How to Repair RAID After BIOS Update

Updating BIOS might put your RAID in problems. For example, after updating your BIOS, any one of the drives in the RAID array might not be recognized as a member. This is because BIOS has complete information about RAID arrangement. Updating or resetting the BIOS might change the BIOS settings to default resulting in failed RAID. Here in this article, you can learn about the various manual methods to fix RAID after the BIOS update.

Fix RAID after bios update

Various ways you can Repair RAID After BIOS Update

  • Check for hardware errors
  • Enable RAID in BIOS after update
  • Recover and Recreate RAID

Check for hardware errors

It would be unwise to assume BIOS update as the only reason for RAID failure. Some problems pertaining to hardware can also result in RAID failure like; damaged SATA cable or drained CMOS battery. So, before moving forward double check with the hardware and replace the CMOS battery if it’s not working.

Enable RAID in BIOS

Apart from reset or updated BIOS, the RAID configuration can stop working if the settings have been altered. If you can re-enable the RAID through the BIOS might actually make the RAID work as usual. The instructions on how to re-enable RAID through BIOS are stated below:

  • As soon as hit the power button to start the computer keep tapping F2 button(might differ from manufacturer to manufacturer)
  • Using arrow key navigate to Advanced > IDE Configurations > Configure SATA and press enter
  • In the Configure SATA options make RAID as default to enable
  • Tap on F10 to save the changed settings and exit the bios.

Re-enabling RAID should repair the BIOS settings. Unfortunately, if this didn’t work, you need to recover and recreate the RAID. In order to recover a RAID, you will need trusted data recovery software such as Yodot Hard Drive Recovery software.

How to Recover RAID

For recovering RAID drive, disconnect the unrecognized or affected drive and connect it to your computer. Now download and install Yodot Hard Drive Recovery software:

  • Launch the software and select Hard Drive Recovery option from the main screen
Select Hard Drive Recovery option
  • Which proceed to next screen with options Partition Recovery and Format/Reformatted Recovery. Select the Partition Recoveryoption
  • It will load available storage devices on the computer, select the drive from RAID and click on Next
Select partition recovery option
  • If any partition available on the drive are displayed after scanning the drive.
  • Select the partition and click on Next to recover the files from the partition
  • Click on Mark All option to recover all the files and click on next to start scanning
Recover RAID data after BIOS update
  • Once the Scanning is completed mark the files you want to recover and click on Next for one last time and save the recovered files on a different storage device.

This ends the recovering RAID drive. After completing the raid drive data recovery, you need to recreate the RAID drive. You can find the instructions for that in the next section of the article.

Note: While recreating RAID, the drive will be formatted, hence use the other storage device where you saved the recovered data as a back up after recreation of RAID.

Recreate the RAID

If the re-enabling the RAID is not enough to fix the RAID after the BIOS error, recreating RAID array will solve fix the issue. For that after enabling the RAID in BIOS restart the computer and tap on Ctrl+I to create a RAID volume.

However, the setup will ask you to format the RAID array drives. Since you have already recovered RAID drives using Yodot Hard Drive Recovery software, you can proceed to format and recreate RAID array after BIOS update error.

Unknown Facts About BIOS Update Error

Apart from RAID failure, BIOS update error is also a reason for other problems .such as interrupting BIOS update will result in corrupting or damaging the whole motherboard. Hence, it is strongly suggested to take a backup of important data before updating BIOS. Create an interruption-free environment, like have a UPS or keep your laptop charged.

Not all the BIOS updates will improve the system performance. So, once cross-check the performance advantages you get with the update. If there are no performance improvements better you skip the update.

CMOS battery will take care of BIOS settings while your computer is switched off. Most of the users are not aware of it so if the CMOS battery is interrupted or drained BIOS settings will reset and result in failing RAID array.

Conclusion

RAID arrays are best suited for storing large files. However, RAID arrays are unstable while BIOS is updating or reset. Fortunately, you can easily fix the RAID but the process also involves in formatting the RAID array. In such situations, you can recover the data from RAID array with help of professional data recovery software such as Yodot Hard Drive Recovery Software. After taking a backup of the data you can format and repair RAID after BIOS update error.