how to setup raid 0 on win 7

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 10:18

I have just got 2 wd caviar black hdd,s to replace my 3 year old slow hdd.
I am running windows 7 and would like to no how to set up a raid 0 with a fresh install of windows 7.
Do i need raid drivers i am using a asus p5q-e mobo.

droyden · 3 Nov 2009 at 10:49

You would normally set it up in the bios before install, then (if needed) supply the drivers when prompted.

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:00

were do i gets the drivers from

droyden · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:03

http://asus.com/product.aspx?P_ID=ogZlrSeVzUh9MKLO

Is probably a good place to start

Admiral Huddy · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:05

Get the RAID drivers from the ASUS website (above post). You'll need to stick these on a USB stick or floppy disk before you atempt to create the array.

Change the BIOS so that it knows that you are using a RAID, rather than JBODs

When booting, hot CTRL-I to access the RAID menu, select the RAID type i.e. Stripped, Mirrored etc.. and the size..

When done it create the array.

Just install the OS as normal but you'll be asked to install the RAID drivers youe created earlier when selecting the volume.

Done

Egon · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:12

Will Win 7 ask for the drivers? I thought Win 7 was pretty good at RAID, I didn't have to do a thing after configuring the BIOS, Win 7 just auto detects and installs.

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:15

does windows 7 not already have the drivers as standard now

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:17

on the asus site what would the drivers be under sata or other

jack21 · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:19

You can check this link :- http://vip.asus.com/forum/view.aspx...D&id=20091021202202859&page=1&SLanguage=en-us

Hope this helps

Egon · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:28

jonathan may said:
does windows 7 not already have the drivers as standard now

Pretty sure you don't need drivers for Win 7 mate. My RAID set up didn't and the board isn't that much older than yours.

Edit: Link above confirms this

waso_dude · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:28

Best bet is:

Bet BIOS to raid.
Load Raid setting CRL+I iirc, then create the array
Install windows 7. on mine i never needed any drivers seperately, there is no harm in trying. If not just download them and put on a memory stick. when you get the to the select a HDD to use, there is a option to load other raid drivers run that and your done you array will appear as a blank disk partition and go.

I never actually needed the drivers on a USB for mine tho.

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:40

thanks for the help guys

Admiral Huddy · 3 Nov 2009 at 11:44

Yep looks good.. I've only installed RAID on previous versions of Windows so even better

Frenzy · 3 Nov 2009 at 14:49

Id do it this way, connect your raid drives to the two coloured connectors on the mobo (orange i think) Make sure you downloaded the marvel drivers from the asus site and use those when win 7 asks for it. The raid is setup in the bios through asus xdrive or something like that, its an option you need to select in boot settings i believe. Once that creates your raid array make sure that is your 1st boot device in hdd priority.
The reason i say use the marvell controller is because im not sure if you can use normal stand alone sata drives on the intel raid drivers once you install them? The intel controller uses the red ports on your board, should be about 6 of them.

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 19:02

as posted above i did not need to install any raid drivers when installing win 7

jonathan may · 3 Nov 2009 at 19:04

i was uder the impression if i had 2 hdd for 650gb with raid 0 i would only have 650gb but i have over 1tb

Egon · 3 Nov 2009 at 19:11

jonathan may said:
i was uder the impression if i had 2 hdd for 650gb with raid 0 i would only have 650gb but i have over 1tb

RAID 0 doubles your capacity. It's effectively 2 drives acting as 1. You get a performance increase however if 1 drive fails you lose everything and as there are 2 drives there the chances of failure effectively double as well.