RAID for an Existing VISTA Install

G

grishkafool

New Member
First, I have searched A LOT and not found a good answer/solution for this issue.

I built this system and installed VISTA 64 and all my other software before I decided to build a RAID. A few weeks after start-up, I bought a couple new drives and wanted to build a RAID. No luck. I could set the BIOS up for RAID, type Ctrl+I, assign the RAID drives, but then I would get a BSOD before the Windows Boot GUI. This happened no matter what ports the RAID was in as opposed to the port positions of C: and/or my DvD drive.

Then someone told me that I had to install the Intel Storage Matrix Manager... no luck there either. When I double click IATA88ENU.exe it tries to run, but returns "Computer does not meet the minimum system requirements. Set up will exit."

Facts:

MoBo Gigabyte EP45-UD3P running BIOS F9
-- BIOS has options in Integrated Peripherals for RAID
-- Intel ICH10R
CPU Intel E8400
2 x WD Green 500GB
8 GB PC2-8500



Intel Matrix Storage Manager System Requirements said:
1. The system must contain an Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo or
Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Extreme or Intel(R) Pentium(R) Processor
or Intel(R) Xeon(R) Processor and one of the following
Intel products listed in section 1 above.


2. The system must be running on one of the following
operating systems:
- Microsoft* Vista*
- Microsoft* Vista* x64 Edition (NOTE 1)
- Microsoft* Windows* Server 2008
- Microsoft* Windows* Server 2008 x64 Edition (Note 1)
- Microsoft* Windows* XP Home Edition
- Microsoft* Windows* XP Professional
- Microsoft* Windows* XP x64 Edition (NOTE 1)
- Microsoft* Windows* Server 2003
- Microsoft* Windows* Server 2003,
Web x64 Edition (NOTE 1)
- Microsoft* Windows* Server 2003,
Standard x64 Edition (NOTE 1)
- Microsoft* Windows* Server 2003,
Enterprise x64 Edition (NOTE 1)
- Microsoft* Windows* Media Center Edition

NOTE 1: If the system is running Windows* 64-bit version,
the Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager driver supporting
64-bit should be used.

3. The following operating systems are not supported:

Any version of the following Microsoft operating systems:
- MS-DOS
- Windows 3.1
- Windows NT 3.51
- Windows 95
- Windows 98
- Windows Millennium Edition (Me)
- Windows NT 4.0
- Windows 2000 Datacenter Server
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows 2000 Advanced Server

Any version of the following operating systems:
- Linux
- UNIX
- BeOS
- MacOS
- OS/2

4. The system should contain at least the minimum system
memory required by the operating system.

5. The 'Intel(R) Chipset Software Installation Utility'
must be installed prior to installing the
Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager.
Click to expand...

I meet the requirements. In fact, when I run the Intel Chipset Software Installation Utility, it tells me that I have a newer version already than what is available for download from Intel.

Sooo, I start googling the problem. Turns out, I should have installed the Matrix during VISTA install... great googily moogilies.... that's stupid, seems like something that should have come plug-n-play with the almighty VISTA. Anyway, I found several work-arounds, but they didn't work. I eventually found my own work-around. I put the two new drives in the G(Sata) ports provided by Gigabyte, set the BIOS to IDE the ICH10R ports and RAID the GSATA , moved my primary drive and DvD to the ICH10R ports, and then rebooted. VIOLA!!!! I now have a RAID 1 back-up on the GSATA ports using the energy efficient Caviar Green drives and a faster smaller drive running my stuff on the ICH10R port. Without re-installing VISTA.

But that isn't satisfactory for me. I want to be able to use the ICH10R ports, its what they're for, and there are 6 of them, only two Gports. I had read somewhere that I could use Acronis to Image my C: externally, remove it, plug in my new drives, do a clean VISTA install with the Matrix, then use Acronis to restore that new, RAIDed boot drive. But I had a thought about that... if I restore, won't it restore to a condition that doesn't include the Matrix Manager?

Alternative Question: If I install the new drives, install VISTA + Matrix Manager, and set up RAID could I then power down, plug the old C: in and then Clone it to the new RAID (that would contain a working copy of the SAME VISTA)...

In Sum, I don't want to manually re-install all my software. I want to get my RAID up on the Intel ports. I have looked for a workable solution and have found none.

I am totally torqued over this... there has got to be a way to do this. Please, if there is any help to be had it surely must be here....
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
Seriously, no one has any suggestions for me here?

Add on Question:

If I bought a RAID card would I be able to set up my RAID without reinstalling VISTA?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
I think you're going to have to re-install Vista on your RAID array, as you're using a totally different array to what you have at the moment.

