Want to upgrade to RAID with new OS. A few Q's. - Overclock.net

slipstream808 · 2 Weeks Ago

So I currently have a drive on my computer with Windows XP 32 bit and a backup drive with important files on it. Now I just got a new hard drive and Windows 7 64 bit will be a comin'.

I'd LIKE (dunno if possible) to set up Windows 7 on my new hard drive when Win 7 gets here. Then try to reinstall programs on my new hard drive that has Windows 7 all while keeping the Windows XP drive ready to go just in case. There are some programs I'm not sure will transfer over and work on Windows 7.

So following a successful install of these programs will it be possible then to format the disk with XP on it and convert it and my disk with Win 7 to a Raid 0 format without losing my Win 7 install and files?

Basically I want to take 1 disk full of data and combine it with another disk that has no data into a RAID 0 setup. Can a RAID controller spread the data of 1 disk between two?

Thanks guys. Most searches on the net don't seem to be about this topic.

Nivis Tigridis · 2 Weeks Ago

I have something similar to do and what I've received for recommendation is to backup the data.

Create the Array then restore the files.

It may be work the way you want to do it but I doubt it.

XiDillon · 2 Weeks Ago

Im sure I carfeully read your post enough. Do you have an on board raid controller?

be aware that similar drives are best for raid0 if not exactly the same drive as they should be. download W7 onto the new drive and install all your programs to verify compatability. Do not register W7 at this time*. If they work or not this is the time you decide to upgrade or not. if so, you will have to put your important files onto another storage device before you can setup raid on both hard drives. Hopefully nothing on your storage drive requires access to the other drive as you will be breaking the links to a files respective program. but If you know how to edit files properly then you should be fine in order to set it back up. after the new setup is complete you can send the important files onto the new drives. So its doable, but I cant give you a more thourogh walkthrough

slipstream808 · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by XiDillon

Do you have an on board raid controller?

Well I do believe my mobo has one.

Nivis Tigridis · 2 Weeks Ago

watch out, P45 = "software" raid and NOT an Hardware one (external card).

The software one will give you an lower boost then the Hardware one.

I decided not to go toward Raid with my MB since I'll have not a significantly boost of performance.

Klue22 · 2 Weeks Ago

Should you decide to plunk down several hundred dollars for a dedicated RAID card, what you may be able to format a single drive to RAID without having to move all the files to another hard drive. If using an onboard RAID controller you will have to move the files bc it will delete all your data when you try to create the array.
Hope this helps!

Mygaffer · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nivis Tigridis

watch out, P45 = "software" raid and NOT an Hardware one (external card).

The software one will give you an lower boost then the Hardware one.

I decided not to go toward Raid with my MB since I'll have not a significantly boost of performance.

Ugh, this is soo outdated. Intel's onboard RAID is GREAT for RAID 0 and RAID 1 arrays. Anything more complicated and its performance suffers, but for the simple stuff it performs about as well as a dedicated RAID card.

A lot of the RAID cards people buy aren't even hardware RAID, they are basically the same thing as onboard. A real RAID card needs a processor at least and hopefully also some DRAM as cache.

So, you don't think you can get good performance from onboard?

As for the OP, what you describe won't work. The process of creating the RAID array destroys the existing formatting on all discs. You'll need to back up your data and then reinstall your OS and re-import your data.

slipstream808 · 2 Weeks Ago

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mygaffer

As for the OP, what you describe won't work. The process of creating the RAID array destroys the existing formatting on all discs. You'll need to back up your data and then reinstall your OS and re-import your data.

Well! That's what I was afraid of but the info I needed. Thanks a ton!

the_beast · 1 Week Ago

You can do what you want on most add-in decent hardware cards. However with onboard it won't work, as stated.

However, for RAID0, the ICH10R/P55 controllers, whilst not true hardware RAID (and actually not software RAID either), are actually FASTER than add-in RAID controllers, at least as far as mechanical HDD and 2-3 SSD arrays are concerned. Using add-in controllers adds latency into the mix, and is not usually beneficial if the max sequential rate of your array is less than around 600MB/s.

Onboard RAID5 etc is all still crap though, as are the AMD/NVidia controllers.

slipstream808 · 1 Week Ago

Well from the sounds of it I'm just gonna save the important files on my backup drive and then reinstall everything with Windows 7. Here's hoping I don't have issues!!

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Want to upgrade to RAID with new OS. A few Q's.

1 Week Ago	#9 (permalink)
the_beast Mobo Master Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: London, UK Posts: 1,002 Rep: 143 Unique Rep: 98 Trader Rating: 0	You can do what you want on most add-in decent hardware cards. However with onboard it won't work, as stated. However, for RAID0, the ICH10R/P55 controllers, whilst not true hardware RAID (and actually not software RAID either), are actually FASTER than add-in RAID controllers, at least as far as mechanical HDD and 2-3 SSD arrays are concerned. Using add-in controllers adds latency into the mix, and is not usually beneficial if the max sequential rate of your array is less than around 600MB/s. Onboard RAID5 etc is all still crap though, as are the AMD/NVidia controllers.

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