RAID migration with an already installed OS...possible with Matrix Storage Manager?

[Kilowatt]

Hi everyones and thanks for your time!

I have a single sata2 drive on a P5LD2 Deluxe, with an already installed OS (XP Pro sp2). I wish to create a raid 0 array by of course adding a second identical drive. It is possible to do that (migrate) using the Intel Matrix Storage Manager in Windows? Most references including those on the Intel's site refers to the F6 installation method, hence, during Windows install. The ahci driver was loaded during the actual OS installation (F6 method), so the single sata2 hdd is operating in ahci. But that doesn't make the system "raid ready" isn't it? :confused:


TIA for your reply.

[tuskenraider]

You can't add a drive to make a RAID0 array without losing the original, if any, data on both drives. Your only solution would be to image your current drive to an extra third drive, create a RAID0 array with your pair of intended drives and image the third drive back to the array. Before you would do the imaging, you'd want to make sure the drivers for the RAID0 controller were installed in the orginal OS install, so when you image it back it'll actually work on the RAID0 array.

[Kilowatt]

Thanks a lot for your reply (and your time!), tuskenraider.

I've found this site (http://forum.abit-usa.com/archive/index.php/t-66432.html) this morning (check last post on the page) and the guy seems to be able to switch between raid and ahci without reinstall. Of course he speaks about raid 1. Not shure if this could apply to raid 0. I think i will image the current drive as you said, then buy a second one and experiment. :)

[tuskenraider]

You're welcome. Since RAID1 is copying on drive to another, their is no problem building the array from a drive that already exists without losing data. With RAID0 only half the data will be on the existing drive and the other half on the second(new in your case) drive. There's no RAID cotroller capable of just pulling half the data off a currently used drive to put on the new and then erase the half it now doesn't need on the original while defining an array.