m17x r1 raid

ok so i just realized i had an extra harddrive caddy in my m17x and put in an extra harddrivve. both drives are 250 gig seagates 7200rpm. I don't have a clue where to begin with raid. can anyone please help me out. im pretty sure i will have to completely re-install windows. will i still have the respawn option?

 

You will have to resintall, you need to check RAID in your BIOS and then pick the Raid setup you want to use on windows install. Personaly i am gonna do mine later today and i will use Striping.....I wanna squeeze the most out of my two HD

 

Howdies chiefs. You can use the 2nd hdd as separate storage if you like or if you do want to use a RAID setup. Then you will need to create a raid array.
So RAID is not necessary unless you want to use it.

You go into your system BIOS and enable RAID 0 or 1 depending on which one you want to use. Most likely Raid 0 for performance.
Then once you restart you will need to hit F10 i think it was after the bios splash alien screen to go into the RAID setup configuration menu. That is where you will create your raid array setup.
Once that is done then you will need to install your OS.

Alien respawn will be KOed.

Cheers.

 

thanks for both your quick replies. also what is the difference between mirroring and stripe. if i choose stripe what size should i choose?

 

RAID 1 is mirroring. That is when you want to create a mirror image of your 1st hdd on your 2nd hdd. Therefore it is kinda like a failsafe backup RAID array. In case your 1st hdd has problems or loses data the 2nd hdd will back you up and you will be able to recover from errors and loss or data using the 2nd backup mirrored hdd. This will also mean that you lose the space of the 2nd hdd. So you essentially only have the 1st hdds storage capacity. Since the 2nd hdd is mirroring exactly what is on the 1st drive.

You will most likely want to setup a RAID 0 stripping array. You will want to use the entire size of both HDDs. You can choose which every stripping size you want however. Its really simple just follow the on screen instructions.

Just hit F10 to enter the RAID setup configuration menu and start from there.
Make sure you backup and take out whatever you want before you start doing the RAID otherwise you will lose everything.
Once you setup the RAID array essentially you will have one massive hdd combining the 2 hdds together. Once you setup Windows you will be able to setup different partitions and drives in there.

Cheers.

 

Also Raid 0 ( striping )has 2x read and 2x write capabilities, when compared to Raid 1 ( Mirroring ), which has 1x write but 2x read.

Raid 0 as reborn has said carries no fail safe. However if you only had one drive in your machine, you would carry the same risk as running Raid 0. Raid 1 is usually advised for business use, most companies require data backup more than data speed......

Hope that helps

 

thank you for all your info. I got raid 0 up and running and i do notice an increase in performance. there is only one problem. My alieware commande center is dectecting my silver m17x as a red m17x and i dnt have the option to turn on my keyboard lights anymore. i was wondering, do i need to install the alienware tactx keyboard driver that is on the dell website for the m17x?

Here it is

 

Not sure what that is chiefs. WOWsers 375mb. I'm pretty sure thats for an external keyboard or something.

All you need is AlienFX and Alien OSD installed. AlienFX will allow you to set and change your lights.

Go through the list of drivers and software again just to double check you've installed everything.

Cheers.

 

im think i have everything. ive double checked. i can acess alienfx and change my lights. i can change the trackpad the alienheads and the hotkeys. except i still cant change my keyboard = [ currently my keyboard doesnt light up

 

sometimes the lights wont change untill they are applied. Dont forget to try the Fn key and F11, as although you have picked the colour you wnat you may not have alien FX switched on

 

i tried fn+f11. the wierd thing is the option to change my lights on the keyboard doesn even show up on command center. ill upload a picture and show you what i mean.

 

Redownload the alien FX programe, maybe your one is the wrong one or corrupt

 

here is the image



Direct link to image

as you can see, the m17x is red. i have a silver one not red. and the keyboard zones are not showing up at all.

 

by fx program do you mean command center?

 

Yes i mean command centre. My alien ware is black and in th ecommand centre it too shows as red, i would not worry about that. Uninstal and reinstall the latest command centre. i think you rinstall got corrupt

 

ok i re-installed CC. Still no luck :/
first i uninstalled it then restarted my computer. then i installed the latest CC and restarted my computer once again. When i went in to CC to check if my i could change my keyboard lights they option was still missing

 

What bios are you running ?...Did you uninstall the driver then run CC cleaner boefreo installing the dirver again

 

bios A03.
i didnt run ccleaner at all = 0

 

Uninstall by running installer - select REMOVE
Reboot into Safe Mode
Run CCleaner's registry module and remove all problems found
Reboot normally
Install previous version of Command Center, can be found here

Drivers and Downloads - Public Sector

 

thanks again glintor. i will test this out when i get home. im at school right now using my sisters netbook haha

 

darn. i tried it and it still doesnt work. i thought this time it would work. this is really frusturating me. what could be causing this?

 

...maybe its time i call dell?

 

Unfortunately that is not correct and this is why.

RAID0 uses two Hard Drives, so twice as much chance of a HD failure, plus you also start using the RAID Controller. So when you factor that in as well you end up with greater than twice the chance of a failure than with a single HD. You must also know that if 1 HD fails all the data on your RAIDO array is lost not just the info on the failed drive.

Having said that though the chance of a HD failing is fairly remote but by going to RAID0 you do increase your chances.

edit: If you have a sensible 'backup' policy losing the array won't kill you. You will just lose the data since the last backup. If the information on your computer is important to you, you should have a backup policy regardless of whether you are in RAID0 or not. Of course if none of the information on your computer is important to you and you don't mind doing clean installs don't bother backing up.

