Intel SSD 530 not seen on OS install screen - ASRock C2750D4L

[JLind13]

I have spent the whole day struggling with my new NAS build before I found this thread.

The SSD shows up as it should when I cold boot the server, trying to install OS from a UEFI USB key and poff, the drive is gone. I don't know how it would behave with a OS installed as it's impossible for me to install Windows Server 2012 R2 on it.

Cold Boot:

In the Boot Menu I choose to boot from "UEFI: My USB key" where the Win Server 2012 R2 install is located. At this point the SSD is listed as "P0: INTEL SSDSC2BW180A4". It doesn't show up twice as a UEFI drive. (Don't know if it should.)

Installation starts but when I get to the point where I should choose where to install WS, I get the message that no drives where found.

If I then exit the installer (server will reboot), the SSD is gone from the Boot Menu and the Bios can't find it either.

If I however boot into the UEFI Console or to the empty SSD, I can Ctrl+Alt+Del the machine and the SSD will still be there in the Boot Menu and in the Bios.

I have tried everything I can think of!

• Load drivers in Windows Server installer
• Disable Fast Boot
• Disable Hot Plug
• Tried another SATA port.
• Set SATA speed to Gen 2 (force sata 2 on the sata 3 port)
• Disable SATA Aggressive Link Power Mgmt
• Tried all different combinations of Legacy / UEFI CSM settings I can think of.

From the original Bios settings, this is what I changed only for my liking:

• Enabled Hard Disk S.M.A.R.T
• Set Bootable Marvell 9230 SATAIII mode to None

Here's my hardware spec:

ASRock C2750D4I motherboard (BIOS/UEFI v1.80, BMC v0.14.0)

Intel 530 180GB SSD v.DC32, plugged in to first sata 3 port on intel controller (tried the second port as well with same problems)

2 x 2GB PC10600 DDR3 ECC

The SSD had DC12 firmware when I got it, but the first thing I did after I found this thread was to update it to DC32 but that didn't solve my problems.

I have reported this to ASRock as well with a link to this post and I would be more than happy to help ASRock and Intel to sort this out.

[JLind13]

Hi ken-Intel,

I just tested with Win 8.1 and I get the same problem as before. I also tried the SATA II ports on the Intel controller and still the same problem. I really don't know what to do next as I have tried everything I can think of.

[JLind13]

One more thing ken-Intel,

Make sure you have the 1.80 Bios version on the C2750D4I board, and the 0.14.0 BMC firmware.

That was the versions my board shipped with, which are the latest as well.

The reason I'm pointing that out is that there was a lot of changes in that bios version that can affect SATA:

1. Improve "CSM" policy.

2. Update Intel SATA initialize code.

3. Add customize Fan function.

4. Add "Restore BMC Mac from backup" function.

5. Support DDR3 16GB.

6. Improve system boot up time.

7. Add "ECC support" item to control ECC function.

I have also continued my testing and I just tried to plug in the drive to the Marvel controller instead, and WS 2012 installer is able to find it then. It's not a workaround for me as I need the SSD to be on the Intel controller.

[KenF_Intel]

Hi Jensl,

I was able to have the drive seen when installing Server 2012.

It appears that the Server 2012 install disk/iso does not have the necessary files to support the Intel SATA ports on this board when they are set to AHCI mode. If you change them to IDE mode you can install the OS.

To change the Intel ports to IDE do the following:

- access the BIOS

- Select Intel RC Setup

- Select Southbridge Chipset Configuration

- Select SATA Configuration

- Assuming you are on the SATA_0 or SATA _1 port, scroll down to the SATA 3 Controller section and change the mode to IDE (if you on SATA_2-5, change the SATA 2 Controller mode).

I've scoured the ASROCK site and the Intel site looking for AHCI drivers for the Atom C2750 SoC that is on this board but I haven't had any luck yet. I'll keep looking. You might try contacting ASRock if you have a chance.

[JLind13]

Hi ken-Intel,

Running the SSD in IDE mode is out of the question.

The drivers found on the ASRock site is for WS 2012 R2 as well. The ASRock driver package lacks complete release notes, but the exact same drivers are available from Supermicro as well and there I found the release notes stating that the drivers support 2012 R2. I put them in my dropbox for you to check out: https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14057285/ReleaseNotes_9.4.3.1011.htm https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/14057285/ReleaseNotes_9.4.3.1011.htm

As far as I understand it, the drivers for C2000 Avaton series is not available from Intel, only through the two makers of the cards: ASRock and Supermicro.

If you want to load the drivers from ASRock, just put them in a separate folder on the same USB drive as WS. The drivers are located in the "All" folder of the ASRock package.

I have tried to Load drivers in the WS installer and that works, but the SSD is gone from the system so it doesn't help me.

Here's a test you can do:

When you get to the point in WS installer where you should see the Hard Drives in the system: Don't load any drivers. Just exit the installer with the standard red X in the installer and the system should reboot. At that point, enter the Bios again and see if the SSD is still listed. For me it's gone from the system at that point.

So even if you Load drivers in the WS installer, it wont find the drive because the system has dropped it. Only a complete shutdown of the system makes the drive come back again.

[JLind13]

Hi ken-Intel,

Just came home from work and tested with a WD Red 4TB drive on the Intel controller in AHCI mode. It showed up directly in the WS 2012 R2 installer. No need for me to load the drivers or anything. And if I quit the installer as I described before and enter the Bios, the WD Red drive is still there connected to the SATA_0 slot. If I do the exact same thing with the SSD, it doesn't show up in the installer and it's gone from Bios.