Xps m1730 Raid issues

Hi there, thank god there is a forum like this !

My xps is gettin pretty outdated but since i grew older I have stopped my hardcore gaming and joined the unfortunate world of working . I use my laptop as a desktop just for movies ,streams, basic work tasks, cs6,lightroom. My setup
x9000 @ 3.8ghz (throttlstop)
9800gtx sli
4gb ram

I have the stock hdd from dell which was a 160gb WD black, I had added an intel ssd and ran a dual boot for gaming only. However after 5 years the scorpio has shown clear signs of imminent failure, thus i bought a new wd black 500gb to replace it with. Now the problem I am having is that my 2 hdds never detect anymore, infact only 1 harddrive detects when on the raid setup. This is strange because when I had swapped the scorpio's (old and new) they were workin for a few days - then suddenly stopped. Each hdd can be used individually (on connection 0 alone), I have 3 2.4 hdds spare and no matter what combination I have tried them in ,only 1 hdd is detected at any time. I really need my raid to be functional as I use the 2nd hdd as storage most of the times ( The hdd I boot to , I am able to access the other drive as a storage unit)
Things I have tried
-swapping drives in multiple combinations (only 1 will be detected in windows and in the bios)
-changed the hdd connectors
-changed my keyboard (apparently diagnostics told me keyboard was bad :/ )
-reinstalled windows on drives
-pulled some hair out

The settings on my bios is the same as that which was working before, I just cant seem to figure this problem out. It cant be windows since the bios is not detecting it. Is there something I am missing? Any feedback will be greatly appreciated.
Thanks R-

 

Here begs the question what are you setting up the RAID for? All you need is one main and one backup HDD where you store and save your data/file like how you would setup on a Desktop a Main and Secondary drive not a raid setup. You don't need to make such a setup. And what BIOS version are you running? Just don't use A11 as reports have that this sends your cooling fan to OverDrive. My laptop M1730 comes with just one but the setup isn't a Raid should I decide to addd a second drive.

 

I used the raid to dual boot as I used 2 OS previously .I used my SSD for gaming and the other for work. However even though I have them connected they never detect together. WHatever is 0n the connector 1 is never detected -even if i only have 1 drive connected to it (on Slot #1). I dont mind having a loud laptop as I run overclock all the time and lower temperature is key to maintaining a healthy system. The A11 bios has never given any trouble whatsoever. However I even tried re flashing to A10 and A09 but no success, the problem kept occurring.

 

Have you tried to change that HDD cable? I just currently have one HDD connected on it right now haven't tried two as I am not currently using those as backup and not main computer that is my Desktop that does that deed. Well I kept mine at A10 for now as that work just fine.

 

I’m with StormJumer that the cable maybe bad.
I had one go bad on me and it did the same as yours, only working on one connecter.
Luckily I was under warranty at the time so Dell replaced it.

 

I replaced my connector as well, made no difference. I will try a third connector. I was wondering if there is some specific way that the hdd need to be set up to be detected

 

just tried a brand new 3rd connector to no avail! what is going on!!!!!! argh. IS there a jumper on the hdd's? i have no jumper configuration on my drives so im not sure if that is an issue.

 

With all you have been though maybe your drive was not going bad, maybe it is the connecter on the motherboard.
With the bios not seeing the hard drive it maybe the motherboard, seeing you have replaced the cable and the hard drive.
Again, I am with StormJumper here. I do not see why you need raid for what you are doing. I have dual booted windows and I have never used raid to do it, I would just change the boot order in the bios to the drive that has the windows install I wanted the use.

 

It just sounds more and more like a board problem but until you go back to ACHI or non raid and see what happens I think the raid is looking to see exact same drive if I recall correctly and since neither are matching I think that is where your having problems at. But from my understanding RAID drives must be the same matching capacity to perform the RAID functions but then again that is only useful in Server setups of which what your trying to do is not benefiting you in any shape or form. So go back to ACHI or non raid and use it like a dual HDD setup. The RAID drivers must be IMO matching drives not different drives I think that is where the board is having problems recognizing the drives and throw errors at you.

 

The drive was carded to fail soon (crystal disk info) .I am hoping its not the board tho! I will try resetting the bios and see what happens. I may have made an error when i said i was using raid then. I was actually using a normal dual hdd setup. 1 for work and the ssd for gaming. However now thinking about it, my failing hdd was a 160gb and my ssd was a 160gb as well so perhaps its the differing drive sizes causing the problem with the current setup. I will try to get my hands on a same size hdd and also rest the bios to non raid and see if it makes any difference. Thank guys

 

ah bummer bios rest did nothing.