Windows Server 2012 doesn't find RAID array during setup

Question

I'm trying to install Windows Server 2012 to a HP ProLiant 140 DL G3. I've attached two Toshiba SSD drives with 256GB capacity each. I've enabled RAID in the BIOS and, using the built-in Disk Manager (pressing F8 during Boot), created a new RAID 1 array (using QuickInit - the drives are brand new).

However, when rebooting, the drives don't show up in the BIOS. Windows Setup doesn't find the drives either. I've downloaded the RAID drivers for Windows Server 2008 from here, but is there even a point installing them (which would be another issue, as 2012 isn't supported) if the drives don't even show up in the BIOS?

Solution

NopeNopeNope

The HP ProLiant DL140 G3 went End-of-Life in 2008.

Depending on the model, hot-plug versus non-hot-plug, you either have a basic Intel or LSI (fake)RAID or a software RAID option. You can continue with the drivers for Windows 2008 x64 (the server predates 2008R2) and see what happens. But everything points to this be an incompatible and toxic combination of OS, components and server.

Also note: Connecting modern SSDs to that backplane is also fraught because it likely only supports 1.5Gbps SATA link speeds... So your SSD performance will be capped to 187.5 megabytes/second, even if it's a 3Gbps or 6Gbps device.

Comments

[doque]

Thank you. I've removed the RAID array and see the drives listed (both in Windows setup and the BIOS). So it does seem like everything is compatible - or is it just the RAID setup that's messed up?