New Build w/mix'n match hardware. Old RAID 0 array won't boot

I have a bit of a complex situation with a new build that I need help sorting out.

My older desktop had a RAID 0 array with 2 x 80GB SATA hard drives containing Win XP Pro and other application software, and an additional 500GB PATA hard drive for storing pictures, music etc. I wanted to use all 3 hard drives in my new build but I didn't realize the 500GB PATA hard drive wouldn't work with the new motherboard until I was putting it all together, the motherboard is SATA only. I simply overlooked this when I ordered the parts but its not such a big deal because I know I can get the files off the old PATA drive and/or just use it with an external enclosure (right?).

The problem I'm having is that the 2 x 80GB RAID 0 drives will not boot with the new setup. I think I've configured the RAID, BIOS/boot sequence correctly but I'm getting a message saying I need to attach a bootable device. I haven't done anything else besides installing all the components in the case.

Here's the basic setup of the new build:

Motherboard: MSI 760GM-P23 (FX) AMD Series Socket AM3+
Processor: AMD FX-4100 X4 3600MHZ 8MB 95W AM3+
RAM: Kingston 4GB 1600MHz 9-9-9 DDR3 HyperX Red
Video Card: MSI Radeon HD 4350 1GB DDR3 Low Profile PCIe
Power Sply: ULTRA LSP650 650W ATX POWER SUPPLY

So what I've done is purchased another 500GB SATA drive and figured I'd just put a fresh copy of windows on it and figure out what to do with the 2 RAID 0 drives later. Then I realized that ALL 4 DVD burners I have (also from the old machine) are PATA as well so I can't install the OS from a DVD. Then I thought I'd try to install the OS from my USB thumb drive, but I only have a Macbook Pro to work with and I can't figure out how to mount the iso to boot the new machine with it. I followed some instructions I found on the web and when I insert my thumb drive in my Macbook it appears as a CD ROM but when I try to boot the new machine it says "no operating system installed" and does nothing.

So with all this in mind, can anyone suggest a course of action (that does not involve wiping my 2 RAID drives)? I would like to salvage the data from the RAID drives, but I don't necessarily need to use them in the new machine. I thought about taking them to a local company and seeing if they can perhaps make a Ghost CD.

Also, if there's more information required, I'd be happy to add it.

Thanks!

 

Update Re: New Build w/mix'n match hardware. Old RAID 0 array won't boot

Update:

I downloaded UNetbootin and as far as I can tell I was able to successfully created a bootable Live USB drive for Ubuntu. I changed my boot sequence to boot only from my 16GB PNY USB drive, saved the settings, and received the following message when I tried to boot from the USB drive.

"Missing Operating system.
Reboot and select proper boot device or insert boot media in selected boot device and press a key"

I thought for sure that was going to work.

 

I've been reading up on this and it is a bit complicated.

A couple of questions do you have two flash drives available? I wondering if putting Linux on one and then booting to Linux and using this to put the Win7 file on a second USB would work.

The problem with that idea is that most Linux come as ISO files and Mac apparently needs an .img file to write the USB. So getting Linux to USB isn't very simple. You have to convert the ISO to IMG. You could use any Linux distro not necessarily the one he used for the netbook. http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/how-to-create-an-ubuntu-installation-usb-on-the-mac/

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Now the other thought is some people say unetbootin will make a Windows Installer USB. Unetbootin has a Mac version. The problem here is that the thumb drive has to be formatted to NTFS which apparently MAC OS won't do. So you would still need to boot to Linux to do that. Here is a link to this idea. Or if your old computer is working then you could put the new HD in there, boot from your Win7 CD and format it to NTFS without installing. Then try unetbootin. Version 506 is the earliest Mac version so I don't know if it will work.

 

Sorry, I got confused there. If your old computer is working to use the installation CD you could format the USB to NTFS then try unetbootin.

I just read your other post and I see that unetbootin didn't work. I'm surprised it is this difficult; there are so many ways to do this using a Windows PC.

I would think you will eventually want to get a SATA DVD writer. It might just be easier to do that now rather than later.

