Intel RST RAID1 - step by step creation

JZako · ‎03-12-2017

Cannot create RAID1 with two 1TB disks. Please let me know what is still missing to see RAID creation option in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology application.

My PC configuration is as follows:

OS: Windows 7 Home Premium 64 bits

Processor: Intel Core i3 - 6100

Motherboard: Gigabyte B250-DS3H

Chipset: Intel® B250 Express Chipset

BIOS Version: F2

BIOS Date: 11/24/2016

Disks: Seagate ST31000524AS, 1TB

WDC WD10EZEK-35WN4A0, 1TB

1. I have installed the Intel® RST Driver 15.2.0.1020 from Gigabyte CD delivered with motherboard. This driver is described as Intel driver for AHCI and RAID mode. But in the Device Manager under IDE ATA/ATAPI controllers I can see only Intel(R) 200 Series Chipset Family SATA AHCI Controller and not Intel® RST driver.

So I downloaded the driver from this website https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26361/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-RAID-Driver

and install it again. It offered me two options: either to uninstall or to repair the program. This indicated that the program was already installed. Nevertheless I chose to repair and then I restarted my PC. I realized that I have the Intel® RST aplication installed but I do not see any option to create RAID and I still do not see the Intel® RST driver in the Device Manager.

2. In the Peripherals section of BIOS under "SATA And RST Configuration" there are two options available : either "AHCI", or "Intel RST". When I choose AHCI option everything is OK but when I choose Intel RST option, PC will not boot.

3. Also I found out I should have something called "the RST option ROM", which should be possible to launch from the POST screen by touching "CTRL i". When I do it nothing happens. So my BIOS probably does not contain the RST option ROM.

Is the RST option ROM the crucial condition to create RAID or is it only the alternative way to create it from the Intel® RST aplication for Windows ?

If it is really crucial, is it possible to download and install another BIOS on my motherboard, which contains the RST option ROM? And if so, from where ?

4. Furthermore I am not able to find out which controller my motherboard contains to see, if it is one of the controllers supporting RAID1 with 2 disks listed in Help file of the Intel® RST aplication (ICH7R, ICH7DH, ICH7MDH, ICH7M, ICH9R, ICH9DH, ICH9DO, ICH9M, ICH9M-E, ICH10R, ICH10D, ICH10DO, 5 Series/3400 Series) So I do not know if it matches this requirement.

Please, be so kind and provide me with step by step procedure to create RAID1 with two 1TB disks on my PC configuration.

idata · ‎03-13-2017

Hi tatik63,

I understand you are trying to create a RAID 1 volume.

I will try to answer your questions below the best I can:

1. The first RAID requirement would be to set the BIOS as RAID mode or Intel RST enabled.

Once you change SATA modes, for Intel, it is required to reinstall the operating system, otherwise the computer will not boot.

2. Yes, CTRL + I is available once you enable RAID and install two drives. There you can create the RAID volume from scratch. See the Intel® Rapid Storage user's guide for instructions

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/chipsets/imsm/sb/irst_user_guide.pdf http://www.intel.com/content/dam/support/us/en/documents/chipsets/imsm/sb/irst_user_guide.pdf

3. The Intel® B250 Chipset is PCH controller, so, you need the latest Intel® Rapid Storage software version https://downloadcenter.intel.com/download/26361/Intel-Rapid-Storage-Technology-Intel-RST-RAID-Driver?product=55005 15.2

The best way to install this driver would be including the F6 driver onto Windows 7 image, see instructions below:

http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/technologies/000005611.html http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/support/technologies/000005611.html

In order to have a RAID 1 volume you need:

1. Install two drives (minimum)

2. Enable RAID at BIOS level

3. Create RAID volume through CTRL+ I

4. Embed F6 driver onto Windows 7 image.

Hope this information is helpful.

Please do let me know if you need further assistance with your Intel product, I will be glad to assist you.

Allan.

idata · ‎03-20-2017

Hi tatik63,

Were you able to create the RAID1 volume?

Allan.

JZako · ‎03-21-2017

Hi Allan,

Thank You for Your assistance. Sorry I have not read the answer sooner. In the meantime I found out that when I use those two empty disks in another PC with Windows Professional, there is option "Create mirror". So it would be easy way to create RAID1. But unfortunately when I transfered disks, one of them suddenly reported capacity of only 32MB instead of 931,51GB like the other did. I do no know what happened, I found in the Internet a few similar cases but did not find any solution. So I will first have to solve this problem. Probably by returning this disk and getting new one.

So bye till the.

tatik63

idata · ‎03-22-2017

Hi,

Thanks for the feedback.

Please let me know if your need further assistance.

Allan.