Question Z390 Gaming Plus (WIFI) - Windows goes into boot loop after enabling Intel RST Raid

Jul 24, 2022
2
0
10
I have a Z390 Gamin Plus (WIFI) motherboard, a Samsung 860 QVO 1TB, and three new Samsung 860 Pro 4TB SSDs that I'm trying to set up in RAID 5 for storage/games.

After switching from AHCI to Intel RST in my BIOS and creating the virtual disk with the 4TB drives (1TB boot is still standalone), windows starts going into a boot loop before going to that "Windows failed to boot" screen. When I go back and switch back to AHCI, windows boots fine and somehow the Raid/Virtual Drive is there...

I'm tempted to let it ride this way since it's working, but I feel paranoid that since it's not configured how it's supposed to be it'll fail sooner or later. I don't have any critical data on it, just games, but it'd still be a pain in the ass to redownload everything.
 

Colif

Win 11 Master
Moderator
You need to have AHCI set if the 1tb SSD is the boot drive
that is why you get the errors.

Did you use Intel rapid Storage Tech software to set up array?
https://www.microcenter.com/tech_center/article/11371/how-to-set-up-raid-using-intel-rst
if so, it might be okay.

intel RST is the software side of the raid functions (and caching) built into intel ICHNR motherboards, so it is software raid in that the calcs are not done on dedicated hardware but it is not software raid in that it exists below the level of windows, unlike storage spaces and mirroring in disk management.

The bios menus are mostly for hardware raid, and instructions seem to assume you booting off the array: https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1045089/
 
Last edited:
Jul 24, 2022
2
0
10
You need to have AHCI set if the 1tb SSD is the boot drive
that is why you get the errors.

Did you use Intel rapid Storage Tech software to set up array?
https://www.microcenter.com/tech_center/article/11371/how-to-set-up-raid-using-intel-rst
if so, it might be okay.



The bios menus are mostly for hardware raid, and instructions seem to assume you booting off the array: https://www.asus.com/support/FAQ/1045089/

I set the raid up and the virtual disc in the bios. But after switching back to ahci, there's no more option to look at or check the virtual drive. I'll download the Intel rst software and see if I can pull it up that way.

Thank you