Dell PERC H310 Controller - ''no drives found''

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Getoiu

Getoiu

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May 6, 2015
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Please excuse my lack of knowledge on RAID Controllers.

I've just build a new workstation and since the motherboard is SATA II decided to buy a cheap PERC H310 Controller of Ebay and put 2x120GB Samsung Evo 850 SSD.
I thought that since the controller allows up to 6 Gb/s transfer (SATA III) I would be able to double it in RAID0.

The Problem is that BIOS recognises the Controller but the controller menu (Ctrl + R) doesn't recognise any of the drives (RAID enabled in the BIOS SATA options). I've tried to put the drivers on usb stick while installing windows 7 but the OS didn't recognise the drivers either.

Now I'm running the SSD's separately directly from the mobo in SATA II and after the OS install I'm trying to find any suitable drivers but all seems to give an ''not compatible with this system'' or ''This computer does not meet the minimum requirements for installing this software'' errors.

Is it the controller or I'm messing it up ?
If I won't be able to use the controller what other controllers would allow me to reach higher speeds than SATA II ?

 
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drtweak

drtweak

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Sep 17, 2012
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1) The H310 is too new for windows 7 so it will NOT have built in drivers. You will have to use these drives here

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=HM7MN

It is the first one. If you install windows 7 on the drives while they are on the PERC Card you will have to extract the files on another PC, copy them to a Thumb drive, and when you install Windows 7, and it can't find any drives, there is an option to install drives, Plug in your USB and browse to them.

2) ALL PERC CARDS MUST BE COFIGURED BEFORE INSTALLING OS!
a) RAID Settings in your motherboard BIOS has NOTHING to do with the RAID Card BIOS Settings.
b) When you boot your PC you will see the RAID Card booting as well. You login via the CTRL+R. When you first get into the BIOS (For now on BIOS Means the RAID BIOS not Motherboard BIOS) At first you are on the VD page and will now no configurations.

It SHOULD Show the two SSD's in here though. If it is not showing the SSD's they may not be compatible but I have seen SSD's on this RAID card before (Not the 850 EVOS) but I do have a 850 Evo laying around and a server with a H200 RAID card that i can test some stuff out.

(Note creating RAID will ERASE EVERYTHING ON DRIVES)

So now if it is showing the two Drives you want to use your arrow keys to select the
No Configuration Present
Then hit F2
Select Create New VD
Select the RAID you want.
Use Arrow keys and tab to move around. So once you select the RAID you want, hit tab, then Hit space bar on each drive you want to be in the RAID 0. So Hit space, down arrow, space again. Then just tab over to OK (Everything else leave)

Then just Ok out of everything, Hit ESC and then exit the BIOS. If you can't just show down the machine.

Then restart, install windows, keep drivers handy in case you need them and enjoy.
 
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Getoiu

Getoiu

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Thanks, but it didn't work.
I've noticed that you're giving me a link for microsoft server divers instead of win 7 and realised
that I've tried them already so it might be the problem.

However I've found the win 7 drivers and in the installation process I tried to load them. They appeared but after install they give a strange message saying ''To continue installation, use the load driver option to install 32-bit and signed 64-bit drivers. Installing an unsigned 64-bit device driver is not supported and might result in an unusable windows installation.'' - so basically it's setting me into a loop with the same process after which the drives still doesn't appear neither in the installation window nor the H310 BIOS.

Suggestions ?
 
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Getoiu

Getoiu

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I Can;t see this controller in the Samsung's compatibility list... can that be the case ?
Should I get and try any of the LSI or Intel RAID Controllers ?
 
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drtweak

drtweak

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Server 2008 and windows 7 are pretty mich the same core wise
They use the same drivers. They didnt make any official drivers with a windows 7 name on it because that RAID only came in servers. Also any driver that says it is unsigned you shoukd never install unless you absolutly know it is the right one. You may have to add it manually when you diwnload from dell site.

Also you are not seeing the ssds i. The RAID BIOS at all?

And do you have it on a machine running windows already or no? If you do search for LSI megaraid storage manager. Will work with perc cards. Once driver is installed you can use that program to make raids instead of going into the bios
 
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Getoiu

Getoiu

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Hi.

I tried to update the driver as you said - update driver and browse from the folder. It says the latest driver is already installed and the version is 6.803.21.0 from 01/07/2014 still no drives recognised.

Yes, I've disconnected one of the drives and plugged it in directly to the mobo in SATA II . I'm trying to find the LSI Manager now, but would it still work if the drive is still not being recognised ?

 
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drtweak

drtweak

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Yea won't work if it still isn't seeing the drives. It may just not be compatible but not sure. Never used Samsung 850's on a H310. I don't come across them as much since they now hav the X30 series and not the X10 series anymore in their new servers
 
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Getoiu

Getoiu

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Thank you,drtweak. Can you recommend any other SATA III Controller to try ?
 
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drtweak

drtweak

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Not sure since the 850's are fairly new. I would just make sure you do your research on it. Any of the PERC HX30's should work since they are brand spankin new but will also cost more, but just try to do your research before you buy or ask tech support. Me I am a BIG LSI fan on RAID cards (They make the PERC Cards as you seem to know). I won't be in my office till tomorrow but what I will do is test the 850 i have and see if our H200 in our server picks it up or not and let you know.
 
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