Dear Experts:
I have for several years built systems with non-RAID C: drives for software and RAID5 D: drives for data. This ensures a separation between the OS and the data it works on. It also tends to balance the I/O load because the OS doesn't have to seek on the same drive for software and data. It also buys you redundancy for what's really important: your data.
With the ASUS Sabretooth X58 motherboard this was easy to set up. In effect BIOS wasn't involved with your decision to use RAID or not, it merely passed you through to the Controller software and THAT is where you set up your non-Raid (C
and RAID5 devices (D.
The X58 motherboard eventually destroyed too many RAID drives. This was a "known" problem which was supposedly addressed by a BIOS update that ultimately did not fix the problem.
So, to fix the problem forever, I decided to upgrade the motherboard and CPU, move all existing components to the new system and go on with life. That means I already have functioning C: and D: drives and I don't want to or need to rebuild the OS. I just want to plug in the old drives and go back to work.
In the new ASUS Sabretooth X79 motherboard, BIOS now controls RAID/non-RAID, and it appears that your choices here are GLOBAL to the system. That is, you can't get the BIOS to let you make your own adult decision. You can't be discrete in your choice.
Scenario 1: In BIOS I set the X79 to IDE mode. Windows XP (SVC Pack 2) comes up. It begins to notice new hardware. I ignore that for now. I want the D: Drive to work. However, because I'm in IDE mode, the D: Drive does not appear.
Scenario 2: In BIOS I set the X79 to RAID mode. All volumes are seen, but Windows will not boot completely. Instead I see the Windows startup screen briefly, and then the machine loops back into hardware startup (the ASUS logo, an opportunity to enter BIOS, POST, etc.). This loop will run as long as you let it.
I would very much like things as I have them arranged: A non-RAID C: drive containing the OS and software and a RAID5 D: Drive containing the data.
[I am aware that I may be able to buy a separate RAID controller, but I live hours from anywhere I could buy one, and THAT also means a bit of latency because RAID SHOULD be available native on the motherboard.]
I've been through the manual cover-to-cover and looked at every BIOS choice. Can anyone help me, please?
Sincerely,
Bob
I have for several years built systems with non-RAID C: drives for software and RAID5 D: drives for data. This ensures a separation between the OS and the data it works on. It also tends to balance the I/O load because the OS doesn't have to seek on the same drive for software and data. It also buys you redundancy for what's really important: your data.
With the ASUS Sabretooth X58 motherboard this was easy to set up. In effect BIOS wasn't involved with your decision to use RAID or not, it merely passed you through to the Controller software and THAT is where you set up your non-Raid (C
and RAID5 devices (D. The X58 motherboard eventually destroyed too many RAID drives. This was a "known" problem which was supposedly addressed by a BIOS update that ultimately did not fix the problem.
So, to fix the problem forever, I decided to upgrade the motherboard and CPU, move all existing components to the new system and go on with life. That means I already have functioning C: and D: drives and I don't want to or need to rebuild the OS. I just want to plug in the old drives and go back to work.
In the new ASUS Sabretooth X79 motherboard, BIOS now controls RAID/non-RAID, and it appears that your choices here are GLOBAL to the system. That is, you can't get the BIOS to let you make your own adult decision. You can't be discrete in your choice.
Scenario 1: In BIOS I set the X79 to IDE mode. Windows XP (SVC Pack 2) comes up. It begins to notice new hardware. I ignore that for now. I want the D: Drive to work. However, because I'm in IDE mode, the D: Drive does not appear.
Scenario 2: In BIOS I set the X79 to RAID mode. All volumes are seen, but Windows will not boot completely. Instead I see the Windows startup screen briefly, and then the machine loops back into hardware startup (the ASUS logo, an opportunity to enter BIOS, POST, etc.). This loop will run as long as you let it.
I would very much like things as I have them arranged: A non-RAID C: drive containing the OS and software and a RAID5 D: Drive containing the data.
[I am aware that I may be able to buy a separate RAID controller, but I live hours from anywhere I could buy one, and THAT also means a bit of latency because RAID SHOULD be available native on the motherboard.]
I've been through the manual cover-to-cover and looked at every BIOS choice. Can anyone help me, please?
Sincerely,
Bob
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