Getting RAID to work on the ASUS Maximus SE

[Talonman]

Thanks!!! RAID it is...

I still dont know how to select my RAID drives that I want.

I will hunt for the Micron RAID controller to disable it too.

[Talonman]

In the BIOS, under Advanced, I found J-Micron PATA/SATA Controller.
It was set to enabled by default.
I manually changed it to Disabled, then f10 to save and exit.
Should I be hitting the button next to reset, or the button on the back of the PC when I make changes to the BIOS?

[~aoe~]

@Talonman:

Firstly, I think you need to resolve your system stability issues before trying to load the OS. I've been following your thread on water cooling this board, so know where you're up to with the build (congrats on finally receiving the EK bits ).

Have you checked your temps in BIOS yet? I'd suggest going into the hardware monitor as soon as you get into BIOS and let it sit there for a few mins to see how hot your CPU gets. Are you running stock at this time or have you already tried to overclock? If not stock, I suggest setting at stock for the OS load.

If your CPU temps are ok, I'd then run memtest86+ to check the memory is stable.

If the system is still not stable (BIOS should not freeze), then I'd look to disconnect all unnecessary components in an attempt to isolate the problem.

Once everything is stable, then you need to set your SATA to RAID as already suggested. Then you need to go into the matrix RAID configuration (the screen you haven't managed to get into yet). Once there, the 2 disks that you said were previously set up as RAID will most likely show as RAID disks, and this RAID will need to be deleted before creating the new RAID (I've had this problem myself when switching RAID disks to another system).

Once the RAID is set up, then Vista should have all the drivers available on the installation CD to recognise your RAID. At least, that was the case with my Vista Ultimate 64 edition.

Hope this helps.

[Talonman]

The system hangs the most consistantly trying to post at DET DRAM, on the LCD poster.

I am only runing stock speed on the CPU, Idont know how to OC yet. The drives were only initialized using Vista32 as a regular old format drive. No RAID. I then used a program called Wipedrive I baught, to make my install go smoother...

I had heard Raptors do better on a fresh install if they were pre-initialized, and 0's written on them using Wipedrive.

I have not seen the hardware monitor section in the BIOS yet. The next lucky boot when my system allowes me access to the BIOS, I will look.

I will run memtest as soon as I figure out how to get it over to the system, and be able to see it in a directory.

Mabey I should take some ram back out? This waiting 10 of 15 minutes with the system off, to get the BIOS to work is driving me batty.

[~aoe~]

The memtest86+ site provides a number of downloads to create bootable CD/USB key/floppy. I personally use a CD. You then just need to put in the CD and boot up. I'd check the temps first though to eliminate that as a problem.

From your symptoms (BIOS freezing and then working again after left for 15mins) it sounds like temp problems - although this is just a guess. I'd recheck the mounting on the CPU and NB (also suggested by Jedda in your other thread).

Edit: removing some of the RAM wouldn't be a bad idea. Will help to isolate/eliminate that as a problem.

[Talonman]

OK..
My ram is rated at 1.8 volts. Will the Maximus'es overvolt .1 hurt it? I dont know how to change that yet

I did take some ram back out.
Just the 2 Raptors are hooked up now as far as Drives go.
system posted.
Found hardware monitor:
CPU - 11C
MB - 22C
NB - 19.5C
SB - 23C

System reads CD ROM and tries to install Vista64.
I get the bar - Windows is loading files.
It is starting to install!!
I hope I figure out when RAID comes in!

[Renegade5399]

Talonman plug only the drives you want your OS to be on for now, i'll make things easier.

Make sure you get the drivers from the Intel website
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Prod...ProductID=2101
There are 2 downloads you need.
1. RAID/AHCI Software - Intel® Matrix Storage Manager (5615KB) 7.8.0.1012 11/9/2007
2. 64-bit Floppy Configuration Utility for Intel® Matrix Storage Manager (322KB)

Create a floppy with the #2 driver, you will need this when installing Vista64, you will see an option for this on the bottom at the point when it asks you on what drive you want to install Vista.

Set RAID in the BIOS save settings, reboot, make sure also you are not overclocked as this can add to install issues.

When the system is rebooting you should then see the Intel RAID setup screen, enter it by hitting CTRL-I, setup your RAID partitions.

I'll be back in a couple of hours, I'll help you if youre still stuck.
I saw you call for help in the overclocking part2 thread

You should attach all the drives you're going to be running before you do your OS install. Adding drive after the fact can cause the RAID array to not boot. One should ALWAYS have ALL drives connected before running your OS install.

The system hangs the most consistantly trying to post at DET DRAM, on the LCD poster.

I am only runing stock speed on the CPU, Idont know how to OC yet. The drives were only initialized using Vista32 as a regular old format drive. No RAID. I then used a program called Wipedrive I baught, to make my install go smoother...

I had heard Raptors do better on a fresh install if they were pre-initialized, and 0's written on them using Wipedrive.

I have not seen the hardware monitor section in the BIOS yet. The next lucky boot when my system allowes me access to the BIOS, I will look.

I will run memtest as soon as I figure out how to get it over to the system, and be able to see it in a directory.

Mabey I should take some ram back out? This waiting 10 of 15 minutes with the system off, to get the BIOS to work is driving me batty.

I was also having this booting issue. I had to bump my RAM volts to 2.0-2.1 and bump the NB volts up a little. The issue went away after that.

[Talonman]

If anything, I wanted to lower my memory down to 1.7V in the bios, so they will get the required 1.8v they were designed to use. I hadent even considered raising the voltage. I guess the .1 overvolt isn't putting me too much at risk

I am at the 'Where do you want to install windows screen'.

It shows the only 2 drives I intend to RAID. (Both Raptors)

It has a load Driver option. This is where the Matrix floppy comes in correct?

I selected load driver, and pointed it to the floppy.
Intel(r) ICH8R/ICH9R SATA RAID Controller (A:\iastor.inf) was the only option.
I selected Next.
It came back to the 'Where do you want to install windows screen' it has:
Disk 0 Partition 1 RaptorA150GB total size-139.7 Free space - 139.6 type-Primary
Disk 1 Partition 1 RaptorB150GB total size-139.7 Free space - 139.6 type-Primary
is this correct?

I want to use both of the intire disks for OS and games.

My options are Next, Load driver, and Drive options (advanced)

[Talonman]

I just selected Next, and files are copying...

Should I have my cable modem plugged into my new system now?
Will it try to update Windows during the install?

Currently 0% complete on the copy.
CD is spinning though....
Copy completed... Expanding files now.

[WFO]

I selected load driver, and pointed it to the floppy.
Intel(r) ICH8R/ICH9R SATA RAID Controller (A:\iastor.inf) was the only option.
I selected Next.
It came back to the 'Where do you want to install windows screen' it has:
Disk 0 Partition 1 RaptorA150GB total size-139.7 Free space - 139.6 type-Primary
Disk 1 Partition 1 RaptorB150GB total size-139.7 Free space - 139.6 type-Primary
is this correct?



My options are Next, Load driver, and Drive options (advanced)

Hi Talonman:

Based on the above you never went into the raid bios to setup the raid array. With all the frustration, you were probably happy to get that far. You will have to set up the array and reinstall. As 2 others have pointed out, after post, you need to hit Ctrl+I after post to go into the raid bios. It is there you will see the screen shots you posted. While loading Windows both disks should be listed as one. and labeled disk 0. Step by step instructions start on page 5-35 of the manual. Good luck!!!