You'd most likely be able to create a backup of your current files and then restore that once you have Vista re-installed.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
    Motherboard
    XFX MB-750I-72P9 NF750i
    Memory
    4096MB Corsair XMS2 PC-5400
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS Nvidia Geforce GTX470
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 24" S2409W & Dell 20" E207WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 & 1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB Western Digital Caviar Black & 500GB Samsung
    PSU
    750 watt Thermaltake Toughpower
    Case
    Coolermaster Dominator 690 Nvidia Edition
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9700-NT Cooler, 6x 120mm Chassis Fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G11 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (2007 edition)
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Other Info
    abit airpace 54mbps wireless PCI-E x1 card
grishkafool said:
But I had a thought about that... if I restore, won't it restore to a condition that doesn't include the Matrix Manager?
Click to expand...

1. I Backup my drive.
2. I install the new drives.
3. I configure BIOS to accept RAID on ICH10R
4. I start the VISTA installation.
5. I load RAID drivers (IATA88ENU)
6. I finish VISTA installation.

I now have a working VISTA installation with on a RAID on the ICH10R.

7. I Restore using the Backup Image from step one, which does not include the IATA88ENU drivers.

See my confusion. And I don't want to try it till I have a good answer for it. Which is why I asked about RAID card... if that would work then I wouldn't have to gamble the time required to go through the 7 steps listed above.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
Everlong18 said:
You'd most likely be able to create a backup of your current files and then restore that once you have Vista re-installed.
Click to expand...

grishkafool said:
grishkafool said:
But I had a thought about that... if I restore, won't it restore to a condition that doesn't include the Matrix Manager?
Click to expand...

1. I Backup my drive.
2. I install the new drives.
3. I configure BIOS to accept RAID on ICH10R
4. I start the VISTA installation.
5. I load RAID drivers (IATA88ENU)
6. I finish VISTA installation.

I now have a working VISTA installation with on a RAID on the ICH10R.

7. I Restore using the Backup Image from step one, which does not include the IATA88ENU drivers.

See my confusion. And I don't want to try it till I have a good answer for it. Which is why I asked about RAID card... if that would work then I wouldn't have to gamble the time required to go through the 7 steps listed above.
Click to expand...

What Everlong probobly meant is that you can do a backup of your critical files, not just the whole drive image (I know, it's easier that way, but you can't have everything), and you can then easily restore them after fresh installation. The folder paths will be the same across diffrent Vista installations, but you'll have to reinstall all the software again, even if you back it up and restore them.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    My Own Build
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 @ 3.73 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5E
    Memory
    Kingston DDR2 HyperX PC2-8500 4x1GB CL5 @ 1117MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GeForce 8800GT 512MB GS (700 / 1700 / 1020 MHz)
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Edition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron W2252TQ 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 11 500GB & 750GB,
    Total Capacity: 1.2TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX520W PSU
    Case
    AeroCool S9 Pro with 40cm Side Fan
    Cooling
    Scythe Mugen (Infinity) CPU Cooler, 4x Noctua NF-P12-1300
    Keyboard
    Logitech Media Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000
    Internet Speed
    ADSL Broadband - 1 Mbit Down / 256 Kbit Up
    Other Info
    Genius SW-HF5.1 5000 Speakers,
    Roland RH-50 Headphones
Ok, so no easy way to do it that way then.

What about the other part of the question? What if I bought a RAID Controller card? I wouldn't need to install the Intel Matrix Driver then, so I should be able to just install the card, install its drivers, then set up my RAID right?
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
Prior to buying an add-on RAID controller card you should i.e. ask your friends if they have such a card and test it yourself, 'cause I suspect that even if you install it, set up the drivers, and then create RAID array, vista during boot up can come up with a BSOD... I'm not a master of it, not using RAID arrays myself for a very looooong time... But when I buy another disk to my system I have plans to play a bit again with RAID :) That would probobly be somewhere around new year though...
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    My Own Build
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 @ 3.73 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5E
    Memory
    Kingston DDR2 HyperX PC2-8500 4x1GB CL5 @ 1117MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GeForce 8800GT 512MB GS (700 / 1700 / 1020 MHz)
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Edition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron W2252TQ 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 11 500GB & 750GB,
    Total Capacity: 1.2TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX520W PSU
    Case
    AeroCool S9 Pro with 40cm Side Fan
    Cooling
    Scythe Mugen (Infinity) CPU Cooler, 4x Noctua NF-P12-1300
    Keyboard
    Logitech Media Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000
    Internet Speed
    ADSL Broadband - 1 Mbit Down / 256 Kbit Up
    Other Info
    Genius SW-HF5.1 5000 Speakers,
    Roland RH-50 Headphones
Some RAID cards generally come with the drivers installed on the card, so when you put it in your computer and boot up, the card's ready to use and set RAID up with. I use an XFX Revo64 (not for RAID, just to add more SATA ports), and I put it in and when I boot my computer, it's the same as using the motherboard RAID stuff as it comes up displaying the RAID status, and you can set the arrays up here like normal.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Custom Built
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Quad Q9550
    Motherboard
    XFX MB-750I-72P9 NF750i
    Memory
    4096MB Corsair XMS2 PC-5400
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS Nvidia Geforce GTX470
    Sound Card
    ASUS Xonar DX
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Dell 24" S2409W & Dell 20" E207WFP
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080 & 1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    750GB Western Digital Caviar Black & 500GB Samsung
    PSU
    750 watt Thermaltake Toughpower
    Case
    Coolermaster Dominator 690 Nvidia Edition
    Cooling
    Zalman CNPS9700-NT Cooler, 6x 120mm Chassis Fans
    Keyboard
    Logitech G11 Keyboard
    Mouse
    Logitech G5 Laser Mouse (2007 edition)
    Internet Speed
    100Mbps
    Other Info
    abit airpace 54mbps wireless PCI-E x1 card
2) Once the installation fails, navigate to C:\Windows\Temp\IIF2\. Locate the proper iastor.sys file under the WinAll folder. This will differ based on whether your OS is 32 or 64-bit.
Click to expand...

