RAID Configuration help needed!

Su Burrows · 27 Apr 2021 at 11:26

Hi,

I bought a PC from here moon's ago for a client and it's been brilliant - however (we are talking 6 years!) the CMOS battery died and the RAID config has all been reset in the BIOS and so, guess what, the PC won't boot now.

It's a long time since I configured it and whilst my background is tech, it seems with age the holes get bigger in the head and things get forgotten. If anyone on here can help jog my memory on how to reconfigure, happy to share details of hardware, and help get this computer booting again I'd be forever grateful!

Thanks in advance - meanwhile I shall continue exploring the internet and recesses of my mind!

Su

Su Burrows · 27 Apr 2021 at 12:16

There isn’t a raid option! Looks like it only sees one of the 2 disks as well in the BIOS - is that because they were mirrored? The bios config just doesn’t give me RAiD options at all - there weren’t any hardware problems prior to the bios reset - but now comes up with pxe-e61media test failure - ive checked all cables etc… no joy

Su Burrows · 27 Apr 2021 at 12:27

Done all of that - removed and re-seated cables (it was working before CMOS battery was replaced so not sure why the cables would now be a problem?)

Su Burrows · 28 Apr 2021 at 09:24

Thanks everyone! I'll get back to you with the spec / MB, and will try the Ctrl-I! Sorry for the rushed messages, should have put more detail in to begin with!

Su Burrows · 4 May 2021 at 07:05

Ok, I think I've broken it - having not touched it (or any RAID since 2014!) anyway... here is the situation:

Motherboard: Asus H81M-K
2 x 2TB Disks

CMOS Battery died / replaced.
Booted but came up with PXE-E61media test failure.
I removed, re-seated the cables.
Same message.

No RAID options in the BIOS where I would have hoped to have seen them (Under SATA config?) or anywhere else.
Upgraded BIOS to latest version. - Nothing changed.
Reset BIOS to defaults - Nothing changed.

Desperation (and stupidity / ignorance) = I have a full backup of the server and they need it back up for files. So I attempted to reinstate as 'normal' (i.e. no RAID) and rebuild one of the disks seeing as I'm pretty sure I've lost it anyway with my messing about and now it won't install Windows as it was a GPT configuration... so reset the disk to normal MBR... and

Well... those of you who have had the patience to read this far will be shaking your heads and saying to yourselves 'why oh why oh why'.

But if anyone has any advice on how to even get Windows booting so I can get them a machine back of sorts - even without RAID - that would be great. Meanwhile I'll continue to read forums and dig deep into the recesses of my technical knowledge and see what I can come up with (not a good idea but not sure what else to do!).

Thanks in advance!

Su Burrows · 4 May 2021 at 19:18

Thank you! There are no RAID options under SATA Config... only IDE, ACHI or disabled. Underneath that it gives the option to disable or enable 'hot plugs' that's it. It only sees one drive there too (and the CDROM).

I attempted to do that - Windows Boot USB... install... it wouldn't allow me to delete the partitions - error was it was part of a GPT config... the only way I can / could delete partitions and re-format was via DISKPART in a CMD Prompt window from the 'Install Windows' screen ... did that, rebooted and it doesn't even boot to the USB now, just goes straight into BIOS... have changed the BOOT priority... it sees the USB there, but boots straight into BIOS...

I'm on verge of ...