Step by step for RAID 0 (Rampage IV Issues)

[z0ki]

Hey lads,

I got a RAID 0 issue with my system, now i got it working the other day which i believe it too be by chance but i will try and be as detialed as possible as i want to get this back working asap as i have some work i need to get done by Wednesday morning!

Now i have a SSD that is loaded with my Windows 7 64bit and i have 2x Western Digital 500gb hard drives that i want to put ina RAID 0 configuration.. When i go into BIOS (most latest version) and I select RAID instead of ACHI i will get to the boot up logo with a BSOD.. So ok i assume it is a driver issue but i installed all the drivers, I loaded a driver from a USB before i did a fresh install of windows on the SSD which (i presume it is the correct one) and i open up Intel's Rapid Storage Enterprise and Create Volume is greyed out.. Which obviously is because RAID is not selected in the BIOS.

I have tried the registry fix (which is already set to 0) I really am at my wits end and i've been ripping my hair out!
I even tried to press CTRL+I at boot up and nothing happens at all!

I have the sata cables plugged into the 3GB/s Intel Controller ports on the Rampage IV Mobo.. Which as i said worked fine but i did a fresh install to start again and now it doens't work!

The drives are detected in Windows Disk Management and I am able to create a stripped partition in there but i wish to use RST instead.

Now i am now overly computer smart when it comes to this as its something new to me.

I need some very "SIMPLY" put detailed steps into doing this with the right drivers and links to get it to work.

if you guys need to know anything just let me know and I will reply i will be up for another couple of hours and as i said i need to get this fixed asap.

I also have TeamViewer if anyone would like to come check out everything in device manager etc.

Really will appreciate anyone who can get this working for me!

😞

p.s i also followed the guide on here for the board but it's honestly got me confused as Intel Matrix doesn't even load for me and I am assuming it's because im wanting to use the RAID Array for storage and rendering files and not a boot up?

[Nodens]

Hehe let's see:

1) The driver package has to be extracted in your usb flash drive:) Windows installation can't load the driver through the rar.
2) Since it is a storage array and won't be booted from it can be setup in the operating system. Still it's better if you familiarize with the Ctrl+I utility and make it there instead.
3) The Matrix utility can be entered regardless on if an operating system is installed. You only need to have RAID mode enabled in the UEFI.
4) If you can't enter the utility by pressing Ctrl+I when you are prompted to (you won't be prompted if it's not set to RAID in the UEFI or if the Option ROM Messages option is not set to "Force BIOS" and is set to "Keep Current" instead), then use the workaround I wrote on my previous post.

[z0ki]

Hrmm ok i will try that now... I reseted my BIOS anyway, But i notice i only get the ROG ASUS logo on bootup then the windows logo straight away...

I just re-installed windows now once i install all my drivers now if i go back into BIOS and set it to RAID i will try the CTRL+I if it doesn't work i'll try by pressing F8 was it?

[z0ki]

ok update


FOr the first time i saw the matrix utility i setup my raid0 inside of it then when i boot into windows i still get a bluescreen.

should i change it back to ACHI?

And when i try go back to the utility i only get the boot menu come up not the utility 😞

[Arne_Saknussemm]

Hey Zoki! I'm a bit confused :confused: When you installed windows were you in RAID or AHCI. If you are going to set up RAID install windows to the SSD in RAID mode so the drivers will be in RAID mode and then set up your actual RAID....i'm guessing....or better wipe everything maybe disable fast boot and set BIOS to RAID save and exit. Setup raid on hdds in matrix and then install windows on ssd which will be the non member disk. SSD in sata 3 port hdds in sata 2 ports.

Or is that what you're doing and still getting BSODs?

[Nodens]

4. Reboot my PC and get into Matrix Utility (some how) lol

You can do this step before the installation of Windows. Also if you can't enter the utility and you've done all the other steps, then just use the RSTe application to setup the RAID array. (Btw if you did setup the RAID array once like I think you have, there's no point in doing it again so you can leave that step out altogether..the array should be there already. Do all the other steps).

[z0ki]

Nodens wrote:
You can do this step before the installation of Windows. Also if you can't enter the utility and you've done all the other steps, then just use the RSTe application to setup the RAID array. (Btw if you did setup the RAID array once like I think you have, there's no point in doing it again so you can leave that step out altogether..the array should be there already. Do all the other steps).

Hey mate i got it back in Raid0 using RSTe in Windows.. basically the stupid Matrix Utility just would not load at all! I noticed when i got into it this morning by chance that in RSTe it said it was setup as Raid0 already.. But what i did was deleted that current raid0 and set it up again in RSTe.

I just thought that Matrix being a hardware Raid would produce better performance?.. But it just doesn't open! lol.. Not sure why that part of it is so difficult.

but on that note much appreciation to you fellas! Learnt something new today and now i can get my damn work done in a short amount of time!

Will post up some benches tomorrow night... Once i get my other 4 Intel 520 480gb SSD's im going to stick those suckers in Raid0! And lets hope it wil be smooth sailing! haha

Thanks a lot guys much appreciated!

[Nodens]

z0ki wrote:
Hey mate i got it back in Raid0 using RSTe in Windows.. basically the stupid Matrix Utility just would not load at all!

There's that trick I told you about but it's hard to describe it any better...

I just thought that Matrix being a hardware Raid would produce better performance?.. But it just doesn't open! lol.. Not sure why that part of it is so difficult.

The Intel RAID is not hardware RAID. It is UEFI-assisted RAID. It's still a software solution. Also it makes no difference on where you setup the array as the only thing that both those utilities do is create a metadata field on the drives which describes the array so that it knows what kind it is etc when it detects those disks. The Matrix utility is the only way to setup an array that you want to install Windows on though as you have to do it prior to installing the operating system.

Thanks a lot guys much appreciated!

Glad you sorted it out!

[Nodens]

For simplicity, start by disabling the "Full screen logo" in the UEFI uuntil we get you sorted. As Arne said, do not install in AHCI and then change to RAID. Keep it at RAID from the start.

[z0ki]

Hey guys.. Just finished dinner first time I ate today after being on the move all damn day!

Ok this is the problem now, I believe i setup RAID0 correctly when i got into matrix and setup a raid.. And i then installed windows the BIOS is set to RAID at this stage.. Now i just did a quick test with a fresh install and want to do it again..

I am trying to get into Intel Matrix and it just does not come up for me! I disabled boot logo and i see the my PC's info on the page and i press CTRL+I and it doesn't show up, When i press F8 it gives me boot options.. To select which disk to load from.

For my own piece of mind i want to reinstall it all and start 100% fresh for once and for all (hopefully lol)

I just need to get the Intel Matrix to load up for me then i'll be completely set and be able to take it from there.

I've probably pressed CTRL+I a million times! and i am back to ripping my hair out lol

[Arne_Saknussemm]

If I were you I would start fresh with a fresh flash of a fresh BIOS file. The latest is 3101.