 

LOL the point i was trying to make is....on Raid 0 if you drive fails you lose your data, if you have 1 HD abd you suffer disk failure you lose you data, on Raid 1 if you lose a HD youdo not lose your data. We could go on forever, if you carry your machine around alot, your mor elikely to drop it as it is a big unit this in turn may damage your drive, or Raid aray Etc Etc Etc........ Get my point

 

Absolutely.

If you have a single HD and it fails = you most likely lose your data;
If you have a RAID0 array and one HD fails = you absolutely lose your data.

I was just trying to make sure the OP understood that he was over twice as likely to have a failure in RAID0 than he would be if using just a single HD. Either way the chances of a fail are low but they are there.

Of course with a good backup policy the point is moot.

 

Agreed. Back on topic though, With regaurd to your keyboard illiuminations. Is the only thing you did during your raid set up was, add another driver enable it in the bios and reload your OS.......Is A03 the best bios to use on an R1, i am not too sure and thi is worth a look

 

Seems Bios A05 is the most used one on the R1. Not sure this will add any benefit, clutching at straws a bit here, worth a go though

 

I remember that you have to update the AlienFx or OSD or something. When you got to update it, it does it like a firmware bios update. So that could be what you need to do chiefs of get that fixed. I have read around here that once it is stuffed up you will need a new board or something and then install the update on it again. However once it is updated it will stay updated always as it is a firmware update, kinda like the bios for the AlienFx or something like that.

Some others were having trouble with their lights too and doing the reinstall of the AlienFX firmware or entire thing fixed their problem. Even though they had already installed the same thing. Doing it again fixed everything.

Cheers.

 

After a bit more research try this

Here are detailed procedure to diagnose and recover the MIO and ACC (Alien Command Center)
1. Open the Control Panel, by left click on the Start Button
2. In the Control Panel, go to Programs and Uninstall Alien Command Center
3. Open Windows Explorer, by left click on the Start Button and by right-clicking on My Computer in the Start Window
4. In Windows Explorer, click Folder and Search Options
5. In Folder Options, choose the View tab and enable “Show hidden files and folders” and click OK
6. In Windows Explorer, go to C:/Program Data/Alienware/Command Center/Thermal Controls and delete the Profile.xml file
7. In Windows Explorer, go to C:/Users/Your name/AppData/Local/Alienware/Alienware AlienFX/Themes and delete all *.ath files
8. In the Control Panel, go to System and Maintenance/Device Manager
9. In Device Manager, open Universal Serial Bus controllers and ensure there is no Unknown Device
10. In Windows Explorer, open C:/Dell/Drivers/ACC release number and double click on the Setup.exe file
11. Complete the Alien Command Center installation by answer “Yes” to all dialogue pop-ups
a. During the installation process, a MIO FW update will occur
b. Do not force or allow any shutdown at this time!
c. If repeating this MIO FW update due to prior installation failures, please capture a screenshot of the FW update dialogue window
12. Allow the system to restart
13. In Device Manager, open Universal Serial Bus controllers and ensure there is no Unknown Device
14. Launch the Alien Command Center icon on the desktop

If steps 9 or 13 result in an Unknown Device, or no device is detected, attempt the following steps:
Ensure the MIO USB cable is properly connected at both the MB and the MIO
Shutdown the system and pull the AC plug, remove the battery and then hold and press the Alien head for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Repower and restart the system after 30 seconds without AC power

 

Is raid 0 really worth than normal duall hdd use?

 

It is 2x as fast, if you want more performance and it is an option....I say yes

 

When I first set this computer up I had 2 x Intel x-25M 160GB SSD's in RAID0and it was faaaaaast. I only broke up the RAID array and fitted the 500GB HD because I wanted the extra storage. If it is speed you are after then RAID0 is a great way to go. The downside to putting SSD's into RAID0 is that the latest technology like TRIM is not supported in RAID0 yet. Maybe with the next Intel RST drivers it will be, but for now it isn't.

 

Frozen, you sig and av, make me shiver lol

 

Yeah. The AV is a Russian IS3 heavy tank in a park not far from where I live and I took the photo the first winter I started work here. I have actually seen it with just the top half of the turret sticking out of the snow. LOL

And I can't take credit for the sig. I stole it from a quote in Ghost Recon

 

i was trying these steps but i wasnt able to complete them. after uninstalling alienware command center i checked in C:\Program data and couldnt find the alienware folder so i couldnt delete the files i was supposed to.

 

Do you have display hidden files and folders checked?

 

yea ive can view hidden files. maybe i should reinstall windwos. idk if that'll do any good but what do you think?

 

MMMMM, ye give it a fresh install and load your drivers in a methodical way, if asks to reboot, reboot then progress to the next driver. Dont mass load

 

ok i reinstalled windows. now the problem is worse. haha now no lights are on. i cant tell where my hotkeys are now. and its difficult to tell if my computer is on sometimes.

 

...........All drivers installed right ? you did them one at a time.
Have you updated to the most problem free Bios for your R1...

 

Found this on here that i was not aware off....If you are running the latest version of Command Center on your Alienware
M15x, you cannot revert to the older version contained in the Resource DVD that was shipped with your system. Customers who reinstall Windows or uninstall Command Center and then reinstall must be careful to not use the Resource DVD to reinstall Command Center, as firmware on your system board may become corrupted.


Maybe this is part of the problem..... I recon a call to Dell is in order,,,,,

 

Did you reinstall with the one on your driver disk or the latest from Dell?

 

That is true chiefs. I remember reading about that issue as well. There were only 2 ways to fix it as well. One was to try and reinstall the latest version. If that failed you will have to tell Dell about your problem and they will need to issue you a new part so you can fix up your lighting FX firmware board.

Cheers.

 

damn it. im gonna have to call dell. i used the CD. i guess ill have to wait 2 months haha. thats when im upgrading my warranty to complete care. thanks for all the help. guess i gotta be patient.