SSD incompatible after new harddrive install

[MelinMaine]

I have a Dell XPS 8500 which came installed with a 2T HDD and a 32GB SSD. The HDD failed so I had to replace it. After replacing and reinstalling windows 8.1, the Intel RST status listed the SSD as incompatible. Perhaps it has something to do with a RAID configuration? If so, I could not even begin to know how to fix that. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[APassingMe]

My guess is that it is a firmware hardware lock issue, not sure though. Also make sure all your drivers are up to date, check the manufacturers website.

 

[Lannister in the North]

A raid setup between a 32GB and 2TB drive is unlikely; You would see a prompt at boot from your raid controller.
As for the RST, likely it was simply not installed on your system before;
It isn't crucial for operability, in some cases it can increase your system a little bit, that's all.

 

[MrCommunistGen]

I assume you mean: incompatible to use as an SSD cache for your HDD volume? Is the SSD appearing as a drive letter now?

You're correct that the BIOS generally need to be configured to have the drives as RAID drives, not IDE/compatibility mode or AHCI.

If RAID is set, then you need to enter the Intel RAID OROM and configure those 2 drives to be in a RAID. It might even specifically list Acceleration Drive. On a "regular" non-EFI motherboard (Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, etc) you usually access the Intel OROM by hitting Control-I (that's an 'i') after POST. On the EFI boards I've seen, the RAID menu is integrated into the EFI/BIOS. On a Dell, YMMV.

Oh, another comment:
The abbreviations get a bit confusing, but:
RST = Rapid Storage Technology, which is Intel's SATA/RAID driver stack and management software.
SRT = Smart Response Technology, which is a feature included with some chipsets starting with Z68. It is managed on the OS side from within the RST program.

Also, not that it will have any effect on your current situation, I'd recommend updating your RST to the latest version.
LINK: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProdId=2101

 

[MelinMaine]

I assume you mean: incompatible to use as an SSD cache for your HDD volume? Is the SSD appearing as a drive letter now?

You're correct that the BIOS generally need to be configured to have the drives as RAID drives, not IDE/compatibility mode or AHCI.

If RAID is set, then you need to enter the Intel RAID OROM and configure those 2 drives to be in a RAID. It might even specifically list Acceleration Drive. On a "regular" non-EFI motherboard (Asus, Gigabyte, MSI, etc) you usually access the Intel OROM by hitting Control-I (that's an 'i') after POST. On the EFI boards I've seen, the RAID menu is integrated into the EFI/BIOS. On a Dell, YMMV.

Oh, another comment:
The abbreviations get a bit confusing, but:
RST = Rapid Storage Technology, which is Intel's SATA/RAID driver stack and management software.
SRT = Smart Response Technology, which is a feature included with some chipsets starting with Z68. It is managed on the OS side from within the RST program.

Also, not that it will have any effect on your current situation, I'd recommend updating your RST to the latest version.
LINK: https://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProdId=2101

 

[MelinMaine]

Thank you for your thorough and informative response.

 

[MelinMaine]

A raid setup between a 32GB and 2TB drive is unlikely; You would see a prompt at boot from your raid controller.
As for the RST, likely it was simply not installed on your system before;
It isn't crucial for operability, in some cases it can increase your system a little bit, that's all.

 

[MelinMaine]

"It isn't crucial for operability"... That was the answer I was looking/hoping for. Thanks. But... now that I think about it. What, exactly, is on my SSD drive? I can't see it in MY COMPUTER but can on the Intel RST console. If I go to the partition wizard or whatever it's called, I can see it there too.