RAID 1 Array (Data Mirror) "Initialize" Status in RAID BIOS

 Hi Vege Mite,

The XPS™ 8300 can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased.You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes.

• The first method uses the Intel® RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto the hard drive.
• The second method uses the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology and is performed after you have installed the operating system.

 Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before beginning any of the RAID configuration procedures.

Please follow the steps to set the computer to RAID-Enabled Mode:

Note: Back up any data you want to keep before entering the RAID-Enabled mode. The RAID configuration procedure can result in loss of all data from the hard drive.The BIOS default setting for SATA mode is “RAID”.

• Enter system setup by tapping on the F2 key on the Dell logo after restarting the system
• Click the Advanced option
• Click on System Configuration
• The SATA mode should be RAID
• Press F10 to save and ESC key to exit.

Once this is done, restart the system and create RAID 1 using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology option ROM User Interface

1. Enter the Intel RST Option ROM Utility by pressing + just after the Dell Logo.
2. • Select Create RAID Volume using the up and down arrow keys, press Enter.
   • Enter a name for the volume, press Enter.
   • Under RAID Level select RAID1 (Mirror) using the up and down arrow keys, press Enter.
   • Let Capacity remain on the maximum setting, press Enter.
   • The option Create Volume gets highlighted, press Enter.

Hi Vege Mite, The XPS™ 8300 can be configured for RAID, even if you did not select a RAID configuration when the computer was purchased.You can use one of two methods to configure RAID hard drive volumes. The first method uses the Intel® RAID Option ROM utility and is performed before you install the operating system onto the hard drive. The second method uses the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology and is performed after you have installed the operating system.  Both methods require that you set your computer to RAID-enabled mode before beginning any of the RAID configuration procedures. Please follow the steps to set the computer to RAID-Enabled Mode: Note: Back up any data you want to keep before entering the RAID-Enabled mode. The RAID configuration procedure can result in loss of all data from the hard drive.The BIOS default setting for SATA mode is “RAID”. Enter system setup by tapping on the F2 key on the Dell logo after restarting the system Click the Advanced option Click on System Configuration The SATA mode should be RAID Press F10 to save and ESC key to exit.   Once this is done, restart the system and create RAID 1 using the Intel Rapid Storage Technology option ROM User Interface Enter the Intel RST Option ROM Utility by pressing + just after the Dell Logo. Select Create RAID Volume using the up and down arrow keys, press Enter. Enter a name for the volume, press Enter. Under RAID Level select RAID1 (Mirror) using the up and down arrow keys, press Enter. Let Capacity remain on the maximum setting, press Enter. The option Create Volume gets highlighted, press Enter.  If this is not working you can also create RAID 1 using the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Console: Run the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology Console from the following Start menu link within Windows : Start–>Programs–>Intel Control Center–>Intel® Rapid Storage Technology–>Intel® Rapid Storage Technology console. Based on the available hardware and the computer’s configuration, the user may be able to create a volume by selecting the ‘easy to use’ options such as ‘Protect data’ under ‘Status’, or by selecting a volume type under ‘Create’.  Note: To create a volume the user must be in admin mode and the system must be in RAID Ready mode with two or more hard disks connected to it. Instructions to create a volume by selecting volume type under ‘Create’ Select RAID 1 and click on ‘Next’ Now configure the volume by providing the volume name, selecting the hard disks to be part of the volume. Once the disks are selected for volume creation, the user will be presented with an option, if data on the selected disk needs to be preserved. Click on ‘Next’ and select the ‘Create Volume’ button. After the RAID volume is created, a dialog box opens stating that the RAID volume was successfully created and the user will need to use Windows Disk Management or other third-party software to create a partition within the RAID volume and format the partition. Click OK to close this dialog box. After formatting the partition, the user may begin to copy files to, or install software on, the RAID volume. Create RAID 1 Using the Intel® Rapid Storage Technology option ROM User Interface Upon re-boot, when the option ROM status message appears on the screen – press to enter the Intel Rapid Storage Technology option ROM user interface. In the Main Menu, select the first option to ‘Create RAID Volume’. Enter the name of the RAID volume and press Enter. Select the RAID 1 by using the arrow keys, and then press Enter. Press Enter to select the disks to be used by the array that the volume will be created on. Press Enter when done. Enter the size for the RAID volume in gigabytes. The default value will be the maximum size. If a smaller size is entered, the user will be able to create a second volume in the remaining space using the same procedure. After this is done, exit the Option ROM user interface. Kindly get back if there are any further queries Hi Abhishek_B,   Thank you so much, My problem is now solved,   Sincerely,   Vege Mite

This thread has been locked due to inactivity. For assistance, with same issue or a different issue, please click New Post on the top right to start a New Thread.