How do I troubleshoot a RAID0 volume?

Use this checklist if a RAID 0 (Striped) volume is reported as failed. The computer reports the failure by displaying the RAID BIOS prompt for approximately 8 seconds, and indicates a Failed status.

  • A RAID 0 volume is reported as failed when one of its member drives fails or has become disconnected. If any of these events occurs, RAID 0 volume is not accessible.
  • A failed RAID 0 volume can be recovered if a member drive has become disconnected and can be successfully reconnected. It cannot be recovered if a member drive is bad or the data on a drive that identifies it as a RAID volume member is corrupted.
  • Gateway motherboards support only SATA hard drives as RAID volume member disks.
  • Most RAID issues are caused by faulty hard drives. If a RAID 0 volume member drive fails and requires replacement, all data stored on the volume cannot be retrieved. If data is not available on a backup, it is lost.

Check Raid 0 volume status

  1. Enter the RAID BIOS.

    Important: The RAID BIOS is not accessible unless RAID is enabled in System BIOS. There also must be at least one RAID drive member or more than one SATA drive detected. It is possible to have a single RAID member drive present if one or more other RAID drive members have failed, are not properly connected, or have been removed.

    1. Restart computer.

    2. Enter system BIOS Setup and verify RAID is enabled.

      1. At Gateway logo screen, press F2 key repeatedly.

      2. Select Advanced/Drive Configuration page.

      3. Check SATA Drive configuration to make sure RAID is set to Enabled or Configure SATA as is set to RAID. If setting is correct, exit BIOS Setup.

    3. When prompted, press CTRL+I keys repeatedly to enter RAID BIOS. If you miss the prompt, restart computer and start pressing CTRL+I keys repeatedly after Gateway logo screen.

      CTRL+I prompt

      4. Note: This illustration is only a representation of the RAID BIOS prompt screen. Values may or may not match your configuration.

      Note: When there is a RAID problem, the prompt is displayed for 8 seconds. When RAID status is normal, prompt is displayed for only a couple seconds.

      RAID BIOS screen

    4. If unable to enter RAID BIOS, refer to Desktop Hard Drive Not Detected checklist for Windows XP or Windows Vista and start troubleshooting at the Check BIOS settings step.

  2. Check the drive status.
    3. View Picture

    • If Status is Normal, RAID Volume is OK.
    • If more than one volume is listed, escalate issue.
    • If any RAID volume Member Disk is not listed in Physical Disks section of RAID BIOS, refer to Desktop Hard Drive Not Detected checklist for Windows XP or Windows Vista and start troubleshooting at Reseat cables step.

    Note: RAID 0 requires at least two RAID Member Disks and can support three.

Restore failed volume

  1. Replace the failed hard drives

    1. If the original configuration includes a third drive that is a Non-RAID Disk, refer to Non-RAID Disk precautions.

    2. Make sure computer is turned off.

    3. Replace failed hard drives. Refer to Product pages for replacement procedure.

      4. Note: Gateway recommends replacing failed RAID volume drive members with new identical drives (same manufacturer and model). If different size drives are used, volume size is limited by size of smallest drive member.

    4. Restart computer.

  2. If detected, delete the RAID volume.

    1. Enter RAID BIOS.

    2. If a RAID volume is detected:

      1. Select option 2 - Delete the volume.

      2. Press the DELETE key to delete the volume.

      3. Create a RAID 0 volume.

    3. If RAID volume is not detected, create a RAID 0 volume.

Create RAID 0 volume

  1. Enter the RAID BIOS.

  2. Create the RAID volume in the RAID BIOS.

    1. If the original configuration included a third drive that was not a Non-RAID Disk, refer to Non-RAID Disk precautions.

    2. On Main Menu, select option 1 - Create RAID Volume.

    3. Set RAID parameters using up and down arrows to highlight a value, then press ENTER key to select that value.

      Parameters screen

      4. Note: Select either default value or a custom value. Help provides instructions for selecting custom values.

    4. Press ESC key to exit RAID BIOS after all selections have been made.

  3. Reinstall the operating system.

If following the above procedures did not resolve your problem, please contact Gateway through one of the following methods: