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Question

Configure RAID10 in Win 7 after setting up in BIOS

Jul 14, 2015 9:34AM PDT

Hello,

I have configured a RAID 10 (4 x 3Tb) in the bios (and ctrl+I), and installed Windows 7 Ultimate on a separate 240Gb SSD.

I'm now in the Win7 Disk Management utility and have an unallocated volume of just under 6Tb (~5588Gb), as expected. I have initiallized the volume and converted it to a dynamic disk, but would like some help on how to proceed from here.

Where I'm getting confused is that the only choice I have when right-clicking on the volume is to create a New Simple Volume (the others, including New Striped Volume are greyed out), but the wizard doesn't clarify whether the volume will end up being RAID10 or not. I cancelled out before finishing - pretty sure this isn't what I want.

So: Configured the hardware RAID10, but how to complete the deed in the OS?

Thanks,
Jens

Discussion is locked

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Clarification Request
Sorry but what RAID controller?
Jul 14, 2015 9:47AM PDT
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If it's in the BIOS....
Jul 14, 2015 10:02AM PDT

Then it's some sort of hardware RAID that, well, I can't tell from the post but such can present the array as a single drive to almost any OS. In the OS then we won't see any RAID options as the RAID is being done back in hardware.

That is, Striped should not be selectable.

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That sounds pretty good...
Jul 14, 2015 10:25AM PDT

I think that's what's happening, i.e. Win7 is seeing the RAID10 as a single volume. In that case can I reasonably proceed with creating a "Simple Volume" (the only one that's available anyway), since the striping / mirroring is happening on the hardware?

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Sorry but I can't tell what RAID hardware is in play.
Jul 14, 2015 10:30AM PDT

You write about the BIOS but without some detail I can't check it out.

There are folk that explode as their RAID melts down. It's not as if it's more or less reliable than a single drive. Only folk new to RAID go without backups.

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It's part of the motherboard
Jul 14, 2015 10:36AM PDT

The mobo is a Gigabyte GA-X99-UD5, so not a separate / dedicated RAID controller as such. Does that help?

I don't have any data on the drives since they're brand new.

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Odd.
Jul 14, 2015 11:03AM PDT

"3-2 Installing the SATA RAID/AHCI Driver and Operating System" in http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_ga-x99-ud5-wifi_e.pdf seems to note how to install support for RAID in Windows 7 and 8.

Did you do that?

As the RAID is in firmware, it's a hardware RAID. Well discussed but I'm wondering if you followed the manual on install.

As to no data, well that's OK at first. What I usually find is that folk melt down if the RAID fails later. Many are not ready.

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Installing the drivers and the OS wasn't the problem
Jul 14, 2015 11:54AM PDT

Everything is appearing as it should, I just wanted to get clarification or confirmation on what to do in the Disk Management console since creating a simple volume was the only option when right-clicking on it.

I have confirmation from some of the IT guys here at work that setting up the RAID10 as a simple volume is fine since the actual work is being done behind the scenes, just as you mentioned earlier.

Thanks for your input.