Can't dual boot Windows 7 using raid 0 (SSD) and any linux disto

cornleader · 03-10-2013, 01:34 PM

I bought a Dell 7720 SE. I installed Windows 7, (legacy mode), and set up the SSD card as Raid 0 for iRST. I want to install Mint or Ubuntu but because of my raid array, the linux installer doesn't see any hard drive to install to. I've posted on the Mint forums but nothing worked. All I ended up doing is messing up my Windows install. It took me a while to get iRST working again. I have no choice to use Windows for work and gaming but can't find a way to get linux on it.

I'm told a separate hard drive will do it but I don't want to take that route. I have more than enough hard drive space as is.

I'll post my boot info script when I get a chance to boot from a live CD.

TobiSGD · 03-10-2013, 02:04 PM

Linux is currently not compatible to iRST, so if you want to dual-boot you have to disable it.

cornleader · 03-10-2013, 02:14 PM

What if I install another hard drive?

raid 0
/dev/hda - winidows
/dev/hdb - SSD

/dev/hdc - seperate hard drive not part of raid array

In the above scenario, could I install linux to /dev/hdc? hda and hdb would be raid but keep hdc off the raid for linux? Me thinks this would cause havic especially if the boot loader is on HDA.

TobiSGD · 03-10-2013, 02:23 PM

I never used iRST (I currently only have AMD systems), so I can't say if that would work, but the assumption that there may be problems with the bootloader may be true. As a solution for that you can install the bootloader to the /-partition of your Linux installation and then use programs like bcdedit or EasyBCD to add the Linux installation to your Windows bootloader.

cornleader · 03-11-2013, 12:19 AM

I found THIS thread on the Ubuntu forums. This guys states he instaled Ubuntu on the same machine as me. Get rid of the raid metadata, install Linux, update grub, boot back into windows and configure iRST again.....

I'll have to drop this guy a pm.

TobiSGD · 03-12-2013, 07:59 AM

Would be nice if you post back the solution if you find one.

cornleader · 03-12-2013, 02:59 PM

I am hesitant to try! In my circle almost everyone dual boots linux and Windows. As new technology becomes available, things change. I admit I am far from a linux pro, I have been messing with it for over 10 years however I need windows for work... and recreation, I am unable to strictly dedicate my laptop to linux.

I have been posting, researching and experimenting, (with horrifying results), trying to get dual boot working on my Inspiron 7720. The poster I linked to from the Ubuntu forums, has not replied to me yet. A lot of people misunderstand the question. They are trying to install the OS to the SSD instead of using it as part of a raid array in windows.

From what I have researched, linux will not install if iRST is enabled. The raid metadata messes things up, by removing it using [sudo dmraid -E -r /dev/sda], will allow you to install linux and dual boot, sometimes fixing the boot loader is required, however this will not allow you to take advantage of iRST in windows. Some people are changing bios settings while switching between operating systems but I don't want that. It defeats the purpose of Rapid Storage, which is different than Rapid start. The original poster doesn't actually say if the Rapid Start is working, the data caching and rapid start are 2 separate technologies, I want both of them god damit!! lol

If I can find a workaround that allows dual boot using iRST in windows without changing the bios each time I will post it for sure!