Setting up raid 1 mirror after Win7 software crash

[Cornbinder]

Hi all, first post!
I have 2x 1tb wd sata drives, mobo is asus P8H77-M, intel core i5, windows7 32bit. The data is all accessable on 1 drive, the other I have LLformatted. I want to setup the raid 1 mirror again in the bios with only 1 drive connected until all data is transferred to the clean install. The only way I can setup the array before software install is to connect both drives select Raid in bios at which point it says rebuild on next reboot, I disconnect the data drive, the rebuild says failed but the array says normal for the clean disk. I can change to AHCI in bios to do the transfer but prefer to disconnect the drive to prevent accidental data loss during install. I have tried to install the Rapid Storage Technology from the asus mobo intel disk but it appears to need windows install first.
I can install Win7 onto the drive but want to know if I've done it wrong?? or right??
Do I setup the RAID before the software or after??

 

[drtweak]

The Intel Raid Software DOES allow you to make a RAID 1 WHILE IN WINDOWS AND Keeps all your data. If you go though it on the CTRL+I menu It WILL ERASE ALL DATA! The best thing to do is just backup everything you got and then just do a raid 1 though the CTRL-I menu first then install. Thats the best way, but it can be done after you install windows.

 

[Cornbinder]

The Intel Raid Software DOES allow you to make a RAID 1 WHILE IN WINDOWS AND Keeps all your data. If you go though it on the CTRL+I menu It WILL ERASE ALL DATA! The best thing to do is just backup everything you got and then just do a raid 1 though the CTRL-I menu first then install. Thats the best way, but it can be done after you install windows.

Thanks for reply!
I want to setup the array before installing software, as you suggest is the best option, I am unable to set it up in the normal way in BIOS because of one drive being full of data
I can't start windows so first options out, as soon as I enter CTRL-I it wants to rebuild the array using the corrupted W7, if I cancel that and try to create an array on the formatted drive it says it can't because no partition. so what I've done is, said yes to rebuilding the array then on reboot disconnected the drive with my data and switched to AHCI in the bios so I can install W7. If I have the bios set to RAID I can't install software, it may require both drives connected before installing with the BIOS set to RAID. After all software is installed I intend to LLFormat the second drive then set BIOS to RAID and allow it to rebuild. Can you see any major flaws in my method?

 

[drtweak]

Well if you just turn off the drive or connect it to a Non Raid Sata port then you should haven't an issue installing W7 while still having it in Raid. Do you have a USB to Sata adapter? Because what i would if you go that route is setup the raid, turn it off, unplug the drive with the data, leave all the raid settings intact install windows 7 use the USB adapter to copy files over, then toss the drive back in.

Is the other drive blank or no?

Also at this rate it might be best to use the one drive to install windows 7, copy over your data to that drive and then use the Management software to build the raid. it won't hurt and you can do it without losing data. I would just go that route if I was you.

 

[Cornbinder]

Well if you just turn off the drive or connect it to a Non Raid Sata port then you should haven't an issue installing W7 while still having it in Raid. Do you have a USB to Sata adapter? Because what i would if you go that route is setup the raid, turn it off, unplug the drive with the data, leave all the raid settings intact install windows 7 use the USB adapter to copy files over, then toss the drive back in.

Is the other drive blank or no?

Also at this rate it might be best to use the one drive to install windows 7, copy over your data to that drive and then use the Management software to build the raid. it won't hurt and you can do it without losing data. I would just go that route if I was you.

Thanks heaps!!
I'll try your suggestions over the next few days.

 

[drtweak]

Welcome! Let me know how it goes! I haven't played with the Intel Raid yet so would like to hear how you made out. I'm use to dealing with High End LSI/Dell Perc Cards lol

 

[Cornbinder]

Welcome! Let me know how it goes! I haven't played with the Intel Raid yet so would like to hear how you made out. I'm use to dealing with High End LSI/Dell Perc Cards lol

G'day drtweak
I used HDDGURU's LLFormat to wipe 1 drive, other drive has my data. don't have USB to SATA, happy to use non raid sata ports. Connected clean disk to raid port and selected raid in bios, Rapid Storage Technology screen doesn't appear until second drive is connected, try to create raid array but system says it can't, no partitions. select rebuild to create array, reboot with the "clean" "raid member" disk. Install W7. Then using mobo disk I custom install drivers for chipset + reboot, audio + reboot, LAN + reboot, at this point all is good, install Rapid Storage Technology + reboot, I get a flash of a blue error screen then the sys continually cycles from reboot to blue screen. Format drive again, set bios to AHCI, load W7, load chipset, audio, LAN with no probs, load RST and the gremlin appears again. Format again!
This attempt I'll create the array using the rebuild, remove data disk on reboot, install W7 + drivers but not RST.
Maybe the disk version is so out of date it's no longer compatable!!
Does the RST driver need to be installed??

 

[drtweak]

It may need to be installed.

Yea sounds like your just spinning your wheels. I would just Install Win 7 to the Clean disk first. Don't make a Raid, then copy over your data. Once that is done erase all partitions, install Intel RST software and then create a raid 1 in windows.

 

[Cornbinder]

It may need to be installed.

Yea sounds like your just spinning your wheels. I would just Install Win 7 to the Clean disk first. Don't make a Raid, then copy over your data. Once that is done erase all partitions, install Intel RST software and then create a raid 1 in windows.

Thanks! I'll give that a go and get back to you when it's done..