Follow the instructions in this article if your computer is experiencing issues with RAID. Issues such as RAID error messages like:
Issues with RAID could be due to:
NOTE: This article deals with the Intel RAID that is built into Dell desktop computers:
Do you have RAID configured on your Hard Drives?
Yes, then go to the next step.
No, then go to the guide below:
Are you getting an error before the RAID screen loads?
Are you getting a blank screen with a flashing cursor? Go to this guide:
An on-screen Start-up error? Go to this guide:
Is the computer failing to POST? Go to this guide:
No, then go to the next step.
Have you run the onboard diagnostics?
If the diagnostics do not run, then the computer is failing at a point before the RAID is in effect. Go to this guide for help with troubleshooting this issue:
Are you having power issues and losing the date and time?
Yes, you must troubleshoot the motherboard, the CMOS battery, and your Power socket. The type of RAID running on these computers does not have a dedicated RAID card to keep the RAID volume up when there are computer issues. If the motherboard or CMOS battery is failing, they take your RAID volume with them. I would advise contacting your Technical Support for further help with this.
No, in this case go to the next step.
What type of RAID issue are you experiencing?
If a RAID 0 Stripe volume fails, you get the error message shown below. The message gives the status of the volume and identifies any hard drive that the computer can see. The example shows that the only hard drive that is seen is on Port 0. That means you would troubleshoot the hard drive on Port 2. Knowing which port is faulty lets you know which drive inside the system is having the issue.
Intel Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 11.6.0.1702 Copyright 2003-12 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Main Menu |
|
1. Create RAID Volume |
4. Recovery Volume Options |
2. Delete RAID Volume |
5. Acceleration Options |
3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID |
6. Exit |
DISK/VOLUME INFORMATION |
||||||
RAID Volumes: |
||||||
ID |
Name |
Level |
Strip |
Size |
Status |
Bootable |
0 |
Volume0 |
RAID0(Stripe) |
128KB |
223.6GB |
Failed |
No |
Physical Disks: |
||||
ID |
Device Model |
Serial # |
Size |
Type/Status(Vol ID) |
0 |
SAMSUNG HM120JI |
S09GJ10L209853 |
111.8.GB |
Error Occurred |
1 |
SAMSUNG HM120JI |
S09GJ10L209832 |
111.8.GB |
Member Disk(0) |
If the Diagnostics are passing, it means one of two outcomes. Either the Hard Drive is not being detected to have the diagnostics run, or it is the controller and software on the drive that is faulty. I would recommend checking that the power and data cables are securely fitted to the drive inside the machine. Does this change what is reported?
Yes, try booting and see if this has resolved your problem. If not you are looking at re-creating the RAID array from the beginning as above.
No, then I am afraid you are going to have to re-create the RAID array from the beginning. You can find a guide below. If that does not resolve the issue, then you must contact your Technical Support for further help.
If a RAID 1 Mirror volume has a degraded status, it shows the error message in the picture below. The computer does not detect one of the two Hard Drives, and it may have failed. The computer boots as expected on the remaining drive after that screen closes.
If the onboard diagnostics passed, you want to troubleshoot how the RAID sees the degraded drive. Go to: Step 2
If they failed and you have the new Hard Drive, you want to go to: Rebuilding RAID 1.
Intel Rapid Storage Technology - Option ROM - 11.6.0.1702 Copyright 2003-12 Intel Corporation. All Rights Reserved.
Main Menu |
|
1. Create RAID Volume |
4. Recovery Volume Options |
2. Delete RAID Volume |
5. Acceleration Options |
3. Reset Disks to Non-RAID |
6. Exit |
RAID Volumes: |
||||||
ID |
Name |
Level |
Strip |
Size |
Status |
Bootable |
0 |
Volume0 |
RAID1(Mirror) |
128KB |
223.6GB |
Degraded |
No |
Physical Disks: |
||||
Port |
Drive Model |
Serial # |
Size |
Type/Status(Vol ID) |
0 |
SAMSUNG HM120JI |
S09GJ10L209853 |
111.8.GB |
Non-RAID Disk |
1 |
SAMSUNG HM120JI |
S09GJ10L209832 |
111.8.GB |
Member Disk(0) |
The example in the picture above shows the only Hard Drive seen is on Port 0. That means we would look to troubleshoot the hard drive on Port 2. I would check that the Power and data cable are fully seated does that resolve the issue?
Yes, go to Rebuilding RAID 1 in the next tab (Using the IRST Software in the operating system).
No, continue to the next step.
Disconnect the degraded Hard Drive and turn the computer on with it removed. Once the computer boots, shut it down and reconnect the Hard Drive. Boot the computer and go to Rebuilding RAID 1 in the next tab (Using the IRST Software in the operating system). Did this work?
Yes, your issue is resolved.
Update the Intel Matrix Software and try again, if it still does not work, contact your Technical Support for further help. You may look to substitute a known good working Hard Drive into the computer. This is to confirm that the issue is not with the cables or the port on the Motherboard.
You can manually rebuild the computer's redundancy mirror to the Hard Drive by Clicking the Start button.
Go to the start menu and type Intel Rapid Storage Technology
to run a search. You can launch the Intel RAID Console from the search results.
Right-click the available hard drive on which to rebuild the RAID 1 volume and click Rebuild to this Disk.
The computer can be used while it is rebuilding the RAID 1 volume.
Enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility before the computer boots into Windows.
Select Delete RAID Volume and press ENTER.
Select the RAID volume to be deleted and press Delete.
Press the y key to confirm the deletion of the RAID volume.
Press the Esc key to exit the Intel RAID Option ROM utility.
Go to the start menu and type Intel Rapid Storage Technology
to run a search. You can launch the Intel RAID Console from the search results.
Right-click the Volume icon of the RAID volume to be deleted and select Delete Volume.
On the Deleted RAID Volume Wizard screen, click Next.
Select the RAID volume to be deleted in the Available box.
Click the right-arrow cursor key to move the chosen RAID volume into the Selected box and Click Next.
Click Finish to delete the volume.
Enter the Intel RAID Option ROM utility before the computer boots into Windows.
Select Reset Disks to Non-RAID and press the ENTER key.
Select the RAID volume to be reset and press the Space key to select the disks.
Press the ENTER key to complete the selection.
Press the y key to confirm the reset.
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