Hardware Failure - will this work for data recovery

[Xaeos]

Hey guys. As of recently, the PC that housed my 2 raptor RAID array took a turn for the worst. Seeing how it was getting old, I decided to build myself a new SFF, rather than replace my aging IC7-G. As far as I know, both my PCI RAID card and the 2 raptors connected to it are just fine, from a hardware standpoint.

My question is, can I basically transport the whole thing to my new PC "as it is", at least long enough to get some data off the array? There is a windows installation on the drive that has the proper drivers for the PCI RAID card, so I was thinking I could just boot into it and retrieve my data. I know it is protocol to reinstall windows for a new build, but will this work at least temporarily?

[dirtydr]

You should be ok. That is one of the benefits of using a dedicated raid card as opposed to onboard controllers... portability.

[JediFonger]

dirtydr, that depends on whether xaeos is *booting* off of the raid array.

if you're booting off of the array, then the problem doesn't lie in the array itself, but windows OS itself, which can't be "swapped" out.

if you have a separate partition with windows already installed and the dual raptor array is ancillary, then you should OK, no problem.

[Xaeos]

Afraid I was going to try and boot off the array itself - I am using a University (legit, basically corporate) version of WinXP Pro, so I thought I'd be able to avoid windows having a seizure because of the hardware change. Not the case?

[Volkum]

Booting off the array has a 99.9% chance of not working unless it's the same motherboard. Booting with the wrong chipset drivers installed like that will cause you to reboot/BSOD after the Windows splash screen.

You could...boot into a linux livecd, mount the array, and recover some of whatever you may need.

[dirtydr]

Indeed. It appears as if my reading comprehension is down a bit today :)

Fully agreed that its a crapshoot booting to the array.

[JediFonger]

well, if you have another PC with windows installed and stuff, it will work. i've done it with SCSI and SATA both. it's very well. just remember not to unplug all of the cables to the HD, move the entire array fully attached. forgetting the order of the cables screws up the array permanently =) (thus, data loss).

[Xaeos]

Thanks guys. Question- if I install Windows on another drive entirely, do I still need to install the RAID driver at installation, or can I do so at a later time?

[JediFonger]

Xaeos,

let's say that you already have a windows box ready to go. everything's working on it.

then what you do is:
1. open up case, plug the entire array (include the PCI card, the cables and the correctly connected HDs in the correct sequence matching PCI port to HD) in.
2. when you boot, do so normally so you get into windows.
3. when you reach windows, get your drivers ready for the RAID Card and install it as you would any device.
4. it might require a restart. after you reboot, you should see your data ready and mounted. if not, goto device manager and mount it to a drive letter, then voila! =).