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How to change from IDE to RAID AFTER Windows 7 has been installed

14K views 8 replies 4 participants last post by  lesterhung 
#1 ·
I have Windows 7 Ultimate already installed on HDD 1.
Today, I decided to add 2 HDDs, and plan to use both for a RAID 1 Volume.
Went into BIOS, and changed the SATA mode from "IDE" to "RAID".
I set up the RAID volume using the RAID optional ROM setup utility.

After that, Windows will try to load, but will just restart, and the cycle never ends.

So, I went into BIOS and changed the "RAID" back to "IDE" mode, and Windows 7 loads fine again.

I read somewhere that RAID should be setup BEFORE Windows 7 gets installed. Is there any way I can set up my RAID 1 WITHOUT reinstalling Windows?

Thanks
 
#3 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by dragosmp View Post
Here's the answer to your question from the tech support forum @ M$:
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/...8-a83228e6d778

Hope it helps
That tells me to reinstall Windows, or do a softwrae RAID.
But thanks anyways.

I've tried to reinstall Windows 7. The systems boots from the Windows 7 DVD, then I click on "Load Drivers". I browsed and selected my RAID driver supplied by the Manufacturer (it is saved on a flash drive), but it gave me an error saying it cannot install the driver. What do I do now?
 
#4 ·
You would have to use software RAID to avoid uninstalling which I wouldn't want to do. Hardware RAID is way better IMO. I would just back up your data on one of the RAID drives, install Windows on your single drive, then copy the files back over and create the RAID. When installing Windows, it is best to leave only the drive installed that Windows is going on. If you decide to leave the other drives plugged in while you're installing Windows, it sometimes likes to put the MBR on the other drives... which is stupid. I've had it where I installed Windows with multiple drives installed and the MBR was on the backup drive, so in my bios I had to set that to first boot priority instead of what it should've been.

As far as the drivers not working, if it's an Intel based board, the 7 DVD should come with these drivers installed by default. You will not need to install any to get the RAID functioning. If it's an AMD board, you will need to install drivers. Go onto your motherboard manufacturers site and download the latest drivers for the correct operating system (like 64 bit or 32 bit.)
 
#5 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by lesterhung View Post
That tells me to reinstall Windows, or do a softwrae RAID.
But thanks anyways.

I've tried to reinstall Windows 7. The systems boots from the Windows 7 DVD, then I click on "Load Drivers". I browsed and selected my RAID driver supplied by the Manufacturer (it is saved on a flash drive), but it gave me an error saying it cannot install the driver. What do I do now?
I think what you are attempting is the following. http://www.ithinkdiff.com/how-to-ena...-installation/
 
#6 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Dopamin3 View Post
You would have to use software RAID to avoid uninstalling which I wouldn't want to do. Hardware RAID is way better IMO. I would just back up your data on one of the RAID drives, install Windows on your single drive, then copy the files back over and create the RAID. When installing Windows, it is best to leave only the drive installed that Windows is going on. If you decide to leave the other drives plugged in while you're installing Windows, it sometimes likes to put the MBR on the other drives... which is stupid. I've had it where I installed Windows with multiple drives installed and the MBR was on the backup drive, so in my bios I had to set that to first boot priority instead of what it should've been.

As far as the drivers not working, if it's an Intel based board, the 7 DVD should come with these drivers installed by default. You will not need to install any to get the RAID functioning. If it's an AMD board, you will need to install drivers. Go onto your motherboard manufacturers site and download the latest drivers for the correct operating system (like 64 bit or 32 bit.)
I am using AMD board with 710 South Bridge Chip.
I did download the 64 bit driver (I am installing x64) from the manufacturer's site, and Windows 7 setup still won't accept it!
 
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