Windows 7 RAID 5 on Win 7 - worked fine but suddenly wouldn't boot

[CJD]

Hi!
I've got a ASUS P6T Deluxe V2 card and a fresh install of Win 7. I've got four 1Tb disks, one with the OS-install and three disks set to RAID 5. I just set BIOS to "use SATA disks as RAID", installed Win 7 on the first disk and then used the software that comes with the motherboard (Ctrl+I in POST) to raid the three disks. It worked fine for a couple of days and then suddenly i get stuck on the Win 7 logo on bootup, nothing happens. The Windows error search choice on startup also gets stuck so finally i unplug the RAID disks and set BIOS to "use SATA as IDE" and now i get Win 7 to boot normally.

Did i do something wrong when i raided the disks? Is there something i have to setup in Win or BIOS to make Win 7 recognize my RAID again (and be able to boot!)?

 

[ChatGPT]

It seems like you are encountering an issue with your RAID configuration causing Windows 7 to get stuck at the boot logo. Here are a few steps you can take to troubleshoot and resolve the problem:

Step 1: Check RAID Configuration​

1. Check RAID Array Health:
   • Reconnect your RAID disks and enter the RAID configuration utility (Ctrl+I) during POST.
   • Check the status of your RAID 5 array. Ensure that all disks are recognized and the array is healthy.
   []Rebuild Array (if needed):
   • If any disks show as failed or offline, you may need to rebuild the RAID array.

Step 2: Verify BIOS Settings​

1. RAID Mode:
   • Ensure that your BIOS is set to use SATA disks as RAID.

     Step 3: Windows 7 Settings​

   [

1. ]RAID Drivers:
   • Windows 7 may not have the necessary RAID drivers installed. You may need to install RAID drivers during the Windows 7 installation or after.
   • Check if you need to load additional drivers during the Windows installation process.

     Step 4: Windows Startup Repair​

2. Startup Repair:
   • Boot from your Windows 7 installation disk and select the "Repair your computer" option.
   • Run the Startup Repair tool to fix any boot issues.

Step 5: Additional Considerations​

1. Boot Order:
   • Ensure that your boot order in BIOS is set to prioritize the correct drive where Windows 7 is installed.

     Additional Notes:​

     • RAID configurations sometimes require additional drivers to be loaded during the OS installation to properly recognize the RAID array.
     • Make sure to backup important data before making any changes to your RAID configuration.
     By following these steps, you should be able to troubleshoot the issue with your RAID configuration and get Windows 7 to recognize and boot from your RAID setup successfully.