3B5
http://www.amazon.com/Intel-SATA-2-5-Inch-Solid-State-Drive/dp/B004T0DNJC/

HDD:
[4x] Samsung F3 500GB [RAID 10: Capacity: 1TB]
Samsung 500 GB SATA II Hard Drive HD502HJ
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002J65AHQ

SATA Cables:
[4x] OKGEAR 18" SATA 6 Gbps Cable, Straight to Left Angle W/ Metal Latch, Black, Backward Compatible 3 Gbps and 1.5 Gbps
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16812123282

DVD:
ASUS 24X DVD Burner - Bulk 24X DVD+R 8X DVD+RW 12X DVD+R DL 24X DVD-R 6X DVD-RW 16X DVD-ROM 48X CD-R 32X CD-RW 48X CD-ROM Black SATA Model DRW-24B1ST/BLK/B/AS - OEM
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16827135204

PSU:
SeaSonic S12II 620 Bronze 620W ATX12V V2.3 / EPS 12V V2.91 80 PLUS BRONZE Certified Active PFC Power Supply
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817151096

CASE:
COOLER MASTER Storm Scout SGC-2000-KKN1-GP Black Steel / Plastic ATX Mid Tower Computer Case
http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16811119196

..

I've set up WIN7 on the SSD with the HDDs detached so Windows can create its additional 100mg partition on the SSD and not touch any of the four harddrives. Before installing, I set up the bios to handle the SSD in AHCI mode. Once Windows was set up, I powered down, connected the HDDs, booted into the bios, and changed the SATA settings from AHCI to RAID mode so I can make a RAID10 volume out of the four harddrives in the bios, as opposed to making it in Windows. It creates the array, but there is no option to format the newly created partition. I exited, and prioritized the SSD in the bios so that it will boot into the windows installation.

Now, when I start the machine, it reads the SSD and the RAID10 array, and continues to attempt to boot into windows but locks up half way through, and flashes a bsod for a second before rebooting. I was pretty sure the problem is with the AHCI vs RAID mode in the bios.. so I deleted the RAID array, jumped back into the bios, and switched back to AHCI mode. Now the bios shows all the drives separately [no raid] and boots into the SSD's windows installation just fine.

--My question is... How am I to set up a RAID array in the bios, and still be able to address the SSD in AHCI mode so that it can successfully boot into the OS??

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[wutangclams]

k.. i switched into raid mode in the bios, disconnected the harddrives, reinstalled windows, then set up the raid,.

..so far all is well.. thanks, i guess i just had to write out my thoughts.