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View Full Version : Help! Need to install another hard drive!

Kumo
10-31-2007, 12:41 PM
I recently hooked-up a second hard drive and I when I boot-up my computer, it does shows its usual screens until it just stops when it shows up Boot to Disc, and I'm unable to get into Windows. I think my computer's trying to make me create a raid with my first hard drive.

Since my motherboard is so old, it only has SATA Raid slots for my hard drives, so I can't just plug them into a normal SATA slot.

How can I install my second hard drive without making them a Raid, so that I have two seperate hard drives?


My current motherboard is the ASUS A7N8X-E Deluxe, http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=1&model=217&l1=3&l2=13&l3=56&l4=0
Here are the specifications of my motherboard, http://www.asus.com/products4.aspx?modelmenu=2&model=217&l1=3&l2=13&l3=56&l4=0
and here is a link to the user's guide, http://dlsvr03.asus.com/pub/ASUS/mb/socka/nforce2/a7n8x-e/e1876_a7n8x-e_deluxe.pdf
My BIOS isn't the latest version (1011, latest is 1013), but based on the description of the new versions I wouldn't think that updating would change anything.


Any help is greatly appreciated!

Edit: Ah! So sorry, forgot to mention that both of my hard drives are SATA 150
lots
10-31-2007, 01:43 PM
Sounds like you just need to disable the RAID in BIOS...

Actually I'd first look in BIOS to see if the drive was detected. Then I'd check out the RAID option. Another option to check is to see if the second SATA port is even enabled.
Kumo
11-01-2007, 02:54 AM
I'm pretty sure my second SATA_RAID port is enabled because I can see my second hard drive.

I've tried setting up my primary boot up to my first harddrive and disabled secondary, etc. After doing this, the same thing happens. :/

My first hard drive is plugged into the SATA_RAID1 slot on my motherboard and my second(new) hard drive is plugged into the SATA_RAID2 slot.

I tried looking for an option to disable the RAID on the SATA ports but I don't think I have an option to do that.
I'd also like to clarify that that I'm not being FORCED to do a RAID, I just think that it's my only option.


I wanted to ask a question in case I decide to just do a SATA RAID. Should I be using RAID 0? And if I do decide to RAID, will I have to reformat?
lots
11-01-2007, 01:56 PM
RAID 0 is more risky than other RAID modes. A single problem with the RAID 0 array will cause the entire array to be lost. If one drive fails for example, then the whole thing dies. But, RAID 0 is the only mode that will give you double the space of your smallest drive. Any other RAID mode, and you will lose space to redundancy. Which isn't so bad if the data is important to you.

If you do decide to use RAID though, keep in mind you will need to format all disks involved. It would also be best to use drives of equal size.
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