Hard drive configurations

[Iowabucks]

I have a Seagate 500GB drive that got bit by the firmware bug. Luckily they got it fixed, but it scared me into thinking i had lost alot of stuff. Even since backing everything up 6 months ago. So i have the 500GB drive back in and ordered a 1TB WD drive. I do some High Definition editing so i need the 1 TB of space for sure.



I try to read up on computer things whenever i can but i always realize i am way behind most people. I don't know much about Raid arrays or even using a second HD for that matter. I do want to use both HD's, one as a backup. Copy most everything on both. Wouldn't i want an OS on both, in case one drive goes down? Can you have OS's on both? What would be the best way of going about this, and copying new data to the new drive daily or weekly?



This whole Seagate bug thing has me super paranoid about HD failures, and i am just wanting one drive to be usable if the other goes bad.



Thanks, Jerry.

 

[Dad_of_Three]

RAID 1 is for you. In order to use RAID you really should have 2 drives of the same capacity

What I would recommend if at all possible would be to purchase another 1TB drive and RAID both drives together in a RAID 1 format.

What this will do is prevent any data loss, if one 1TB drive fails.....all data will be still available from the other 1TB.All you will have to do is eventually replace the bad 1TB drive and all will be mirrored again.

Keep in mind though with a 2 x 1TB Raid setup only 1 TB of space will be available to you, but this is the best way to protect your data. If you try to use your 1TB and 500MB in a RAID 1 setup, only 500MB will be available, which is why I would recommend purchasing another 1TB Drive.

Setup windows on the 2x1TB RAID 1 .........disconnect RAID drives.........setup windows on 500MB drive.........reconnect RAID drives.........
In other words........create 2 windows setups.......500MB being backup.......this way if windows fubars on 1 setup (RAID or 500MB) you can boot of the other..........just keep all your important data on the 1TB RAID (2x1TB)

 

[Impulse]

Eh... He's just looking for the best way to backup his system, I don't think he should be messing around w/RAID at all. RAID's really more about sustaining up-time (or enhancing performance) than a means of backup tbh... If a drive goes down in a RAID1 array you can take it out, replace it, and have the array rebuilt as you keep working, BUT it won't save you from accidental deletion/overwriting of files, or malware catastrophes, etc.

What he should do, imo, based on the drives he already has is simply install the OS and his apps on the 500GB drive, and use the new 1TB drive for storage... Then he can perform image backups of the 500GB drive unto the 1TB and if the smaller drive ever takes a drive he just buys a new drive, restores the image backup, and his OS, apps, preferences, etc. will all be there ready to work within 15 min. However that doesn't account for any backup to the data on his 1TB drive... If he has an external drive he can use that to backup the data on the 1TB drive. Failing that (and assuming he doesn't want to invest in additional drives) I'd take that 1TB drive and create two partitions on it. One smaller partition (say, 200GB) for the OS and apps, and the larger partition for your data.

Why do this? Simple, it'll facilitate backing up your OS and programs independently of your data. You can create image backups of your OS partition unto the 500GB drive (these are compressed, usually by 50% or more, and it only backs up used space), and easily restore them if your 1TB drive ever suffers a mishap. Then you can backup your data (from the 800GB partition) unto the 500GB drive as well.

What tools can you use for all of this? DriveImage XML is a pretty decent image backup solution, and it's free. Personally I use Norton Ghost (14.0, 15.0 is now out), others prefer Arconis TrueImage, there's a lot of other options. Some of those apps also allow you to do simple file backups (for the data partition) but I'd just use an entirely separate program for that like MS Synctoy or Brightsparks' SyncBackSE (both free)... Image backups programs sometimes don't duplicate files directly when you use their file backup function (they might compress or store them in different containers, it's a hassle if you ask me, but if your image backup program of choice also does simple 1:1 file backups then by all means).

 

[Iowabucks]

Impulse. That pretty much sounds like what i'm looking for. So i wont have any problem with an OS on both drives if i use the 1TB drive as a backup or external drive? Just make sure i boot from the prefered HD?

 

[Impulse]

If you create image backups of your OS drive or partition it doesn't actually exist as a mirror copy on the target drive. Like I said, that stuff will be compressed and whatnot. If/when you need to restore your OS and apps you just boot off the CD for the program and you point it at the image file(s) and after a short while it'll restore your OS partition to a new drive or partition... These compressed image backups are stored as a single file (or a handful of 'em), it won't interfere w/your boot process and you can use w/e drive or partition they're on for normal data storage as well.

Read my post again tho, if the only two drives you've got to work with are the 1TB internal drive + the 500GB internal I'd partition the 1TB drive in two (one for OS/apps, one for data) and I'd use the 500GB for backups. Since the OS/apps partition will be compressed it'll take up less space on the 500GB, and if you're ever running low on space you can pick and choose what data amongst your personal files you want on both drives, leaving the less essential stuff on a single drive.

If you've actually got another external drive or you're willing to buy one then you've got more leeway as far as how to configure this, comes down to personal choice at that point (depending on how large the other external drive is, etc.).