Can't install Windows 10 on RAID 0.

Hi, so I got Aorus Z390 mITX motherboard and 2 M.2 NVMe SSDs that in RAID 0. Now when I want to install Windows 10 I have error message that tells that Windows cannot be installed on that disk cause of some controller that probably turned off. If I change to AHCI then I can install OS, but I need RAID 0. Any ideas?

 

Update to latest bios first.

I had no problems, gigabyte z390 mobo with two nvme drives in raid-0.

Remember to save your settings often... I didn’t.

 

Is your boot order set correctly? That can sometimes impact the ability to install windows on a disk, and also is the RAID set as bootable? That needs to be set in the RAID controller.

 

I've tried to load RST drivers during Windows installing (about 5-6 versions) but nothing changed. I want to try different Windows to install. I'll try to upade BIOS too, but how to check boot order? Also I have 2nd PC and I need RAID 0 there too, I want to try today to install Windows, I guess its gonna be the same issue.

 

So different version of Windows didn't give any results, the problem remains. On 2nd PC I can install Windows on RAID 0 without any issues... almost. After Windows installed and reboot I don't see picture (so have no idea if Windows boots after installation), actually doesn't matter what I do, but after reboot I don't have signal on the screen. These all problems confuse me, it simple and must work but for some reason don't I can't find out why. Everything brand new, also tried iGPU and GPU and both give the same result.

 

did you try the diskpart / clean command to completely wipe the disk(s) then type convert gpt then hit enter and try again?

Also ensure that you have booted the USB stick in UEFI mode


NBR Windows 10 Clean Installation Guide

 

Yes, I did it and tried both - UEFI and Legacy. If CSM disable, Windows won't boot. Now, the last thing I have to try - to update BIOS, if this won't give any results then I give up.

 

OK, I've tried everything, I give up. Updating BIOS gave nothing. I don't understand what's the problem and how to fix it. On 2nd PC I didn't use drivers or anything else, right out from the box works fine, installed Windows 10 on the same RAID 0. Of course its different components, but it doesn't mean it don't have to work, it supposed to be and I paid for it. Even technical support don't want to help, just stuck. If you have ideas, I don't mind to try something else, it must something, maybe I just missed.

 

Page 44: http://download.gigabyte.eu/FileList/Manual/mb_manual_z390-aorus-pro_wifi_1001_190219_e.pdf
Not exactly same motherboard you have but should be quite similar. In case there is some setting you have missed.

 

Windows 10 should have native RAID driver support. My previous ASUS Rampage mobo and my EVGA X299 Dark mobo both have a BIOS setting that has to be enabled for RAID on PCI-e. If you only set RAID and not that it will not work. Are you able to create the RAID0 membership in the BIOS with the NVMe drives? If not, and they do not show up as available for RAID, then it probably is that setting is not enabled.

Also, be sure that you DO NOT have the option for CPU RAID enabled. That requires a hardware key and Windows cannot be installed onto a CPU RAID setup, as the option is only for storage.

If that is in place and still does not work, set the BIOS to RAID, break the RAID membership in the BIOS, then install Windows to just one NVMe drive (not an array). Install Intel RST in Windows and create the RAID0 membership within Windows. Let it finish. It will take a good while to complete. If you interrupt the process Windows will not be bootable.

 

Yep, I did everything exactly. But I didn't get about Note 2 on the page 44, can you explain please?

I made a volume in the BIOS, it is RAID 0 and in the drives list during Windows installation I see capacity of both drivers as one drive, just not available to install Windows on it. What is CPU RAID setup and how to find it? Not sure, but maybe this is the problem. What's the difference between RAID made in BIOS and the one in Windows?

 

You will have to look for the BIOS setting for CPU RAID to make sure that is not enabled. There is no difference between the RAID0 membership created in the BIOS using RST firmware versus doing it in Windows with RST software other than the steps you take to create it. If something in the firmware is blocking Windows from installing to the RAID0 membership, then chances are RST in Windows will not give you the option of creating the volume using the NVMe SSDs. But, if it is just a weird glitch, you will be able to create it in Windows and your problem will be solved.

You also need to check to confirm that both NVMe drives are running on PCH lanes. If one is running on CPU lanes and one on PCH, you will not be able to install Windows on that volume. You should have a setting to control that. The PCH lanes share resources with SATA ports, so you will probably lose functionality on certain SATA ports. That should be documented somewhere in your user manual.

When you see the error message that you cannot install Windows on the RAID volume, stop and unplug the USB drive, wait about 30 seconds then plug it back in again. Wait a few seconds for the drive to be read and try installing again. Don't reboot or anything, just stay right there on that screen. Unplug the USB, wait, then plug it back in. Don't ask me why that works... I don't know why, but I know that it often does. It may install after you do that.