Windows 7 Desperate for Help! SATA and RAID setup

[europride]

Hey guys,
So I completly built a new system and am runing Windows 7 64-bit now. I am trying to setup a Raid1 setup so I have the two identical drives copy one another for back-up purposes.

I am runing a ASUS P5Q motherboard, 1TB HDD, 500 GB HDD, and then the Identical 2 500GB HDD for the raid setup. The Install disc that came with my motherboard does not support windows 7, but I have installed the drivers from Vista 64-bit. The HDD is found in the Device Manager, however it only shows one HDD, which I asume is normal as they are supposed to be like that??? When I go into my computer it is not displayed there (Which is why I think it is not setup in the BIOS) When I go into BIOS I cant find anywhere where I can switch the HDD to a Raid setup.

Please help!

 

[busydog]

Thoughts

I'd try the ASUS website for help on setting up RAID if you HAVE to have it. I use Acronis to image from HD1 to HD2, partition by partition, so I can multi-boot and always know when I have backed up. Short of RAID Level 5 I don't think I would find RAID to be of much use in ensuring day-to-day reliable operation.

 

[Highwayman]

Usually the Raid enable in bios feature adds a 2nd boot screen for the raid configuration shortly before the windows kicks in.

 

[europride]

I found some other little tips I will try out tonight and see if it works. Thanks guys.

 

[europride]

Ok so found the setting in BIOS and changed it from IDE to RAID. Then went on to the sub menu by pressing the Control + I to access the RAID submenu where it showed all of my HDD's and I created my RAID1 Setup from this menu, using the HDD's that were not seen before. Booted up again with the saved settings and it asks me for a bootable disk. So I insert Windows 7, and it trys to re-install again??? So sure why not I got nothing to lose so Installed it again and now it only shows my 2 HDD's that are the RAID setup, and not the others.

So my questions are:

Why are there 2 RAID HDD's if its setup as a RAID1 setup so they are supposed to mirror one another.
Why arent my other drives showing up?
I am so frustrated and cant figure this out it is making me angry

Please Help!

 

[Kiwi]

With only the two raid disks installed, prep the array with the ctrl-I utility, boot from the W7 install CD, you should see one disk. Format, partition as required, install W7 and then enable the remaining disks afterwards.

 

[Tepid]

I'd try the ASUS website for help on setting up RAID if you HAVE to have it. I use Acronis to image from HD1 to HD2, partition by partition, so I can multi-boot and always know when I have backed up. Short of RAID Level 5 I don't think I would find RAID to be of much use in ensuring day-to-day reliable operation.

Raid 5 is nice and all, and would be beneficial, but, Mirroring is just as beneficial for a home user.
If one drive dies you can still use the system, get the drive replaced and rebuild the mirror without skipping a beat. And yes, I still recommend regular back ups or agree with Aconis Full Disk Images to an external HDD that is only connected during a backup and removed to a fireproof box. Just in case that freak accident happens that blows out both HDD's in the mirror.