installed wrong RAID controller, drive degraded, can't get Rapid Storage Technology

hello everyone, I'm quite new to computers, so i apologize if this question is elementary but i don't understand the language yet. I have an M17X R3, I'm not sure what other information is needed, or how to find it, so I apologize..

I installed the wrong controller chipset from the Resource CD (didn't know what i was doing, the dell tech told me to install everything on the CD and bailed), and my laptop didn't work until I installed the Intel Mobile Express Chipset SATA RAID Controller (11.7.0.1013) instead of what I originally had, which meant I couldn't manage my drives like in the Intel Rapid Storage Technology window.

I'm afraid to install IRST because an alert window pops up saying I have a newer driver installed (the mobile express chipset), it took me forever last time to get lucky on google to find a different controller that worked.

I'm running okay with what I have, but for the 5th time now, I have a degraded RAID volume. Usually one of my volumes becomes degraded within a few months, and now that i'm past the AW warranty and tech support help, I'm lost. What can I do to fix this degraded drive? There's no way they're actually going bad this fast, they're SeaGate 500gb SSD's, if that's necessary to know. Thank you for any help!

 

Have you checked the Seagate site for the latest firmware update? I have never used Seagate SSD's but I know the older drives did not have Trim might check that first. Out side of that I have not had problems of that nature but I am sure someone here will have more thoughts on this. And welcome to the forum. :hi2:

 

thanks for the welcome, so far this forum is great!

I haven't tried anything since May, when I left for work in North Dakota, so I'll explore the Seagate site for a while and see what i can do, downloading the SeaTools application right now

 

Hi, I don't know about the drive problem but I have seen the version error with IRST. It's simply that the IRST install includes the driver and you have got a later one from somewhere. Have you looked for the latest IRST on the intel site? I just let it replace and all was OK.

HTH

 

If I replace and overwrite the driver I have now, and the IRST doesn't work, will I be able to just reinstall the current driver to get back to normal without losing anything?

 

That's what I'm thinking. It's only going to be an earlier version of the Intel RAID driver. I'd have a look to see if there is a later IRST package available first as this will be the safest option, but I would expect it to work as before.

 

I'll give that a shot in a minute here, I'm still running the SeaTools long drive test
Thanks for the help so far, I +rep both of you!

 

the new IRST installed and ran perfectly, my degraded drive rebuilt and I am fully functioning again! thanks for all the help!

 

Glade to hear the good news..

 

Great news