P67A-UD4-B3 - PCH in RAID, can't install Win7 on non-RAID SSD

[TravisD]

I want a 4TB RAID 5 array for storage/backup on the three 2TB drives below. The system drive is a single SSD, non RAID. The other HDD is non-RAID with a partition for games and a 2nd for work space.

My Win7x64 DVD will not boot, nor is my SSD drive found in RAID mode.

Intel X-25-M SSD in SATA port 0 (SATA3_0)
Optical drive in port 1 (SATA3_1)
Games HDD (WDC1001FALS) in port 2 (SATA2_2)
3x 2TB (WD20EARS) HDD's in port (SATA2_3,4,5)

When I set the PCH SATA Conrol Mode to [RAID (XHD)] from either IDE or AHCI, my Win7x64 DVD will not boot. I set first boot device to [P1-TSSTcorp CDD]. I tried to F12 and select it.

F4 BIOS is installed. I tried to follow the instructions in the manual to a "T". No dice. I tried removing all drives except the SSD and optical drives. No dice. I tried moving them to SATA2 ports. No dice. when they were in SATA2 ports, I was able to set the primary boot device to [P1-TSSTcorp CDD] and insert the disk after Windows failed to boot (naturally, since it was installed in IDE mode). This would sometimes get the DVD to boot, but it never worked properly.

In IDE and plain AHCI mode, everything works fine. In RAID mode the SSD isn't listed in the Hard Disk Boot Priority Menu. It isn't listed in the Ctrl-I RAID setup screen. It IS listed on the AHCI POST screen as being detected in port 0.

If I set eXtreme Hard Drive [Enabled], the Win7 DVD and SSD are bootable and I can install Windows fine. But isn't this just a RAID 0 tool? I want RAID 5. The manual does not say to enable this. It clearly shows this feature disabled on Pg. 80. It says to set PCH mode to RAID (XHD) which is a disabled option if Extreme Hard Drive is enabled.

Thanks for reading this. I am extremely confused and frustrated with this. Am I doing something wrong, or is this BIOS just overextended with features?

[Lsdmeasap]

Re: P67A-UD4-B3 - PCH in RAID, can't install Win7 on non-RAID SSD

First, put your optical drive in the last port (SATA2_5), and leave your single SSD in the SATA3-) port. Leave first boot device as your hard drive (I use HDD/Disable/Disable), then use F12 Boot Menu to choose your CD device at bootup if you need to boot from CD. (Setting CD/DVD first can cause DMI hangs)

To ensure you get windows installed, I'd leave out the RAID array for now until you get windows installed.

Then install the latest Intel RST Program, and connect your disks and try to setup the array again.

http://downloadcenter.intel.com/SearchResult.aspx?lang=eng&ProductFamily=Chipsets&ProductLine=Chipset+Software&ProductProduct=Intel%C2%AE+Rapid+Storage+Technology

This is what I use for RAID on the same board and have no issues.

eXtreme Hard Drive (Intel ICH10R Chipset) ........................ Disabled
ICH SATA Control Mode (Intel ICH10R Chipset) ..................... RAID
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel ICH10R South Bridge) ............. Enabled

Some of your issues may be due to that BIOS, not sure as I've never used it.

I'd suggest using the very latest BIOS, here is F5

http://download.gigabyte.us/FileList/BIOS/mb_bios_ga-p67a-ud4-b3_f5.exe

Once you have flashed and loaded optimized and reboot, ect be sure you also update the backup BIOS to match the Main BIOS, this can help with various issues as well.

Here's how you do that
GIGABYTE Tech Daily: Video guide how to update your backup bios on GIGABYTE P67 boards

[TravisD]

Re: P67A-UD4-B3 - PCH in RAID, can't install Win7 on non-RAID SSD

First, put your optical drive in the last port (SATA2_5), and leave your single SSD in the SATA3-) port. Leave first boot device as your hard drive (I use HDD/Disable/Disable), then use F12 Boot Menu to choose your CD device at bootup if you need to boot from CD. (Setting CD/DVD first can cause DMI hangs)

OK, I think this solved my DVD drive issue. I can now reliably boot the Win7 disc on the Samsung. I also got a new Sony for which this is moot.

To ensure you get windows installed, I'd leave out the RAID array for now until you get windows installed.

Unfortunately, BIOS still does not seem to be initialzing the SSD. I have tried installing the RST driver during Win7 installation, but it didn't help. I still get the message "Windows cannot be installed to [the partition]".

eXtreme Hard Drive (Intel ICH10R Chipset) ........................ Disabled
ICH SATA Control Mode (Intel ICH10R Chipset) ..................... RAID
SATA Port0-3 Native Mode (Intel ICH10R South Bridge) ............. Enabled

This is how I've been trying to set it up.

Some of your issues may be due to that BIOS, not sure as I've never used it.

I had updated to F4 only a week or so ago. I saw after I posted that F5 had been released, and actually updated it just yesterday. It didn't help.

Thanks for the link on how to flash the backup BIOS. I had been wondering how to do that. Sadly, it didn't help with this particular problem.


I don't know for sure, but there could be two separate issues here, and I have found a very inelegant way around them. I bought a new DVD drive (a Sony to replace my old Samsung) and a new SSD (a 128 GB Crucial M4 to replace my 80GB Intel X-25M). I wanted both these things anyways, but this still bugs me.

1: I couldn't boot the Win7 DVD off the old Samsung when PCH was in RAID mode, when the drive was in ANY port. This was solved by your first suggestion, but even before I tried that, the new Sony drive worked when boot priority was 1:P1-SONYwhatever 2:HDD 3:whatever. Unless I am trying to install The Witcher 2 (common problem), the old Samsung works flawlessly AFAIK, except in RAID mode.

2:I still can't see the Intel SSD in the boot priority list in BIOS or the list on the RAID setup screen. I can see it listed when the AHCI driver or whatever is loading during POST. Windows also tells me it can't install to this disk. This drive has never given me even a hint of trouble, ever, and works fine in IDE and plain AHCI modes. I have it running XP now, which is a mandatory step of my Win7 install.

Also, I was unable to replicate the scenario where I enabled eXtreme HDD and got Win7 to (partially) install. I can't remember what I did.

OK, fine. I needed a new optical drive because the only SATA one I had couldn't read a disc I just bought. I wanted another SSD so I could move the Intel back into my laptop, anyways. Fine. I still wonder why this X-25M won't work in RAID mode, though. I may call Intel about it, but those tech support lines are usually a waste of time and deodorant. So really, everything seems to be fine now, with the new drives. I'm just letting you know where this stands since you went to all the effort of trying to help. Don't waste any more effort on this on my account. Thanks for the reply.