Unknown problem

Hi guys,

I have recently bought a new pc, here is the configuration:
CPU: Core i7 i7-920 2.66GHz
MB: GA-EX58-UD3R
Graphic: GV-N26-896H-B (GTX 260)
MEM: 3 x 2GB DDR3 1333MHz
HDD: 2 x SATAII 500GB

From installation I put the two hdd into raid-0 mode (I know this is a bad idea but it was just a temporary solution, till I buy one more hdd so I can put it into raid-5 mode). I installed windows 7 and since then there are random freezes of the system (nothing moves, only restart helps).

So I have trouble finding what the problem is. I tested the memory with memtest+ for 2 passes, did not fail. I tested the hdd while still in raid, in quick mode, the first passed, but the second failed but not the hdd, the program exits to dos when it reaches the SMART test. I killed the raid-0 to test the individual hdd's, the first passed with no problems, but the second did not wanted to show up in the testing tool while in the slave channel, I change the cable to the master, and the quick test passed also. So is this a motherboard problem, hdd problem, or faulty bios setting?

while in the slave channel i tried ahci and ide, both did not worked, while in the primary channel the hdd works (the drive fitness tool detects it) in both modes. :S

Please help, Thanks in advance
Igor

> From installation I put the two hdd into raid-0 mode

You probably screwed up the HDDs by not initializing
everything properly: Intel's ICH10R I/O Controller Hubs
all operate pretty much the same:

(1) configure you main SATA ports as "RAID"
in the motherboard's BIOS;

(2) enable the Intel RAID Option ROM in the BIOS;

(3) invoke that Option ROM with CTRL-I during POST;

(4) configure 2 identical HDDs as RAID-0;
your motherboard's User Manual should have
documentation for this task; it's a good idea
to create a smaller C: partition at this point: 30-50GB,
so you can separate your OS from your data;

(5) re-boot into the BIOS and choose your BOOT settings:
optical drive is FIRST and the RAID-0 is second (for now);
this step is important to confirm that the BIOS now sees
your RAID-0 array;

(6) proceed to run Windows Setup:
it should detect your RAID-0 as a single hard drive
with C: sized as above; permit Windows Setup
to format that partition;

(7) I don't have experience with Windows 7,
but I'm told that it comes with the necessary
RAID device driver: with XP, "iastor.sys" etc.
must be ready on a floppy disk, and the F6 option
must be invoked to install that RAID-specific device driver;
see your motherboard documentation
for further details about drivers shipped
on the "Support CD" for that motherboard;

(8) after Windows Setup finishes successfully,
boot into the BIOS again to set your RAID-0
as the primary boot device.


p.s. be sure both HDDs are jumpered the same
(or, be sure both have no jumpers whatsoever):
ICH10R channels default to 300MB/second.


MRFS

Thanks for the detailed reply MRFS I think I've done exactly the same thing, except for instaling on the ICH10R I/O controller, I installed the raid on the other controller, Gigabyte raid or something, I will try installing it on the other controller, thanks again