@Fernando

If I could remind you of this previous correspondence regarding my father's PC (posts 4 to 7).

This chipset has the old Intel AHCI ROM 1.20E and (after my modding the BIOS) RAID ROM 10.1.0.1008; that is, two distinct option ROMs for each purpose.

As I understand it, I need to reinstall the operating system (Win7SP1x64) with the BIOS in RAID mode to make use of the newly-installed RAID ROM and avoid the ancient AHCI ROM; is this correct? I do know for certain that the system boots without expecting a RAID array to be created (the drives are listed as under the control of the RAID BIOS).

If that is the case, then surely the unmodded RST RAID drivers 11.2.0.1006 could be used? From what I can gather looking at the contained INF files for the RST driver pack, the "Intel(R) Desktop/Workstation/Server Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller" which is DEV_2822 is one more than the "Intel(R) ICH8R/DH/DO SATA AHCI Controller (added by Fernando)" within the AHCI INF file (DEV_2821). I have seen similar numerical differences (that is an addition of 1 or 2 to the DEV number) between other AHCI and RAID device versions (ICH7M/MDH for example).

As the boot drive is an SSD, would TRIM still be active using the 10.1.0.1008 ROM/11.2.0.1006 RST combination in RAID mode (there is a secondary mechanical data drive)?

I would appreciate your thoughts and/or advice on this before I attempt the reinstall (although Dad is in another part of the country so not that soon!), if only to prevent needless frustration and the fact I don't like uncertainty!

Kind Regards

Fernando

An excellent example of German efficiency! My sincere thanks.

I'll post updates as soon as possible after the reinstall (here and in the Modding Results thread).

Regards

Hi Fernando (and any other interested parties!)

A minor initial update to this story.

I have just successfully re-modded the last BIOS for the GigaByte board with Intel RST ROM 11.2.0.1527, replacing my previous 10.1.0.1008 mod, without errors, despite the extra size of the ROM!

This board has Dual-BIOS functionality so I will be able to backup the current working mod (as currently listed in your table) before trying the latest version, thus ensuring a working motherboard in the event of problems.
I am shortly to visit my parents and will be applying this mod and reinstalling the OS, as previously discussed.

I'll update you on completion; wish me luck!

Regards

Hi Fernando

Well, the project has come to a grinding halt.

The modded BIOSes (first with ROM 11.2.0.1527 then back to 10.1.0.1008) were successfully flashed and seemed to work OK but I could not get CTRL-I in RAID mode to work in order to confirm the ROM version. This worked the first time I tried v10 in April so I can only assume a 'fluke'.
When I tried to reinstall Windows with either version of the ROM, the installer requested a CD/DVD driver to continue (despite the install being done from DVD) and providing the 11.2 RST driver .inf failed every time.

I then tried to load the MSM 8.9.1.1002 ROM recently provided; that wouldn't even boot from the DVD.

Only the original RAID ROM (v 6.0.0.xxxx believe it or not) got to the 'upgrade or clean install' screen correctly. As I fail to see how a ROM that old would help performance, I gave up, switched back to AHCI, restored the disk image and subsequently moved the SSD onto the (upgraded to ROM 1.07.28) JMicron controller as it boots quicker than the msahci driver on ICH8R (there is no difference in Win7 WEI performance between the two - both rate 5.9, but msahci hangs for some time loading the video driver).

After the success I've had with my Z68 board this was a huge disappointment but I suppose with a 7-year-old motherboard I probably shouldn't be surprised.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome but I feel that this may be a lost cause.

Regards

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #7

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Have you checked your BIOS settings for the option "Force OROM Messages" (or similar)?

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Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #7

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Please read>this< article.
Alternative question: Did you have unplugged all storage devices (except the system drive and the DVD drive, before started with the OS installation?

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Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #7

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This is somehow a similarity with the experience of the user oldschoolh, who was not able at all to update the Intel RAID ROM version of his DFI mainboard BIOS.
On the other hand you have to consider, that it is a very big jump from a RAID ROM v6.x.x.xxxx to v10.x.x.xxxxx or even v11.x.x.xxxx.

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Hi Fernando

I probably didn't power off for a full minute to be honest (though it was powered off after each flash as there is an option within the internal flash procedure to do exactly that).
Clearing CMOS before and after flash (powered off of course) was also tried.
CTRL+I was tried with each of the newer ROMs with no result - the keystrokes were not registered.

The fact remains that the only RAID ROM that didn't cause issues of some kind or another was the original. This may explain why there was never an update supplied by Gigabyte (only an AHCI update to 1.20E).

I may try the 10.1 ROM again at some point before I leave. I'll let you know if I do.

Regards

Hi Again!

I think I shall have to admit defeat on this one...

I used CBROM to extract, release and reinsert each individual BIOS element, including MEMINIT, to ensure a correct element order.
I removed the OEM bios screen image to give extra space.
The JMicron ROM was no problem at all and the BIOS flashes without any problem but the RST ROM (10.1 or 11) will not co-operate.
I followed the recommendations to power off for a full minute (usually MUCH longer actually) before clearing CMOS and resetting BIOS to preferences.
The RST RAID ROM will not recognise ANY drive attached to the Intel controller when reinstalling Windows, nor respond to CTRL-I during boot, unless the original ROM is reinstated.

The current BIOS loaded contains the new JMicron ROM and RST 10.1 ROM but is set to AHCI; it will have to remain this way unfortunately.

I'll be reinstalling Windows 7 64-bit soon(ish) and will (try to) use the RST 10.1 drivers (via Device Manager) once the OS is installed. I'll update with progress at that point.

Regards

@ Fernando

Zitat von Iken im Beitrag #11

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The current BIOS loaded contains the new JMicron ROM and RST 10.1 ROM but is set to AHCI; it will have to remain this way unfortunately.
The RST RAID ROM will not recognise ANY drive attached to the Intel controller when reinstalling Windows, nor respond to CTRL-I during boot, unless the original ROM is reinstated.

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It is the AHCI ROM that detects all the drives during post (and when the BIOS is set to RAID, additional text states the 2 disks are under the control of the RAID BIOS).

Zitat von Fernando im Beitrag #14

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Do you mean a reinstall in AHCI or RAID mode? If it should be the latter, you can verify the chances to succeed already at the beginning of the OS installation and before your drives will be altered. Either the OS Setup will detect your drives or not. If it should not detect your drives, I recommend to reflash the BIOS with the old Intel RAID ROM.

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