Unable to Break RAID 0 Volume and Switch SATA Mode on HP Pavilion 15-bc407tx

[Dhamu1204]

Hi HP,

I need help with a storage issue on my HP Pavilion 15-bc407tx. Intel i5 8th Gen. 

I accidentally created a RAID 0 volume using Intel Rapid Storage Technology (RST), combining my SSD and HDD. Now, I want to break the RAID and use both drives individually.

Here’s what I’ve tried:

1. I deleted all partitions on both drives and attempted a fresh Windows 10 installation
2. During installation, only my HDD appears — my SSD is missing in the drive selection list.
3. I referred to Intel documentation, which mentions changing the SATA operation mode (from RST/RAID to AHCI) in BIOS before breaking the array.

Issue:
In my HP Pavilion’s BIOS (F.34), I don't see any option for SATA mode, Intel RST settings, or a way to manage RAID configurations.

my storage controller shows:

1. Intel Chipset SATA/PCIe RST Premium Controller

2. Microsoft Storage Spaces Controller

Question:

1. How can I safely break the RAID 0 volume and switch to AHCI mode on this HP Pavilion model?

2. Is there a hidden BIOS option or a procedure to reset storage controller settings?

3. Or is there a specific Intel RST Option ROM key combination during startup for this model?

[Garp_senchau]

@Dhamu1204, Welcome to HP Support Community,

Thank you for posting your query; I’m here to help by guiding you through steps to resolve this issue

It sounds like your system currently does not recognize the SSD and is only detecting the HDD due to the RAID 0 configuration. To resolve this issue and revert to using both drives separately, follow these steps:

Step 1: Access Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM

Restart the Computer:

• Turn on or restart your HP Pavilion 15-bc407tx laptop.

Enter RAID Configuration Utility:

• As soon as the computer starts, repeatedly press Ctrl + I to access the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM.

Step 2: Delete RAID Volume

Delete RAID Volume:

• In the RAID configuration utility menu, use the arrow keys to select "Delete RAID Volume" and press Enter.
• Confirm the deletion of the RAID volume. This step ensures that RAID metadata is removed from both drives.

Exit the Utility:

• Press Esc to exit the RAID configuration utility.

Step 3: Reconfigure BIOS (if necessary)

In your HP Pavilion 15-bc407tx laptop BIOS version F.34, there may not be direct options to switch SATA modes or manage RAID settings. Instead, proceed with the following steps:

Step 4: Reinstall Intel Rapid Storage Technology Software

Download Latest Intel Rapid Storage Technology Software:

• Ensure that you have the latest Intel Rapid Storage Technology software. You can download this from HP's support site.

Install the Software:

• Install the Intel Rapid Storage Technology software on your system. This step ensures that your system can correctly manage the SSD and HDD separately.

Step 5: Verify Drive Detection

1. Check Drive Detection:
   • Restart your laptop and boot into the BIOS setup using F10.
   • Navigate to the storage configuration section and verify if both the SSD and HDD are being detected.

Step 6: Windows Installation

1. Install Windows 10:
   • Use Windows 10 installation media to proceed with a fresh install.
   • Windows Setup should detect both the SSD and HDD as separate drives.

I hope this helps.

Please feel free to reply here if you have any questions or if you need further clarification on any of the steps. 

Take care and have a good day. 

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Regards,

[Dhamu1204]

Thank you so much Garp_Senchau for your reply — really appreciate you taking the time to guide me.

I tried the steps you mentioned, but I’m facing a couple of issues:

1. Pressing Ctrl + I during startup isn’t opening the Intel Rapid Storage Technology Option ROM. I continuously pressed it after turning on the laptop, but it directly boots into Windows without showing any RAID configuration utility.
2. In the BIOS, there’s no storage configuration option available to manage or change SATA mode or RAID settings. I’ve checked thoroughly, but couldn’t find anything related to RAID or storage controller options.

Honestly, I’ve been stuck with this for the past 3–4 days trying to resolve it. Would really appreciate it if you could suggest any alternate steps or ways to access the RAID configuration on this model.

Looking forward to your advice — thank you again for your help so far!

[Garp_senchau]

Hey @Dhamu1204, 

Thanks for reaching out! Since the issue remains unresolved, I suggest contacting our phone/chat support team for personalized assistance. They can provide one-on-one help and may even be able to work their remote assistance magic to fix the problem.

Note: There might be a nominal charge for the service they provide.

Regards,