Intel RAID Option ROM problem with particular HDD

[VadimTrushin]

Hello.
Please help me to solve the problem with motherboard's RAID controller and HDD.

System configuration:
1. Motherboard Asus P5K-E/WiFi-AP (chipset P35, AMI BIOS v. 2.58);
2. CPU Intel Core 2 Quad 6700;
3. 4 x 2 Gb PC6400 RAM;
4. 3 x Seagate Barracuda ES.2 ST3500320NS 500 Gb HDD (SN06 firmware);
5. Videocard nVidia Quadro 1700 512 Mb.

The problem:
I have three HDDs of the same model - ST3500320NS. One HDD is for OS, another two are for RAID 0. There is a problem with one of my HDDs: when I connect it to system and activate RAID function in BIOS, computer hungs during the POST (just after successful RAM check). BIOS setup becomes inaccessible, though the computer responds to Del key (message "entering setup..." appears), but then nothing happens.

So I fail to activate RAID function when that problem HDD is connected to motherboard.

I've updated the BIOS and HDD's firmware, switched off all onboard devices (LAN, audio, 1394, WiFi, JMicron controller) but the problem still exists.

I've tested that problem HDD with another motherboard - it successfully works in RAID 0. I conclude that the is something wrong with my Asus P5K-E/WiFi-AP. I suppose that the problem is in Intel RAID Option ROM.

It's strange that the problem appears only with one of three HDDs and only with particular motherboard.

Please help me to cope with that problem.

 

[Mondoman]

Strange, sounds like a problem with that drive. I'd download Seagate's free diagnostic software from their website and run it on all 3 of the Seagate drives.

 

[VadimTrushin]

Mondoman, thanks a lot!
I tested HDDs with SeaTools for DOS v1.10PH. No errors were found.
Then I backed up all data and zero filled the problem drive, and that helped.
The problem has been solved!
I hope that it will never appear again.