Predator G9-793-78CM: Disable Raid 0

drunkenpeasant · April 2017

Hi,

My laptop came with two 128GB Lite-On SSDs in Raid 0 configuration. I'd like to break the array and use the SSDs as two separate drives. Can someone please tell me how do I go about it? There's no option in the BIOS to disable it, tried both UEFI and Legacy mode. The option to change Sata mode to AHCI from RAID is always greyed out. I think there's no point in keeping the Raid 0 configuration. I do not notice any performance gain

IronFly · April 2017

Symptoms
User can't delete RAID array, RAID option greyed on BIOS.

Diagnosis
User can create the RAID array via "Intel Rapid Storage Technology UI" (iRST) on Windows but can't delete RAID by "iRST" and RAID is the only option on BIOS (AHCI option is missing).

Before deleting the RAID array
Always remember to do the windows recovery media before running the RAID tool to delete the array.
With the help of the Acer Care Center (pre-installed on your system), you can create the windows recovery media on an USB stick, so you can reinstall it later.
In the AcerCare Center, click Recovery Management -> Getting Started, and then follow the instructions.
http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/38147

You can also perform a backup of your actual windows installation, so using the windows recovery media, you can reload your OS at the time of the backup.
Press Windows logo key and type "backup"
click on "Backup and restore" and then follow on screen instructions.
http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/37461

Solution
First of all, check the Volume name of your array on "iRST".
Press windows logo key and type "intel"
click on "Intel Rapid Storage Technology"
click on "Yes" if prompted
check on the right side, under "Storage System View", that "Volume_0000" or "OEMRAID0" is the name of the array.

if Type description is:
RAID 1 or Recovery - no data will be lost
RAID 0 - all your data will be lost - you will need to re-install Windows

Download the RAID tool
ftp://ftp.acer-euro.com/Notebook/Predator/G9-793/RAID_Tool.zip

Right click the downloaded RAID_Tool.zip file
click on "Extract all"
Click on "Browse..."
Click on "Computer"
Click on "C:" (normally it's labeled "Acer (C: )
Click on "Ok"
Click on "Extract"

Now click on the Windows logo at the bottom left of your screen
Click on the Power icon
Press Shift key and click on "Restart"
On the next screen click on "Troubleshooting"
On the next screen click on "Advanced settings"
On the next screen click on "Command Prompt"
Select your account and type your password (if any)

At Command prompt
type C:
type CD Raid_tool
type delete

Once successfully deleted, press Enter and then reboot your PC.
The RAID array will be deleted.

IronFly · April 2017

Symptoms
User can't delete RAID array, RAID option greyed on BIOS.

Diagnosis
User can create the RAID array via "Intel Rapid Storage Technology UI" (iRST) on Windows but can't delete RAID by "iRST" and RAID is the only option on BIOS (AHCI option is missing).

Before deleting the RAID array
Always remember to do the windows recovery media before running the RAID tool to delete the array.
With the help of the Acer Care Center (pre-installed on your system), you can create the windows recovery media on an USB stick, so you can reinstall it later.
In the AcerCare Center, click Recovery Management -> Getting Started, and then follow the instructions.
http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/38147

You can also perform a backup of your actual windows installation, so using the windows recovery media, you can reload your OS at the time of the backup.
Press Windows logo key and type "backup"
click on "Backup and restore" and then follow on screen instructions.
http://acer.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/37461

Solution
First of all, check the Volume name of your array on "iRST".
Press windows logo key and type "intel"
click on "Intel Rapid Storage Technology"
click on "Yes" if prompted
check on the right side, under "Storage System View", that "Volume_0000" or "OEMRAID0" is the name of the array.

if Type description is:
RAID 1 or Recovery - no data will be lost
RAID 0 - all your data will be lost - you will need to re-install Windows

Download the RAID tool
ftp://ftp.acer-euro.com/Notebook/Predator/G9-793/RAID_Tool.zip

Right click the downloaded RAID_Tool.zip file
click on "Extract all"
Click on "Browse..."
Click on "Computer"
Click on "C:" (normally it's labeled "Acer (C: )
Click on "Ok"
Click on "Extract"

Now click on the Windows logo at the bottom left of your screen
Click on the Power icon
Press Shift key and click on "Restart"
On the next screen click on "Troubleshooting"
On the next screen click on "Advanced settings"
On the next screen click on "Command Prompt"
Select your account and type your password (if any)

At Command prompt
type C:
type CD Raid_tool
type delete

Once successfully deleted, press Enter and then reboot your PC.
The RAID array will be deleted.

drunkenpeasant · April 2017

Thanks! Worked flawlessly. I now have two seperate SSDs, and they perform as fast as they did while in RAID 0.

