Error message when you start a Windows 7-based computer after you attach a RAID disk: "STOP 0x0000007B INACCESSABLE_BOOT_DEVICE"

When you start a Windows 7-based computer after you attach a RAID disk, you receive a Stop error message on a blue screen. The Stop error message resembles the following:

This issue occurs if the RAID driver is disabled in Windows 7. This driver must be enabled before the SATA controller mode is changed.

Note For more information about SATA controller mode, refer to "More information" section.

Important This section, method, or task contains steps that tell you how to modify the registry. However, serious problems might occur if you modify the registry incorrectly. Therefore, make sure that you follow these steps carefully. For added protection, back up the registry before you modify it. Then, you can restore the registry if a problem occurs. For more information about how to back up and restore the registry, click the following article number to view the article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base:

To resolve this issue, remove the RAID disk and then enable the RAID driver in the registry before you attach the RAID disk. To do this, follow these steps.

Note Assume that Iastorv.sys is the driver that has to be enabled.

1. Exit all Windows-based programs.
2. Click Start
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   , type regedit in the Start Search box, and then press ENTER.
   
   
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   If you are prompted for an administrator password or for confirmation, type the password or provide confirmation.
3. Locate and then click the following registry subkey:
   HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\System\CurrentControlSet\Services\Iastorv
4. In the details pane, right-click Start, and then click Modify.
5. In the Value data box, type 0, and then click OK.
6. On the File menu, click Exit to close Registry Editor.
7. Install the RAID driver by using the installation media, or download and install the latest driver from the manufacturer's Web site.
8. Shut down your computer and install the Raid disk in the computer.
9. Restart your computer.

Many operating systems now support the autodetection of RAID disks. These settings usually appear in the BIOS as "RAID Autodetect / AHCI," as "RAID Autodetect / ATA," or as similar modes.

When a RAID disk is detected, the SATA controller changes automatically to RAID mode. In RAID mode, the device ID of the controller changes, and it may require a different driver. In this case, the SATA controller is changed to a driver that was disabled during Setup.

During the Windows installation process, any unused storage drivers are disabled. This behavior speeds up the operating system's startup process. When you change the boot drive to a driver that was disabled, you must enable the new driver before you change the hardware configuration.

For example, assume that you install Windows operating system on a computer that contains a controller that uses the Pciide.sys driver. Later, the controller changes to RAID mode. The controller now loads a RAID driver. However, you must enable the RAID driver before you make this change.