Windows sees 3 TB HDD as having only 746.52 GB capacity

Which version of IRST did you install?  I believe Intel is up to 11 something, and the first versions that could handle 3 TB were in the 10 range.  Once you have the new IRST driver, you must delete any existing partitions and do it over.

Thanks, Jack Shack.  I installed the version Dell gave me, which is v. 9.6.0.1014.  I found an "Intel Rapid Storage Technology F6 Driver for x64 Windows" on Dell's web site at www.dell.com/.../DriverDetails, which the site identifies as "Vendor Version : 12.6.0.1033, Dell Version : A03", and I downloaded it, but apparently it can be installed only when you install the Windows OS.

Intel's web site offers several versions, and I don't know which version, if any, to download for my Alienware Aurora machine, since none of the compatibility descriptions matches anything in my computer.  I also suspect that Dell uses modified versions, and that a driver downloaded from Intel's site might not work on a Dell machine.

What version should I install, and where can I get it?

Thanks again for the tip.

Well, Jack Shack, you are my hero this week.  HGST didn't help me, Dell didn't help me (of course), Intel didn't help me, the makers of Partition Master didn't help me, but some guy on the internet solved my problem.  I really appreciate it.

You're quite welcome, I'm glad I could help.

Best of luck to you.

I'm going through the same problems on my Inspiron 9100. I can't seem to determine what Bios my computer is running. I hit F2 on startup and there are lots of settings, but no info on what version I am running. Just exactly where do I find the info?  The system is 2.5 years old and a newere version may well help.

And is there a lot of risk when updating?

Bob

This thread has to do with the SATA drivers needed for very high capacity drives.  You seem to have another problem and should be starting your own post

The last computer I know that has the designation of Inspiron 9100 was a laptop produced about six years ago.  Are you sure that is what you have?  Is your computer a desktop?  If you have a desktop, it is possible you have a Studio XPS 9100, which would be about two and a half years old.

If you use F2 to reach the System Setup page, the BIOS version is at the top of the screen.

Most of the problems I have seen with the updating of the BIOS involve being unable to execute the update at all.  If the update is properly executed, it usually runs with no problem.  There is, however, a small risk of bricking the system whenever a BIOS is updated.  You must be certain to minimize the chances of a power interruption when you perform the procedure.  Most update failures that brick the mainboard result from an event which does not allow the update to proceed to completion.

Hi nhranut,

Many times the bios shipped with the motherboard were shipped "before its time". As with any software, we periodically update the BIOS to fix bugs, add compatibility with new devices, improve caching functions, and make several other hardware tweaks that can speed up your boot time and fix issues.

To check the BIOS version on the computer, restart the computer and tap F2 at Dell logo. Select “System Info” you can find “version”.

The latest version of BIOS is A4:

http://dell.to/14NpFkZ

• During BIOS update verify that the computer is connected to an AC Adapter.
• Disconnect any third party peripherals connected to the computer before performing BIOS update. 
• Do not turn off the computer during the BIOS update.
• Do not restart the computer during the BIOS update.
• Ensure battery charge is more than 30% during BIOS update.

Note: Plug your computer to a good, working UPS before you update the BIOS. If you experience a loss of AC power or a significant voltage sag/spike during the BIOS flash, you will either have to buy a new BIOS chip or buy a new motherboard.

Please reply for further questions.

Oops, yes Studio 9100.  Brain Fart!!

The problem is exactly the one in the opening post of this thread. The answer was updating the Bios, and it's something I really don't want to get into. 

The reasons you stated are why.  I was wondering if mine was an old, incompatible version, and may be the problem.  Been going in circles two days now and not sure what I'm seeing at this point. I'll do another re-start and look a little closer.

Thanks for your input.

Bob

Checked again, and indeed the BIOS version is A4.  I was expecting more digits after going to the Intel site and looking at info, and skipped right over A4 the first time.

So I take it that the BIOS should not be a problem for recognizing the full size of the drive, and I'm running out of options.  I've "written zeroes" to the disc 3 times now, initialized the drive selecting GPT, and still only get 746 gb. Deleting the volume and formatting only gives the option for 746 gb.

Initially I contacted WD for help, and it took 5 days for a reply. After their advice failed, I contacted them again, but it's only been 1 day. At this rate I will die of old age before I get the problem resolved.:emotion-6:

Bob

Your difficulty has nothing to do with the BIOS.  The BIOS of every computer made during at least the last five years has been able to support drives of much greater capacity than you can currently purchase.  Read the thread carefully.  My post having the link to the Intel RST applications is most likely the solution.  When Windows 7 was first released, the AHCI driver that was included was not capable of supporting drives larger than 2 TB.  Your RST driver is most likely some version around 9.  Go get the version 11 found in the link I posted and install it.  It will update your driver and allow you to partition and format your large capacity drive.  You must delete the current partition using Disk Management, and perform the partition and format using the GPT option.  If you don't get rid of the existing partition, Disk Management will assume it is an MBR disk, and you will be limited to a partition of 2 TB.

In a nutshell, yes, the Option ROM version needs to be 10.5.0 or later in order to support RAID consisting of drives larger than 2.2 TB.  The controller must also be ICH9 or later, but I don't think the Studio XPS 9100 has a problem in that department.  See this from Wikipedia:  Intel Matrix RAID

I'm having the exact same problem - at least what I think is the original problem (not being able to create a > 2TB data volume, no "create" options in RST.)

I have:

- a Studio 9100, BIOS version A04

- Intel Option ROM version 8.7.0.1007

- Intel RST (from above Dell link) version 11.6.0.1030

The initial RAID volume is made up of 2x1TB drives, and has worked well from the beginning.  I just added two 3TB Seagate drives, using different ports on the motherboard, and wanted to create a RAID 1 volume (for data only.)

I initially had version 9.x of the Intel RST, and both the boot messages from the Option ROM and the Intel RST showed the ~700GB-sized drives.  Once I upgraded to 11.6.0.1030, Intel RST shows 2,795 TB for each of them, but the Option ROM still shows only ~ 700GB.

Various posts around the Net have said that the Option ROM is the problem, which makes sense to me since it has the problem - not the RST.

All thoughts are very much appreciated...

Thanks,

Scott

OK That's where I was at when I started getting confused about things. So this has nothing to do with BIOS I take it, and is not a high risk upgrade from what you are saying.

Thanks for your response, and I will check that out again.

Bob

Great!!   I'll be back tomorrow with my results.

Bob