RAID installation issues

[Akamaru]

My PC arrived yesterday night, after spending most of the night assembling it; I ran into an issue setting up my RAID 1 array.

Hardware:

Asus Maximus Formula X38 (northbridge) and ICH9R (southbridge)
2x 750GB Seagate HDD (which I'm using for the RAID setup)
500GB Western Digital HDD (dying)
Core 2 Q6600
4GB RAM
Radeon HD3870

The manual for this motherboard is sparse with information about setting up a RAID array. I managed to set up a RAID 1 in the BIOS for my Seagate drives. However that requires that I set my SATA controller to RAID, which stops Windows Vista from booting for some reason. I get a screen saying something about a GRUB boot loader and error 22. Changing the motherboard back to IDE allows me to boot into Windows.

Is there anyway I can RAID my two Seagate Drives without having the RAID 500GB drive classified as an RAID device?

My 500GB Western Digital drive is going back to Newegg after getting a S.M.A.R.T. error on boot up right after I installed Vista. I knew there was an issue with the drive when it took almost an hour an half to install Vista. I'm replacing it with a Seagate after work today.

 

[xenotype]

I'm a little confused, all 3 of the drives are SATA. Where is the OS partition? You should be able to selectively use 2 of the 3 drives in a RAID array, and the 3rd SATA drive just as a lone drive.

 

[Akamaru]

I apologize. The operating system is on the defective Western Digital 500GB drive. I've installed Vista, but I'm getting S.M.A.R.T. errors in the BIOS and in Windows urging me to back up files immediately.

I'm trying to RAID the Seagate drives only.

 

[xenotype]

If you have data on the 2x 750s, itll be a slower route, but if you have nothing on it, or dont care to, id toast the array, reconfigure it, and install windows fresh onto the blank array. You'll need the driver disk, and press F6 during install. I'd do that while the 500 gig is being returned.

 

[Akamaru]

If you have data on the 2x 750s, itll be a slower route, but if you have nothing on it, or dont care to, id toast the array, reconfigure it, and install windows fresh onto the blank array. You'll need the driver disk, and press F6 during install. I'd do that while the 500 gig is being returned.

Well the idea is that I have a primary drive with my OS and applications, then the RAID drives will house my music, videos, and other media.

I'd rather not waste space on my RAID with an OS. I'm not looking for speed I'm looking to keep my mission critical data safe. Which is why I'm trying to set up a RAID 1. I can always image my primary drive once this mess is straightened out and then store it on my RAID in case my primary drive fails again.

 

[xenotype]

Well the idea is that I have a primary drive with my OS and applications, then the RAID drives will house my music, videos, and other media.

I'd rather not waste space on my RAID with an OS. I'm not looking for speed I'm looking to keep my mission critical data safe.

Well, arent you going to need to get your primary drive back from Newegg before this trek can begin?

 

[Akamaru]

Well, arent you going to need to get your primary drive back from Newegg before this trek can begin?

Well, right. I'm going to Fry's to replace the drive tonight. Newegg is offering me a refund.

I don't see how focusing on my 500GB drive is helping to solve my RAID issue with my two 750GB drives. My RAID array will only consist of the two 750GB drives. This seems to be a BIOS and Windows installer conflict.

Also I upgraded my motherboards firmware to the lastest version last night as a last resort before I went to bed and RAID is still not playing nice with Windows.

 

[xenotype]

Well, right. I'm going to Fry's to replace the drive tonight. Newegg is offering me a refund.

I don't see how focusing on my 500GB drive is helping to solve my RAID issue with my two 750GB drives. My RAID array will only consist of the two 750GB drives. This seems to be a BIOS and Windows installer conflict.

Also I upgraded my motherboards firmware to the lastest version last night as a last resort before I went to bed and RAID is still not playing nice with Windows.

If the firmware upgrade doesnt solve anything, and installing the drivers and the RAID monitoring software on your system, then RMA the motherboard, it shouldnt affect Vista like it has.