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Creating a RAID Set with Areca Controllers in Windows BIOS

Creating a RAID Set:

This is a step by step process for gernarally setting up a RAID using Areca controllers.

1. Restart the system.

2. During the boot process, press "TAB" or "F6" to enter UTILITY.

3. Tthe screen will change to blue and an adapter name will appear at the center of the screen.

5. Press "Enter" to enter the utility. If the alarm is beeping, silence the alarm in Raid System Function/Mute the Alert Beeper.

7. Choose "Raid Set Function" from the menu at the left.

8. You will be prompted for a password.

9. If there's a RAID set that you want to delete and recreate select "Delete Raidset" and select the array to delete.

11. Choose "Physical Drives/View Drive Information" in the Main Menu.

12. This should show the drives listed as "Free".

13. "Esc" to the main menu go to "Raid Set Function".

14. Choose "Create Raidset".

15. Select the appropriate drives by hitting "Enter" on each one and arrow key down to the next drive. After selecting them press "Esc".

16. Choose all default selections - Change Raidset Name to "RAID#1".

17. After RAID Set is completed, ESC to the main menu and choose "Volume Set Function".

18. Choose "Create Volume".

19. Choose Raidset RAID#1.

20. Choose "Use 64bit LBA" for "Greater Two TB Volume Support".

21. Hit Enter on the Volume set name and enter "RAID#1".

22. Press "Enter" after changing the name.

23. Press "Esc".

24. Press "Enter" and choose "Foreground Initialization" to create the volume.

25. The striping process should now start with % completed displayed at the bottom of the screen. This will take several hours to complete. When completed, "F10" allows you to exit the utility. You could also load Windows and use the GUI app to monitor its status while it's rebuilding.

Note: If you have more than one RAID array you would select the additional drives for each RAID set. You would also want to increment the name of the RAID set and Volume set accordingly (RAID #2, RAID #3, etc), and adjust the previous instructions as necessary.

After a RAID is created it will need to be Partitioned and Formatted (as GPT) in Disk Management in order to be seen by the OS.