Asus Z270 won't boot after enabling Raid with two M.2

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suporte_seens

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Oct 19, 2017
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Hello all,

I built a pc with an Asus Z270 Prime-A, installing two M.2 ssds so I could configure Raid 1.
After I change Sata Mode from AHCI to Intel RST Premium with Intel Optane System Acceleration the computer won't boot again. I get no video and a white VGA Led is always on at the motherboard.
Same happens if I open the EZ Wizard and enable Raid. When I enable raid, the computer restarts and never comes back with the Vga led on. I don't get even at the step to select Raid0 or Raid1.

If I remove both M.2 from the motherboard I can boot up again. If I place them, the same problem happens.

I can only boot the computer with the M.2 installed if I change the Sata Mode back to AHCI.

Why is this happening?
I've contacted Asus and Kingston (the M.2 manufacturer) and none of them knows about this problem.

I followed two tutorials where everything works fine, but not for me:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bxYUg-IBvBc
and
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iKXUbjTszYg&t=252s

I also bought another motherboard, Asus TUF Z270 Mark2 and I get the exactly same problem.

My client demmands a Raid1 between two M.2, they were very expensive, and I don't no what else to do.
 
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Calvin7

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Feb 19, 2013
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You wrote, "I followed two tutorials where everything works fine, but not for me". Second, you change Sata Mode from AHCI to Intel RST Premium with Intel Optane.

Clearly this is not what is going on in the first video. The video shows the use of EZ Tuning Wizard to create a RAID. See also 1.2.4. EZ Tuning Wizard in the downloadable manual.
 
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

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Sep 17, 2016
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AHCI and RAID use different drivers. Switching the disk controller (the Intel RST actually uses a different BIOS to control the same controller differently) when Windows is shut down results in a failure to boot because you removed the only device that it knows how to boot from, and you can't enable the RAID first to install the drivers because that disables the AHCI too. So you need to reinstall Windows after setting up the RAID.

If you had a third-party SATA controller (there's none on either of those boards but you could use a PCIe one) there is a workaround. Install the SATA controller and let Windows install the drivers. Shut down with Fast Startup disabled, then move the system drive SATA cable over to the 3rd-party controller. This works because the drivers are already installed. Then you can change the AHCI to RAID and boot from the 3rd party controller, and let Windows install drivers for the RAID. After that's done you can usually shut down and move the system drive back to the SATA ports now controlled by the RAID BIOS. Sometimes you can even clone the system drive to the RAID array and have that just work.
 
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suporte_seens

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Oct 19, 2017
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Thanks for the answer, but I also wrote this:
"Same happens if I open the EZ Wizard and enable Raid. When I enable raid, the computer restarts and never comes back with the Vga led on. I don't get even at the step to select Raid0 or Raid1."
 
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suporte_seens

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Oct 19, 2017
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510


Thanks, but maybe I could not express myself very well. Sorry for my poor english, it is not my native language.
I just built the computer, there is no Windows installed.
The boot problem happens right after I enable Raid with the M.2 installed, I get no vídeo at all and the whit VgaLed is on. If I remove the M.2 the boot occurs normaly.

I'm not usin any adapters or third-party Sata controlers.

I want to use only the M.2 and create a RAID volume between them.
 
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

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Sep 17, 2016
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Ah, then you have no post when RAID mode is enabled.

What exactly are the models of the Kingston M.2 sticks? I ask this because both of those motherboards specify the 2nd M.2 slot does not work with M.2 SATA, only PCIe M.2 NVMe. If they are both M.2 SATA sticks then only one of them will be seen in AHCI mode.

Optane also only works with a single PCIe M.2 NVMe in 16GB or 32GB, to accelerate a SATA connected boot drive.
 
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suporte_seens

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I'm using SSD Kingston HyperX Predator M.2 2280 240GB SHPM2280P2/240G

I'm posting a Picture of how it is buit now.

also05.jpg


As you can see, no apadters, and that White VGA Led Always on, No vídeo.
If I remove both M.2 I can get vídeo again.
 
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BFG-9000

BFG-9000

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Sep 17, 2016
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That's just it, a QVL only lists the devices that they have tested and certified to be compatible without explaining why. As the listed 240GB M.2 HyperX Predator has an option ROM that works in both NVMe and AHCI modes, they would have tested both modes, yet only listed the AHCI mode as compatible.

The RAID test was from 2015 and required firmware updates from both Kingston and Asrock to get working. The ASUS QVL and BIOSes are at least a year newer so it's obvious RAID on those drives was not a priority for them as they didn't even bother to get NVMe mode working. And later BIOS updates for both boards only mention fixing something for M.2 Plextor compatibility.
 
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suporte_seens

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Oct 19, 2017
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510
Dear BFG-9000,

Thanks to your help I could solve the problem.
I updated the Kingston M.2 firmware then I was able to eneable RAID with no issues.
I followed the guide you posted here
I simple solution for a 2-week problem!

Thanks for all.

 
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