Adding a drive to make RAID 0

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phasmantis

phasmantis

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Aug 16, 2007
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Okay, so I'm sure you've seen this a lot, and I've looked up on google a bit about it, but I didn't get a clear answer.

Here's my situation. I have a 320GB Seagate Barracuda HDD http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16822148140 with all of my data on it.

Here is my motherboard: http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128048

What I am wondering is if I can add another 320GB HDD and set the added drive + my current drive into RAID 0 without losing data/having to reinstall Windows.

If so, how would I go about doing this (e.g., would it be like setting a normal RAID 0 array for the first time, or are there extra steps).
 
Solution
M
Try to shrink your 320GB to a much smaller C: partition e.g. 30GB.

If you need to backup and delete some files, do that first.

Then, restore your private data files to a dedicated data partition.

The bigger problem is that Intel strongly recommends
installing an OS with the BIOS set to RAID mode initially
e.g. when running Windows Setup the very first time.

This is a very good recommendation, because it facilitates
enabling RAID arrays at any time after initial OS installation.


Normally, switching from either IDE or AHCI modes to RAID
requires a fresh install of the OS, and simply making that change
in the BIOS will most probably cause a BSD.


This procedure may help you, by invoking F6 and loading your
RAID device drivers...
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RetiredChief

RetiredChief

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Feb 22, 2007
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(1) You need to do a re-install of operating system to convert to Raid0. Selecting Setup raid0 in bios will wipe out the partion data on your current HDD. Which means backing up your files and data and reinstalling your programs.

(2) Normally (not required) it is best to use two identical HDD. Your Current drive segate -10 is a discontinued model.
 
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M

MRFS

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Dec 13, 2008
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Try to shrink your 320GB to a much smaller C: partition e.g. 30GB.

If you need to backup and delete some files, do that first.

Then, restore your private data files to a dedicated data partition.

The bigger problem is that Intel strongly recommends
installing an OS with the BIOS set to RAID mode initially
e.g. when running Windows Setup the very first time.

This is a very good recommendation, because it facilitates
enabling RAID arrays at any time after initial OS installation.


Normally, switching from either IDE or AHCI modes to RAID
requires a fresh install of the OS, and simply making that change
in the BIOS will most probably cause a BSD.


This procedure may help you, by invoking F6 and loading your
RAID device drivers from a floppy disk:

http://www.informationweek.com/news/windows/showArticle.jhtml;jsessionid=ATER1BJCZNSN0QSNDLQSKHSCJUNN2JVN?articleID=189400897&_requestid=319026


Also, there is a freeware program that did NOT work for us,
but you might want to try it (AFTER backing up your system):

http://drnathan.teamhackaday.com/software/raidfix/


A third option is to create a drive image of your existing C: partition,
and save it to an external medium, ideally after shrinking C:
down to something manageable e.g. 30-50GB.

See www.partitionwizard.com for a good freeware program.

Then, buy 2 new identical HDDs for your RAID 0 array;
enable RAID mode in your BIOS;
enter the Intel Option ROM
and add those 2 new HDDs to a RAID 0 array; then,
restore your drive image to that RAID 0 array.

If you've done everything correctly, you should be able
to add your Seagate as a non-RAID member, using that Option ROM; and,
you can read your drive image file from that non-RAID Seagate HDD
when you restore that drive image to the new C: on your RAID 0 array.

Finally assign your existing 320GB Seagate to data storage / backup duties.


I hope this helps.

MRFS


 
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