Hi,
1. SUMMARY: On a Dell 64-bit desktop, we are running IRST with a RAID1 mirror setup using two 500 GB hard drives. On a hard reboot, one drive is missing and the RAID set is listed as "degraded". On booting into Windows 7, the drive is then found. Going into the IRST console, the Array is listed as "functioning normal", the missing drive is found and a re-build is in process.
2. DETAILS: This happened after a hard reboot (machine shutdown in order to add memory to 8 GB). Dell Optiplex 755 uses the Q35 Express Chipset. Dell BIOS and Intel IRST software are both up to date.
3. POSSIBLE ISSUE: In another Chipset discussion (see following reference) Ottavio figures out that the problem could be that the RAID set is requested before the disks are fully spun up. Thus a warm reboot isn't a problem (disks are still spinning) and on a hard reboot, once you are into Windows, the IRST software finds the missing disk, now spun up. Ottavio tries to think of ways of delaying the initial IRST boot-time request, so then the disks would be all spun up by the time IRST looks for them.
Re: H67 RAID1 Degraded after every cold boot
5. QUESTION: Can anyone suggest any solutions -- or request more information from the machine that could help in a diagnosis? Maybe some sort of lengthy memory check during POST would also do the trick?
6. IS THIS IMPORTANT? The IRST mirror capability built in to widely used Dell desktops is an easy-to-use and powerful way of insuring against disk loss. Obviously needs to be complimented by file backup, file archiving and system imaging. But mirroring prevents the horrible situation of a loss at 3 pm in the middle of getting ready for a big presentation. I'm hoping that we can be able to reboot our systems without the concern and slowness associated with rebuild.
Many thanks for any suggestions. I will post anything I learn.
John