Raid on single drive

I am confused. I only have a single hard drive 750 gb 7,200 rpm in my laptop. When I looked in the A08 bios the hard drive node is RAID. How can this be with just a single drive? The other options to choose are Sata or AHCI. Very baffled. Have dell set my machine up wrong?

Thanks
Wayne

 

I think the bios just defaults to Raid. Changing it to anything else now will give you blue screens. You can change it to AHCI when/if you plan on installing a new SSD.

 

It just means that RAID is enabled. It doesn't really matter in a single drive config, though most people recommend using AHCI if you are using a single drive SSD config.

 

I'm pretty sure all newer models of M17xR3 land with the RAID config enabled. You shouldn't notice any performance issues. Also if you take it upon yourself to install another HDD in bay 0 then the system will recognize the HDD but operate as if it's AHCI. however when you 1st boot system you will see a set up page for about 2-3 seconds then system will boot like normal. I would leave all settings as they are because it will keep from BSOD's.

 

I had this too, when I was ambling about the BIOS for my service no. or w/e it is. Gave me a chuckle as I also have the same drive as you.
I just figured, well the laptop works well as it is, so I'd be best not be changing it.

 

From the reading i have done, the raid setting includes the ahci command set, so it gives you the performance of ahci with the ability to upgrade to raid later if you want. intel recommends the always using the raid setting. as long as you have newish drivers, even commands like trim still work with the bios set to raid.

 

Verification. All newer alienwares come in "RAID."

 

Question in regards to adding a storage drive. I have a single SSD, and my setting is RAID. I just bought a 750GB caviar black to add as a storage drive. Do I need to change the RAID setting? If I do this, will I loose the data, or can I still boot off my SSD? I still want the SSD as the main drive, just want to add 750GB of storage as well... Just confused as to the settings/process. Thanks!

 

Don't think you need to change a thing. I use RAID in my R1 even though I have a boot drive and a storage drive. If it works like my R1 and you change the RAID setting to say ATA you will lose access to the SSD until you change it back or reformat the SSD and reinstall everything. You should just be able to stick the 750 in there and start loading it up!

 

Just leave SATA set to Raid and install the new storage drive, i.e., plug it in; the drive should be automatically recognized. No changes are required. Your drives will not be functioning in a Raid array.

 

You don't have to change anything. Remove back cover, install into bay 0, install cover, your system will recognize HDD & you will be allowed to save data with no problems. If you change settings be prepared to due a fresh install. Have system image saved. The only difference you will notice is on boot you will see the RAID screen for 2-3 seconds then windows will boot like normal. Drives will operate in AHCI.

 

Intel RAID mode uses AHCI mode when used on single drives (or drives not in a RAID array). So you don't have to worry about leaving it in RAID mode. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Advanced_Host_Controller_Interface

The only possible con of raid mode is it might slow down boot times with a short delay when the computer posts, if it searches for hard drives. I'm not sure how alienware does it, but my desktops used to have that delay (my M17xR3 is set to AHCI.. so I'm unsure).

edit: T2TFITNESS beat me to it (I was typing slow )

 

If I'm not mistaken the drives will operate in AHCI w/ BIOS still set to RAID. Changing the BIOS to AHCI can cause BSOD'S from my research. Please correct me if I'm wrong. I'm learning

 

Team Work