I have tried this. Problem is, when I run the IATA88ENU.exe, it doesn't create a iastor.sys file, there is no C:\Windows\Temp\IIF2 folder, nor is there a WinAll folder anywhere on my HDD.... I will try that again, but I don't have high hopes....:sick:
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
Thanks Majkel. I got the file, put it in the drivers folder, enabled RAID in BIOS, installed the Matrix Manager. As far as I know, I am ready to set up an array. I have 2 WD Green 500GB drives, but I don't know if I want to go with a RAID 1 or buy another drive and go with RAID 5 or buy 2 more and go with a RAID 0+1 or 1+0.

My first thought was setting a RAID 1 for some redundant storage. But using the Green drives in a 4 drive array would have a power consumption equal to 2.4 normal drives and sounds really interesting. I just don't know which array would be best for me. I use my machine for personal things, email, some gaming, Photo and Video editing...

Now I just need to figure out what I want to do, lol.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
Glad to hear that the software installation went forward without any more issues :) Hope that you will get results you opt for :)
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    My Own Build
    CPU
    Intel Core 2 Duo E8200 @ 3.73 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS P5E
    Memory
    Kingston DDR2 HyperX PC2-8500 4x1GB CL5 @ 1117MHz
    Graphics Card(s)
    Gainward GeForce 8800GT 512MB GS (700 / 1700 / 1020 MHz)
    Sound Card
    SoundBlaster X-Fi Platinum Fatal1ty Edition
    Monitor(s) Displays
    LG Flatron W2252TQ 22"
    Screen Resolution
    1680x1050
    Hard Drives
    Seagate Barracuda 11 500GB & 750GB,
    Total Capacity: 1.2TB
    PSU
    Corsair HX520W PSU
    Case
    AeroCool S9 Pro with 40cm Side Fan
    Cooling
    Scythe Mugen (Infinity) CPU Cooler, 4x Noctua NF-P12-1300
    Keyboard
    Logitech Media Keyboard 600
    Mouse
    Logitech MX1000
    Internet Speed
    ADSL Broadband - 1 Mbit Down / 256 Kbit Up
    Other Info
    Genius SW-HF5.1 5000 Speakers,
    Roland RH-50 Headphones
Yes yes. I am now operating in AHCI, for no other reason than that I couldn't decide which RAID to set up.... I suppose I won't though. Hot swapping can have its uses; and my CPU doesn't have any other responsibilities like this.:D
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
grishkafool said:
2) Once the installation fails, navigate to C:\Windows\Temp\IIF2\. Locate the proper iastor.sys file under the WinAll folder. This will differ based on whether your OS is 32 or 64-bit.
Click to expand...
I have tried this. Problem is, when I run the IATA88ENU.exe, it doesn't create a iastor.sys file, there is no C:\Windows\Temp\IIF2 folder, nor is there a WinAll folder anywhere on my HDD.... I will try that again, but I don't have high hopes....:sick:
Click to expand...

You needed to run IATA88ENU.exe as "Administrator"... but I see you got it going with a third- party file. Good news.
 

My Computer

System One

I am the Admin account on this machine.

What I found out though is this. When you run IATA88ENU.exe you need to navigate to the Temp folder before you get the Confirmation Box to get the iastor.sys file. In other words, you gotta be REALLY fast.

Majkel was kind enough to email me the file, though. Once I placed it in my drivers folder, problem was solved.
 

My Computer

System One

  • Manufacturer/Model
    Me
    CPU
    E8400 @ 4.25GHz ~ 500x8.5
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte EP45-UD3P
    Memory
    8GB Gskill PC2-8500 5-5-5-15
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA nVidia 9800GT 1GB 700/1750/1100
    Monitor(s) Displays
    Acer x203H
    Screen Resolution
    1600 x 900
    Hard Drives
    Seagate 250 SataII
    2 x WD Green 500GB ~ RAID 1 on Jmicron Ports
    PSU
    Rosewill 500w, upgrading to ~900 soon
    Case
    modded Raidmax Smilodon Extreme
    Cooling
    Air, 3x120mm, 2x80mm, 1x90mm
    Internet Speed
    10Mb/1Mb
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