How to Add HDD-RAID to existing system

Z

zalophus

n00b
Joined
Feb 29, 2008
Messages
17
I would like to add identical 80GB SATA HDD to my Vista system, and RAID 0 the two 80's. Suggestions on best way to do this appreciated.

I have two SATA MOBO connectors open.

Thanks
 
You will probably have to backup the first 80 giger and format and start fresh. RAID0 is a striped set over 2 disks, if your system on it, you most definitely will need to format/reinstall windows.
 
You should start fresh and reinstall. You could create a image of your current drive, back it up, create an array with your new two drives, and then restore the image on that array.... but realistically, the easiest would be to start fresh.
 
I did this when i went from 2x146gb to 4x146gb
I created an image of the current system
Created my new raid0 array
restored the image took about 4 hours... yes it is longer then just reinstalling vista, but if i had to reinstall all my software, and I still would have had to backup my data which is 70% of my total drive space. So it ended up being much faster for me then reinstalling everything and then restoring the data.

I just depends on your situation...considering you only have up to 80gb's a reinstall might be worhtwhile if you dont have a ton of programs and data.
 
First, thanks for all the quick responses.

I like the idea of starting fresh, so will do the reinstall rather than mirroring.

Fortunately, all my files, and data are on the other drives, and my 80 has only programs (Vista, Office, Kaspersky, etc.) along with some of my benchmarks (Prime, Orthos, etc).

Only concern is Office 2007 which is educational version, so I may have to jump through some registration hoops with MS, when I reinstall. Everything else is retail.

Thanks again.
 
If you are already running off the RAID controller (and in RAID mode, not standard, so its shows up as a raid controller and not a standard controller) you may get away with not having to reinstall. may, as in, maybe.

If you are on a different controller, or not in RAID mode, no way. I dont think you can resize the boot drive within windows anyway.

Just backup your important stuff, setup the RAID, and go from there. And installing a modern 7200rpm drive would probably get you better transfer rates than 2 80 giggers in R0 anyway.
 
GLSauron said:
And installing a modern 7200rpm drive would probably get you better transfer rates than 2 80 giggers in R0 anyway.
Click to expand...

GLSauron-My 80 is a 7200, so does your comment still apply? Since my goal is simply to increase my boot drive capacity, I have considered skipping RAID and getting a 160MB 7200. Thoughts? Will the 80/80RO be faster than a single 180?
Thanks
 
Seagate's barracuda 7200.10 series of drives will prolly wallop the 2x80's in R0, simply due to larger cache, more modern drive, etc.
 
zalophus said:
GLSauron-My 80 is a 7200, so does your comment still apply? Since my goal is simply to increase my boot drive capacity, I have considered skipping RAID and getting a 160MB 7200. Thoughts? Will the 80/80RO be faster than a single 180?
Thanks
Click to expand...

You could sell those two 80's on the hardforums, add in a couple bucks and pickup a WD 640..
 
zalophus said:
GLSauron-My 80 is a 7200, so does your comment still apply? Since my goal is simply to increase my boot drive capacity, I have considered skipping RAID and getting a 160MB 7200. Thoughts? Will the 80/80RO be faster than a single 180?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Likely. The problem is for a drive to be 80GB means a REALLY cropped off low density single platter, or a REALLY old drive. Either way, a modern drive's density will probably rip two of those 80s a new one.

Just get a WD640 and be done with it for a LOT more space.
 
GLSauron said:
Likely. The problem is for a drive to be 80GB means a REALLY cropped off low density single platter, or a REALLY old drive. Either way, a modern drive's density will probably rip two of those 80s a new one.

Just get a WD640 and be done with it for a LOT more space.
Click to expand...

Seriously, it doesn't make sense to buy less than 250GB nowadays, unless you REALLY need to save that $15.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top