[Merged] RAID Array and XP questions

McGraw · 13-11-2005, 16:43

I would like to go to 2x 200gb drives instead of a 400gb Raid 0 array.

It is only a dynamic disk in Windows.

There doesn't seem to be an option to convert back again.

Will I lose my data anyway?

Thanks.

bonzoe · 13-11-2005, 16:55

If it's a dynamic disc, the only way to get back to basic disc is re-partition and format, so you will need to back up your data first.

Ramrod · 13-11-2005, 16:57

I've had a look in my asus mobo manual and it says that you go through the same procedure as you went through to setup your raid0 array but just select 'delete array'. I would presume that you would lose your info.....so just transfer it to another HDD. I picked up a 80gig one for about ÃƒÆ’Ã†â€™ÃƒÂ¢Ã¢â€šÂ¬Ã…Â¡ÃƒÆ’Ã¢â‚¬Å¡Ãƒâ€šÃ‚Â£35 a couple of weeks ago......

McGraw · 13-11-2005, 17:06

Thanks but I need to retain my data.

McGraw · 13-11-2005, 17:14

As a follow up to my previous post, I want to know what will happen if I install XP on to one of my hard drives that are part of a dynamic software raid array.

Do you think it will corrupt my data or perhaps not even work at all.

I am trying to dual boot XP with x64 without altering my exisitng setup.

Thanks very much.

GeoffW · 13-11-2005, 17:24

I'm not sure I understand the question. What is doing the software raid?

XP Pro can do software raid 1 (mirror), but you have to install it like that at set up.

McGraw · 13-11-2005, 17:36

In windows setup, the drives appear as 2 separate physical drives.

I'm guessing that installing XP on top of this will corrupt the software array.

Or perhaps it won't?

GeoffW · 13-11-2005, 21:27

It wont corrupt the software array but it will effectively reformat it for use as part of the new disk setup. If you have any data on it already it will be lost.

Details on the XP raid set ups are here

Paddy1 · 14-11-2005, 02:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by McGraw

In windows setup, the drives appear as 2 separate physical drives.

I'm guessing that installing XP on top of this will corrupt the software array.

Or perhaps it won't?

I guess you need an xp64 driver for your raid card on floppy or whatever on windows startup. If you don't supply the right driver, windows will mess up your raid array big style by treating the 2 drives as separate drives.

If you don't have this driver, your only solution is to back the data up on another drive and then break your raid and reformat the 2 drives separately.

How much of the 400 gig is actually used?

McGraw · 14-11-2005, 08:42

Thanks but I don't seem to be able to install anything now.

I have deleted the partition on my Raptor and recreated it in order to start from scratch but windows setup says that the partition is not a valid XP partition.

x64 won't install either.

Any advice? I'm stuck with an unusable pc now.

Cheers.

McGraw · 14-11-2005, 08:52

Actually, is this because I need to use a SATA floppy?

I don't seem to remember needing to do this when I first set the pc up.

SMHarman · 14-11-2005, 10:40

You probably did - I did when I set up mine.

McGraw · 14-11-2005, 10:49

Well I have since learned that XP SP2 and x64 contain the SATA drivers so there is a problem with the drive itself.

My belief is that the master boot record is corrupted and needs wiping.

So, I need to fixmbr or do a low level format.

Any advice? Particularly how to do this and whether anyone thinks it will work.

Thanks a lot.

Aragorn · 14-11-2005, 11:06

Does Windows setup recognise the disk hardware? ie does it show the partition table on the two drives? If so, have you used Windows setup to repartition the drives? This article (http://www.microsoft.com/resources/d...b_cnc_opkt.asp) talks about installing XP on dynamic disks. Essentially, unless its a simple dynamic volume (one drive) you can't install XP on it (probably holds for XP64). I think you need to completely wipe both disks (new partition table) before you can load XP or XP64. Going back to the original question, you cannot split a Raid 0 array (hardware or software) and retain the data. Raid 0 data is stripped across two disks, so each physical drive only has half of the data! I apologise for the flow of the message - the new VB editor seems to be stripping my carraige returns!!

McGraw · 14-11-2005, 11:17

Thanks.

XP recognise the Raptor and 2xWD 200gbs that forms the array. It recognises the disks separately i.e. Windows Setup doesn't see the array.

At this point I'm not interested in the array, I just want to get Windows x64 or XP onto my Raptor.

I can delete and create partitions on the Raptor in XP setup but when I try and install Windows it refuses to recognise the partition as a valid Windows XP partition.

I am hoping a fixboot and fixmbr from the recovery console will get me back in action. Do you think it will?

I have also downloaded the WD tools onto floppy to see if that can help.

On a side note, will I be able to see the array again after I have reinstalled Windows?

I am so torn between keeping the array because everything seems so fast (although this could be my imagination) but I would like the saety of 2 single drives.

Any further thoughts?

Thanks.