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November 22nd, 2024 17:36
Dell precision T5500 - Raid configuration lost, windows doesn't boot
My client has a Dell Precision T5500 with the Intel Matrix Storage Manager OROM and two 1 GB SATA drives. It has Windows 7 professional 32-bit. The BIOS version is A06.
Originally this system was running RAID 1/Mirroring - so the client tells me.
The CMOS battery ran down and eventually died. He replaced the CMOS battery.
But the RAID config was lost. After that Windows refused to boot properly.
My observations:
In the BIOS, the SATA setting is "Raid on". In the Matrix Storage OROM message that appears on POST, both Seagate 1GB drivers are marked as "non-raid drives".
Windows boots until the start of the four swirling colours, and then restarts.
Upon the next restart, when prompted to perform a startup repair - it attempts the repair, but ends with a message that it was unable to repair.
I was first able to get Windows to boot from the first drive (SATA 0) with the SATA setting "Auto Raid, ATA". The second drive is online and shows as "unallocated".
I read about creating a Raid array or migrating to RAID on a "raid-ready" system without needing to reinstall windows/after the operating system has been installed using the Intel Matrix Storage Console, in the user manual for the Intel Matrix Storage Manager v8.X.
I tried installing the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Console/Driver v8.X - but it wouldn't install in ATA boot mode - "this computer does not meet minimum requirements".
So I modified the registry to force Windows 7 to boot in ACPI mode, and set the BIOS SATA setting to "Auto Raid, ACPI". Windows boot normally from the first drive (SATA 0).
I installed the Intel Matrix Storage Manager driver and console.
I was able to run the console - but there were "no actions available" to create a volume or migrate to RAID 1.
Windows still refuses to boot when I flip the BIOS Sata drive setting to "RAID on".
If I hit Control+I at the RAID OROM POST, all of the options to create an array will "destroy all data" on both drives. There is some obsolete software on this workstation that is important to the client's business operation. I read about a procedure using low-level disk tools to restore the partition information after doing this, but I'm not going there as I have no way to back up or restore the disk or operating system.
Is there any way to recreate the RAID 1/Recovery volume on this system, or repair windows so that it boots correctly with the "Raid on" setting and without a RAID configuration - without losing all of the data?
Am I missing something else to signal the RAID console software that this system is "raid-ready" ?
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Peggy99
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November 22nd, 2024 20:13
So I figured it out - and I'm posting the solution here, as I see a lot of people struggling with this stuff.
For and existing Windows 7 installation to boot correctly with the "Raid On" SATA configuration in the BIOS, without any RAID configured in the Intel Matrix Storage Manager ROM - TWO drivers/services need to be enabled:
Msahci
IastorV
Windows disabled these dynamically when the SATA mode defaulted after the CMOS battery ran out, and/or after either I or the client ran a startup repair.
I re-enabled msahci to allow windows to boot with the "Raid Auto - AHCI" SATA mode, but I didn't know that the iastorV driver/service also needed to be enabled.
In order to enable them both:
Change the "Start" value from a 3 to 0 for each of them.
Run regedit.exe
Locate EACH of the following registry subkeys:
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Msahci
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\IastorV
FOR EACH - In the pane on the right side, right-click Start in the Name column, and then click Modify.
In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.
Reboot and hit F12 to get to the boot menu.
Select System Configuration.
Change the Sata disk mode to "Raid On".
Apply the change and Exit.
When I did this Windows started normally. I was able to install and run the Intel Matrix Storage Manager Console, and the create volume options were available.