Re: Raid failure on A7N8x-E Deluxe

Youve used the hd manu checking utility?
I had a problem with a A7N8x deluxe sil controler, mirror suffered odd out
of sync probs. Whilst I was able to cure, though hd checking utility showed
a failing hd, I was no longer confident in onboard raid so purchased a pci
raid card.
I might also mention that the pwr supply can lead to raid/sata problems, if
its not up to the load. I had a sys in which a mirror kept dropping out,
though the pwr supply was a quality Antec unit I fitted a more powerfull
unit with many individual connectors and the problem went away

<Max> wrote in message news:uj3e32p00rojp0g6ptrs0qugdgnkjcpggq@xxxxxxxxxx
On Fri, 07 Apr 2006 08:02:29 GMT, "old man" <dl@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

I'm unclear;
1)You've tried a win repair option usinf F6 to install sata/raid (Sil)
drivers from floppy

Yes!

2)Disks still not seen in the Bios? (Bios set to defaults, ie sata not
disabled)

Disks are seen in BIOS, when I get the message "Incomplete Raid Set
use Ctrl S or F4 to enter Utility". Then, the message comes up "No
Device Detected, Utility Disabled". Cannot find any reference to SATA
drives in the BIOS except for boot order where they are referred to as
SCSI drives. I have tried every combination of boot order.

I just wonder if this "Utility Disabled" isn't the clue here?

3)No yellow marks in hardware devices?

No yellow marks in Device Manager

PS In a mirror, Sil array, if only a single disk is connected it should
still be visible
So have you tried with one hd disconnected?

Yes, tried disconnecting each of the SATA drives, get the same BIOS
messages except only one drive shows.
______________________________________________________________

Tim wrote:

"If the bios can't see the drives then windows can't see them as the
fault is at the bios / raid hardware level."

Yes, this is what I was assuming.

"Have you tried removing the TV card you added originally?"

Yes, it was removed straight away...I just wondered if it could have
been a static electricity problem when I introduced that card...?

"I would also check the cabling - make sure the SATA drives are Homed
in their sockets and in the right sockets (it is suprising how often
people have raid issues all due to plugging the drives into the wrong
SATA sockets). I would also check the seating of every add in card RAM
included - just to be sure."

I have just done that without success...I am sure the SATA plugs into
the MB are as they were originally.

"If doing changes and checking things doesn't get the bios to
recognise the drives I would then pull one of the drives out and use
the HDD manufacurers disk checking utility (go to their web site for
the download) to check one or other HDD using non-destructive testing
inn another machine. I would also try the HDD as a slave drive in
another machine to see if you can read it - being RAID 1 you should be
able to read it as per any normal HDD. If you can do this then I would
do a disc image backup, reformat both discs, recreate
the RAID 1 and restore."

My problem here Tim is that I live in a small town and am not sure
where I can find a machine with a SATA setup. But I will work on that.
I assume I can't use the WD disk checking utility in this machine when
Windows doesn't see the disks?

"The BIOS error is the clue here - I wouldn't bother trying to fix
anything in windows if the BIOS complains as it seems totally
pointless."

At least that narrows it down considerably.

I so appreciate all this help...thanks heaps.

Max



.

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