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A few things to EASILY make the Aurora R3s work well with windows 8 and 8.1 and larger than 2TB drives
There are scattered posts here and there, but I thought I'd make an all in one.
1) if you upgrade or install 8 from fresh, you must babysit the R3 (and maybe other models as well) unless they are CERTIFIED Win 8. If you don't babysit, every time the install program (or once you get it installed), does a warm reboot, the system will hang part way through the boot process. This can corrupt files, and/or the file system. If you use software (Windows) based mirroring, this is a NIGHTMARE as the mirror rebuilds after the crash. For a long time, no one knew the fix. Now it's easy. You just download the latest windows drivers and management software for the Intel Rapid Storage. In my case, I had to FORCE install the drivers by saying I had a disk, unchecking the compatible only box, and FORCING it to accept the new chipset drivers. That solved my reboot issues. It also let windows see drives over 2TB as their actual size, and use them. The problem was the RAID controller could not use them at their full size...
WARNING: ONLY ATTEMPT THE BELOW IF YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. BACK UP YOUR COMPUTER FIRST! I ALSO RECOMMEND ONLY DOING THE BELOW IF YOUR COMPUTER IS NO LONGER IN WARRANTY BECAUSE THIS WILL VOID IT IF YOU BRICK IT.
From personal experience, as long as you follow the steps, and pick the right files, you will be fine. This is only modding the RAID portion of the bios. So even if you botched it, the system would still POST, it just wouldn't boot.. in which case you can use a dos based utility to reflash your rom.. and I suggest you make a bootable dos based CD with your original rom before you attempt the below.
2) Dell refuses to update even just the raid portion on the bios. They are literally one version behind the version that supports 4TB drives. Well you can fix this in 15-30mins depending on how tech savvy you are.
a) you basically DL your current bios from the dell website
b) follow the instructions here: http://www.win-lite.de/wbb/board208-specials/board281-bios-bios-modding/16658-bios-modding-how-to-update-pci-rom-modules-of-an-ami-phoenix-award-bios/ (all alienware r3 and higher use UEFI bios even if you don't use that function to boot windows)
c) you identify what chipset you have and grab the modded raid bios code and replace the one in your dell bios then use the dell bios uploader to upload it.. and boom... 4TB support along with other goodies (as in full SSD support with TRIM). Since you have the newest Raid Rom, you get all the newer features in the intel rapid storage manger that you didn't see before.
Another thing.. the r3 claims to have full SATA3 support.. It DOES NOT... the controller can not handle 6 Sata 3 devices. It can handle TWO..It does 2 at SATA 3, 2 at SATA 2, and 2 at SATA 1... upgrading the raid and HD controller bios runs all 6 channels at SATA 3 (if you install that mod).
DELL-Milena M
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December 20th, 2013 09:00
Thanks’ for sharing Dduttonnc!
celtics17
22 Posts
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February 2nd, 2014 09:00
I'd love to get a copy of A07 for my new to me Aurora R3...how can I get you my email address?
jrgenr
3 Posts
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February 20th, 2014 08:00
DDUTTONNC, For what I understand, our Aurora R3 have the AMI BIOS, cand you please lend me your files for me to reflash the PCI ROM for the Intel RST module?, can you please tell me how to open the A06 BIOS flasher file from de MMTool?, thanks in advance!
sdean7855
12 Posts
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May 7th, 2014 10:00
Would you please tell me how to get your A07 BIOS image? My machine is out of warranty, and I would like 4TB support. The link http://www.win-lite.de/wbb/board208-specials/board281-bios-bios-modding/16658-bios-modding-how-to-update-pci-rom-modules-of-an-ami-phoenix-award-bios/
no longer works
defkrom
1 Message
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May 9th, 2014 19:00
I am in need of your A07 to use my new GTX770. Are you still distributing the bios?
nathanaelor
7 Posts
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May 31st, 2014 19:00
Hi there. You seem to be the only person I can find that has this thing whipped. I have an Aurora R3 and I just purchased an r9 280x to replace the ATI video card it came with. It won't boot or post. I've seen some people (different computers) fix this same issue by setting up PCI to legacy in bios, but we don't have that option (that I can find)
So where is the new/custom bios (I hear A07 thrown around) and how do I install it to work on my r3?
I'm still running win7, my drives all work, I just need to get this stupid video card working.
THANKS!
Nate <ADMIN NOTE: Email id removed per privacy policy>
sdean7855
12 Posts
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June 1st, 2014 05:00
I wrote back on May 7th, 3 week ago, asking for the mentioned BIOS and pointing out that the link was dead. Haven't heard anything from dduttonnc. Has someone else in this thread got the stuff or heard from him? Email me direct <ADMIN NOTE: Email id removed per privacy policy>
jrgenr
3 Posts
1
June 1st, 2014 13:00
Hi SDEAN7855, I managed to reflash my BIOS and I still have the files on my PC, Tomorrow I'll contact you by the mail you left on your last post to help you have the 4 TB support.
sdean7855
12 Posts
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June 1st, 2014 17:00
Thank you JRGENR! If the BIOS flash goes bad, is there a fallback of reflashing to A06?
dyrewolf
4 Posts
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June 2nd, 2014 10:00
Jrgenr. I too would live to have this modded BIOS. does this also add the Intel Smart Response?
nathanaelor
7 Posts
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June 2nd, 2014 15:00
dyrewolf
4 Posts
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June 7th, 2014 13:00
so has anyone gotten this modded bios yet?
nathanaelor
7 Posts
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June 7th, 2014 16:00
jrgenr
3 Posts
1
June 10th, 2014 11:00
Hi and sorry, i was out of town , i don't know if this will solve your problem with the GPU, all we have to do is follow the instructions on dduttonnc's post. the updated link is the following: http://www.win-raid.com/t8f16-BIOS-Modding-Introduction-and-Preparations.html . remember that our Auroras use the UEFI BIOS from R3 and higher.
The steps basically are the following:
a) Download the A06 BIOS from Dell.
b) Follow the instructions on the link I pasted above.
c) Identify what chipset you have and grab the modded raid bios code and replace the one in your dell bios then use the dell bios uploader to upload it.
The way you are going to catch the ROM is the following
1- Erase your temporary Files in C:\Windows\Temp
2- Run the BIOS updater.
3- Catch the ROM at the Temp Folder, copy it to the modding folder, modify it and then replace the original rom at the Temp folder with the modded ROM.
If you need further assistance feel free to write back :)
RUDY RAMOS
1 Message
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June 19th, 2014 23:00
Mr. Nathan.
I've just found your post. I have an Alienware R3 046mhw and encountered the same issue after installing my new R9 290. I wont pass POST, wont beep , and wont show anything on screen. If the BIOS is the Aquiles heel of this situation, it seems i would need to get another Machine.