Archaegeo · April 2017

Thanks for this, let me install my 512 intel 600 drive and then unbind the two 128s it came with. Nice explanation!

maged120990 · June 2017

Hello,

I own a Predator G9-593 and when trying to follow the steps I got a message on the Command Prompt that said "Intel (R) RST CLI version 14.8 cannot be used with version 15.2 of the driver"

What should I do?

Thank you in advance.

Neggy-Z · July 2017

For anyone having the "Intel (R) RST CLI version **.* cannot be used with version **.* of the driver" issue you need to download the RST CLI version to match the driver version.

If the driver version is 15.2 then you need to download RST CLI v15.2.

Google it to find the version you need.

Once downloaded replace the old rstcli64.exe with the one you downloaded.

TheVielusos78 · January 2018

Hey, i have the same problem but it says : "Intel (R) RST CLI version 15.2 cannot be used with version 15.5 of the driver" when i try to use the Raid_tool, please help me :, (
I have a predator g9-793 (ssd 250 gb et 1to HDD).

G1ggity · January 2018

I have a 593, Ive tried this hack several times to no avail. after typing "delete" the command line repeats "cannot load system information" three times, then I get a done message. I hit enter to reboot and everything's just as it was.

midjji · April 2018

I get the same result as g1ggity, first time it said raid deleted, later attempts show nothing. But the raid is still there.

kenpat · April 2018

I am having this issue now. Please help fix.
(Intel rapid cli 15.2 cannot work with version 16.0 of the driver.)

IronFly · April 2018

the RAID tool doesn't work anymore, the only way to break the RAID array is using a Gparted live bootable image and format the HDD as NFTS, deleting any partition on it or (if it didn't work) wipe/erase completly writing 0 on the HDD (HDD only, not SSD)
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

or you can try this (i don't have a RAID system to test it):
1) press Alt+F10 at boot to enter Windows recovery then choose troubleshoot - Advanced options - Command Prompt
if this worked jump to point 8)

2) download a windows 10 iso using Microsof tool:

http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209

select the proper windows 10 version (the same installed on your laptop) and choose to save it as iso file when prompted

3) download Rufus:

http://rufus.akeo.ie/?locale=en_US

plug your USB flash drive, run Rufus then:

select ISO image from the dropdown menu near "Create a bootable disk"

click on the little icon on the right and browse to the windows 10 downloaded iso file

as Partitions scheme select "GPT partition scheme for UEFI"

as File system select "FAT32"

click on Start

wait until it finish, then uplug your USB flash drive

4) backup all your personal data

5) Reboot to BIOS, pressing F2 at boot if it's a laptop or Del key if it's a desktop, then press F9 to load default and F10 to save and exit

6) plug your USB flash drive and at boot press F12 (if F12 doesn't work, see if it auto-recognise the USB flash drive or press F2 or Del key to enter BIOS and enable F12 boot menu under BOOT tab), choose the USB flash drive as bootable device

7) once at language/keyboard selection, press shift+F10, a command prompt will open

8) type

Diskpart

list disk

select disk x (x is the number of your HDD // not SSD!!!)

clean all

exit

exit again to close command prompt

It will take some hours to completly wipe the HDD and probably you will need to re-install windows 10 from scratch, so backup all the data you need!

vonbetelgeuse · August 2018

IronFly said:

the RAID tool doesn't work anymore, the only way to break the RAID array is using a Gparted live bootable image and format the HDD as NFTS, deleting any partition on it or (if it didn't work) wipe/erase completly writing 0 on the HDD (HDD only, not SSD)
https://gparted.org/livecd.php

or you can try this (i don't have a RAID system to test it):
1) press Alt+F10 at boot to enter Windows recovery then choose troubleshoot - Advanced options - Command Prompt
if this worked jump to point 8)
2) download a windows 10 iso using Microsof tool:
http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkId=691209
select the proper windows 10 version (the same installed on your laptop) and choose to save it as iso file when prompted
3) download Rufus:
http://rufus.akeo.ie/?locale=en_US
plug your USB flash drive, run Rufus then:
select ISO image from the dropdown menu near "Create a bootable disk"
click on the little icon on the right and browse to the windows 10 downloaded iso file
as Partitions scheme select "GPT partition scheme for UEFI"
as File system select "FAT32"
click on Start
wait until it finish, then uplug your USB flash drive
4) backup all your personal data
5) Reboot to BIOS, pressing F2 at boot if it's a laptop or Del key if it's a desktop, then press F9 to load default and F10 to save and exit
6) plug your USB flash drive and at boot press F12 (if F12 doesn't work, see if it auto-recognise the USB flash drive or press F2 or Del key to enter BIOS and enable F12 boot menu under BOOT tab), choose the USB flash drive as bootable device
7) once at language/keyboard selection, press shift+F10, a command prompt will open
8) type
Diskpart
list disk
select disk x (x is the number of your HDD // not SSD!!!)
clean all
exit
exit again to close command prompt

It will take some hours to completly wipe the HDD and probably you will need to re-install windows 10 from scratch, so backup all the data you need!