RAID is an acronym that describes a storage technology for large volumes of data (in English, Redundant Array of Independent Disks, or “Redundant Array of Dependent Disks), which uses multiple hard drives to distribute or replicate stored information, thus speeding up its prosecution. In certain circumstances you will need to temporarily disable the RAID function of your system. The most effective method to do this on a Windows computer is to disable the RAID system from the system BIOS. For Mac users, there is an application accessible from the normal session called RAID Admin. This article will give you the information you need to disable RAID on both PC and Mac.
Steps
Method 1 of 2: Disable RAID from BIOS (PC)
Step 1. Enter your BIOS before the normal Windows session loads
Depending on your computer and the version of BIOS it has installed, there may be different ways to access it and make changes to its settings. But although there are different versions, the interface for using the BIOS usually follows a similar pattern, and will usually be accessed by pressing a specific key on the keyboard while the computer is just starting to boot.
Step 2. Identify the specific key on your computer to access the BIOS
The most common keys to press to get to it are: F1, F2, F11 and the Esc key. Usually a legend or notification about the ability to access the BIOS appears immediately after the white on black letters appear on the screen. power-on test of the equipment (Power-On Self Test or POST), which will tell you the correct key and also that you only have a few seconds to press it.
Use the indicated key to access the BIOS interface. When you know which key you need, if the time window where you could press it is over, restart your computer to have a chance to use it again before boot. Begin repeatedly pressing (or holding) the correct key from the moment the screen first turns on
Step 3. Locate the utility to configure RAID from the BIOS
The location of this utility may vary depending on your computer. In some versions, you can find the configuration option in the BIOS advanced functions menu, while in other versions it may be included in the menus that are directly accessible from the keyboard or in the SATA configuration menu.
Use the arrow keys on your keyboard to explore the different menus in your BIOS until you find the utility for the RAID configuration
Step 4. Disable the RAID function of your system BIOS
When you have located the location of the RAID configuration utility, navigate to it using the arrow keys, and display the options menu. Choose "disable" and hit the Enter key. Then press the Esc key to return to the main menu.
To exit the BIOS, first navigate in the main menu to the option "Save Settings and Exit", and press Enter.. With this the RAID storage system will be disabled and your computer will boot normally
Method 2 of 2: Disable RAID Using RAID Admin (Mac OS X)
Step 1. To disable RAID in Mac OS X, you will need to use the administrative tool that is included in the operating system as an application or disk utility
It's called RAID Admin, and if you don't have it installed for any reason, you can download it for free from Apple's website.