 

Here's what my USB drive looks like after using UNetbootin. You'll notice that it is indeed formatted as FAT32 and it can't be formatted to NTFS on a MAC.

My old PC doesn't work, the power supply died, but I will have access to a PC tomorrow so I'll try formatting the USB drive to NTFS and try UNetbootin again. After all this research I'm interested in checking out Ubuntu, but if I get the USB drive to work as a bootable drive I'll probably try to get windows installed. Perhaps a dual boot is worth a shot (which will require some more research). This build is really just for storing media, ocasional web surfing, and playing music.

I did order a SATA DVD drive a couple weeks ago and its stuck somewhere in limbo due to bad weather last week and then the holidays. Its maddening to have this brand new machine sitting here for weeks as a very expensive, though pretty cool looking, paper weight.

I do appreciate your thoughtful responses.

 

If you get access to a Windows machine then I would use pendrive123 to write the usb. I know it works.

In the first box, scroll way down the list of Distributions for Win7 installer. If you already have an ISO of your Win7 disc then you just point to that in the second box. And then choose your USB key in the last box. (If you don't have an ISO then Imgburn's "Create Image File from Disc" option will make one from your disc, which can then be used in pendrive123).

If you have two USB drives you might want to also use MS tool on one just in case. Or use it instead of pendrive. http://www.microsoftstore.com/store/msstore/html/pbPage.Help_Win7_usbdvd_dwnTool

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As far as Ubuntu, the good thing about Linux is it is so easy to try them out using only an empty USB flash drive. Pendrive can put any linux on USB. I'm not a big fan of Ubuntu's desktop and prefer the simpler Linux Mint (full distribution with Open Office) or Puppy (small distribution with just the basics like internet and access to your HD) desktop. I'd say try several from USB before installing. Lili is another program for writing the USB's that I slightly prefer only because I am most familiar with it.

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As far as recovering data on your RAID drives, I have no experience using RAID. That said, I think I would get an enclosure or a cable (even cheaper on ebay) and then try something like Powerdatarecovery to retrieve your files and copy them to your new HD. I can give you a link to the old version which was free when you are ready.

I hope someone else can give advice if there is another way of getting files from a RAID array.

 

Looking at your screenshot of the USB, I don't see why that wouldn't boot. There is no NTFS restriction for booting to a Linux distribution; that is apparently only for the Win7 installation files.

Are you certain you have your PC set to boot from USB? Is there a key to hit during the BIOS splash screen to get to a one-time boot menu where you can choose USB as your boot device?

 

OK, I got to a windows machine and put Ubuntu on a thumb drive and successfully booted. I found another thumb drive and put Win 7 on it and I'm installing now. I used Pendrive123 and it was as easy as described. Then I tried following some instructions for dual booting Win 7 and Ubuntu, but I installed Ubuntu first and then I couldn't get Windows to install (i think there was an issue with the partitions I made before starting the process). I've started over and I'm installing Windows now and hopefully the (seemingly) better set of instructions I've found for dual booting will help me accomplish what I'd like to do here.

Side Note: According to UPS, the DVD RW drive I ordered a couple weeks ago is finally being delivered today. I could have saved hours of fooling around with all this if I'd had that sooner.

At any rate, I think I'll have a fully functioning machine (for my simple purposes) in an hour or so. I still need to figure out the best course of action for recovering the data on the 2 RAID0 HDD's I have and decide what to do with the 500GB PATA drive I can't install in the new build. It should be easy to recover the data from the PATA drive, but I'm wondering if I should sell it and buy another SATA drive (if I even need that much storage when all is said and done) just to keep everything contained in 1 box rather than having peripherals laying around.

I literally just go a text message that DVD RW was just delivered to my house. Funny.

Another Side Note: I love my Macbook Pro and until the last few days Its always done everything I needed it to do. I can't believe I couldn't accomplish a relatively simple operation like creating a bootable USB drive to work on a PC. I only took a matter of minutes to do this when I got in front of a Windows box.