Raid on System with OS already installed

[fatblond]

So I just built a new system with a 120gb SSD. I installed the OS and everything was great, until I decided I wanted to play more than one or two games at a time (damn you B3, MW3, TOR, Skyrim, etc.). 🙁

So I bought a 1TB HDD thinking I could simply use the Intel Smart Response Tech on them. Nope. BSOD!

So then I foolishly thought, well I will just buy a 60 gb SSD and use that, but it is not that easy. Everything I have read indicates I have to reinstall the OS to the HDD, and not keep it on the 120gb SSD in order to RAID the 60gb SSD and 1tb HDD to use the ISRT. Is that true? Man am I feeling stupid right now.

FYI, I have Asus Board PB768 Deluxe with the following storage controllers:

Intel® Z68 chipset :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
4 x SATA 3Gb/s port(s)
Support Raid 0, 1, 5, 10
Support Intel® Smart Response Technology on 2nd generation Intel® Core™ processor family
Marvell® PCIe 9128 controller :
2 x SATA 6Gb/s port(s)
JMicron® JMB362 controller : *2
1 x eSATA 3Gb/s port(s)
1 x Power eSATA 3Gb/s port(s)

So unless I am mistake, figured what I needed to do now is remove the 120 GB SSD, install the 60 gb, set the Bios to raid, install the OS to the HDD, boot up, set up ISRT on the two drives.

However, assuming the forgoing is right, my question now is, can I still use the other SSD or does it have to be part of the RAID?

Man am a noob idiot or what?

Any help is greatly appreciated.

 

[Dereck47]

Everything I have read indicates I have to reinstall the OS to the HDD, and not keep it on the 120gb SSD in order to RAID the 60gb SSD and 1tb HDD to use the ISRT. Is that true?

Yes, that is true. Try these steps:

1.) Disconnect all drives except your 1TB HDD and the CD/DVD drive that contains your O/S installation disk
2.) Make sure your 1TB HDD is connected in RAID mode to port SATA6G_1
3.) Install O/S
4.) Install latest Intel RST drivers: http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=20624&keyword=%22rst%22&lang=eng
5.) Shut down and connect 60GB SSD to port SATA6G_2
6.) Reboot into O/S, enable Intel SRT and select your 60GB SSD as the cache drive: http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/sb/CS-032826.htm?wapkw=(Smart+Response)
7.) Shut down and connect 120GB SSD in AHCI mode to port SATA6G_E1
8.) Reboot into O/S and "Quick Format" 120GB SSD which can then be used as data/backup drive

 

[fatblond]

Best answer selected by fatblond.

 

[fatblond]

OKay, well bummer. I set up the RST with the 60 gb SSD accelerating the HDD. Done.

However, when I try to add the 120gb SSD to the computer, it fails to boot. I just get the blinking cursor in teh top left of the screen. If I try to force boot from the HDD all I get is a BSOD and data dump. I tried repairing it and that failed. Though oddly enough it seemed like it was trying to repair my 120 and not the HDD.

The 120 was my former boot dr.

I can't even get to the point to do a quick format.

The only thing I might be able to do is type Ctrl-M when the Marvell controller is boot and then mess with some settings there. I don't have Bios options to enable AHCI mode for the Marvell controller. 🙁 I am at a loss.

If I take out the drive, I am able to boot back in to Windows.

 

[Dereck47]

After you connect your 120GB SSD, boot into BIOS, and verify that your 1st boot device is your HDD. If there is an option for a 2nd or 3rd boot device select none or disabled.

Save your settings and boot into Windows.

See if that works.

 

[fatblond]

It took a few tries, but eventually, for whatever reason, it worked! THanks a bunch. I am purring along fine now.