Help setting up RAID for Windows 8 on MSI 970a-g43 MB

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samsus

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http://pcpartpicker.com/p/1gYDu my build.

Basically, I want to have windows 8 install on a SDD and have a mirrored setup on 2 1TB HDDs. I cannot figure out how to do this on this MB http://www.msi.com/product/mb/970A-G43.html updated to latest bios 10.3. I have MB set to boot AHCI with Windows 8 on SDD and everything is fine. If I try RAID (only options are LEGACY and UEFI), legacy sees the drives and I can set up raid but won't boot to Windows (guessing since its legacy and not UEFI, I am brand new to UEFI). If I set RAID to UEFI, it boots to a DOS like screen (guessing UEFI boot), but not sure what to do there if anything and won't boot from the SSD. I have tried to install SATA drivers off the MB cd, but it doesn't update anything in device manager, install shows under programs and features. What am I missing? Somehow install UEFI RAID drivers? Where can I do this at?

I thank you in advance for your time. I do not have internet at the house, but please let me know if you need any more information. Would really like to get this up (I know I can do Windows 8 software RAID, but want hardware raid for better write speed).


EDIT: going to try to reinstall Windows 8 under UEFI+RAID since it was installed under UEFI+AHCI and see if that works.

EDIT: figured out how to setup RAID-UEFI and RAID drivers under AMD. see in last post. This thread is solved, but not sure how to mark as solved or closed as it seems to only let me mark other peoples' solutions as the answer.
 
Solution
cin19
Yes, you maybe have other problem soon, if you use the Samsung magician 4.2.1 and because you use the AMD raid driver, and the software does not support the AMD driver. It will not be magical anymore. Check the manaul in the samsung website, or here:http://www.tweakhound.com/2013/08/20/samsung-magician-4-2-1/
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Shaun o

Shaun o

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I see your presuming just because you set two drives up in the bios, both set to Raid.
Next time you magically reboot you have a raid array.

Well I wish it was as simple as that. However your half way there.
If you had followed what it said in section B-1 of the supplied manual that came with the mobo all would become clear.

Simply setting the option in the bios of each drive to raid mode only flags the drives to be used.
It does not format or create the raid array formatting.

That is why it says in section B-1 of the manual on the next boot to press control F.
The array does not exist till you perform that step.

From the manual.

RAID Configuration
Creating and deleting RAID set and performing other RAID setting up operations are
done in the RAID BIOS. During boot-up, a screen similar to the one below will appear
for about few seconds. Press <Ctrl-F> to enter RAID Option ROM utility.
Press <Ctrl-F> to enter RAID Option ROM utility...

It does not exist til you do that step.

Once done, the ssd should of been setup in the boot order above the raid array.
Then once in windows it would of showed.





 
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samsus

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I can get into RAID LEGACY that way, but then it won't boot to Windows. It I set to RAID UEFI I never get a raid ctrl+f prompt, it just goes straight into a DOS like screen (guessing UEFI BIOS) regardless of the boot order.
It has something to do with switching the SATA/RAID mode. I am going to try and set Windows to boot into safe mode, switch from AHCI to RAID-UEFI and see if I can boot that way, supposedly it will then grab the RAID drivers. Then turn off safe mode boot. If not, I will just try to do a fresh install into RAID-UEFI and somehow hope that I can get it to give me the ctrl+f prompt.
 
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cin19

cin19

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First I have question for the set up, do you want to install the win8 into the SSD and use the 2 HDD set up the raid0 for stroage? If yes, I put the step by step for you. If no just forget about it.

1) Connect the SSD and 2 of the HDD, boot up the PC, go to the BIOS to enable the RAID, and the PC boot order like DVD/CD=1st, SSD=2nd. Saving and exit.
2) When the PC reboot, press <Ctrl-F> to enter RAID Option ROM utility. After set up the 2 HDD to RAID0. Let the SSD along. Shutdown (turn off) the PC.
3) Now boot up the PC with win8 inside the DVD drive, the storage mode is still in the RAID you don't need to do anything. Install the win8, during the install OS you need to load the RAID Driver from the CD, which comes with the MB, or you can download from AMD website too. After load that driver you can contiune to install the WIn8. In case I add the link for how to load the driver during win8 set up. ( In the link they use for the SATA driver, and you can use it for your raid driver)
http://www.eightforums.com/tutorials/9573-sata-driver-load-windows-8-setup.html
4) After done the win8 installation, turn off the PC, reconnect the 2XHDD in the raid0 mode back. Turn on the PC to see you can boot up the PC or not. And do the SSD tweak and install other software you want.

Also you may need download the manual from MSI too, in the RAID section ( appendix B AMD RAID), go through it because the manual is your friend.
http://www.msi.com/product/mb/970A-G43.html#/?div=Manual
 
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Yes, SSD with OS, and 2 HDD as storage. Thanks for the instructions, but that only shows me how to do RAID-LEGACY, what I really want is RAID-UEFI. The RAID section in the manuals both you (cin19) and Shaun o have shown me only show RAID-LEGACY. I just stumbled across a forum that may give specific steps how to try: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=165431.0 I will try to swap out the Windows 8 sata/raid drivers via safe mode, try to setup RAID-UEFI, and report back when I have a chance.
 
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samsus

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Finally figured this out. First need to setup RAID through UEFI. No official documentation from MSI (they only show RAID LEGACY), but found a tutorial here: https://forum-en.msi.com/index.php?topic=165431.0 Then do a fresh install of windows and have to give it AMD RAID drivers (again no documentation from MSI). Still not 100% sure I used the right drivers as in the package it has multiple sets (32 and 64 for XP, W7, and LH). Easy enough to figure out Win XP and Win7 but I am not sure what LH means. That was the drivers I used, but not sure they are the best. If anyone knows the difference between LH64A, and W764A and what I should be using for Windows 8 it would be appreciated.
 
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samsus

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Thanks for that, still not sure which driver to use. The MB is SB950 http://www.msi.com/product/mb/970A-G43.html#/?div=Basic I downloaded the AMD RAID Drivers http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/windows/Pages/raid_windows.aspx but when it is extracted the packages are Bolton, hseries, SB7xx, and SB8xx. There is no SB9xx. So which drivers am I supposed to use?
 
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samsus

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after some more digging, looks like AMD uses same drivers for 900 series and 800 series even though it isn't stated on their website. I swear I've never had such a hard time getting this going as anything else I have done.
 
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cin19

cin19

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Yes, you maybe have other problem soon, if you use the Samsung magician 4.2.1 and because you use the AMD raid driver, and the software does not support the AMD driver. It will not be magical anymore. Check the manaul in the samsung website, or here:http://www.tweakhound.com/2013/08/20/samsung-magician-4-2-1/
 
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