Vista RAID 1 setup procedures/instructions

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cooljay

Limp Gawd
Joined
Feb 27, 2006
Messages
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Hello, I'm planning to setup a RAID 1 (2x80GB SATA HD) array as the system disk for my new build. The OS would be Windows Vista Ultimate. Could you guys provide some instructions on how I should proceed? Thanks much!

Here's the list of my hardware:
************************************************************
CPU: Q6600
MB: Abit IP35 Pro
RAM: 4x1GB Crucial PC-6400
Vid: ATI X1950 Pro
HD: 2x80G raid + 500GB
2xDVD burners
PS: Corsair VX550/HX620
************************************************************
 
RAID setups have nothing to do with operating systems, so I'd kind of doubt you even know what a RAID 1 setup is...

RAID 0 = striped = faster
RAID 1 = mirrored = more security, less space

All you need to do is boot the computer and press the appropriate key to enter the RAID utility.
 
Thanks for your reply. I certainly know what RAID 0/1/0+1 etc means. I just listed my OS and hardware configuration here in case there're any driver/comparability issues I should be aware of. Plus, I do think different OS may have different level of support of the RAID setup.

I'd be appreciated if anyone can provide some useful info or hands-on experience.

elite.mafia said:
RAID setups have nothing to do with operating systems, so I'd kind of doubt you even know what a RAID 1 setup is...

RAID 0 = striped = faster
RAID 1 = mirrored = more security, less space

All you need to do is boot the computer and press the appropriate key to enter the RAID utility.
Click to expand...
 
I just did a raid1 system disk setup last night, but on an intel 875 & win xp pro. I'll list the process in case there are any similarities:

0. prepare a driver diskette with the F6 drivers for windows xp. I think vista can load these from usb or cd?

1. in the motherboard bios, make sure the controller is set to enable raid. (for me, i had to set SATA to enhanced, then it would let you enable raid). reboot.

2. hit the key combo to get into the raid bios(usually after regular bios finishes), setup the raid 1 volume, give it a descriptive name. "MYRAID1VOLUME" or something silly suffices too. reboot.

3. back in the regular bios, configure your boot order so that the new raid volume is in the list. If you have an addon raid controller it might show up as SCSI or something).

4. reboot with your installation media. In XP you hit F6 when it tells you to, to load the raid controller driver from a floppy. Im sure vista has something similar.

5. install as normal, xp now sees the raid volume.

6. after windows is installed, install your mobo drivers & raid monitoring tools.
 
I have a RAID 1 setup with 2 x 500GB Seagate drives in Vista on an Asus Maximus Formula motherboard. Setup went smoothly.

Setup is going to depend on your motherboard manual (I know, it's typically not very helpful) and your chipset.

Make sure you update your drivers to the latest version ASAP. In my case, there was an update to Intel's ICH9R chipset that fixed some issues. You may even need a floppy drive to load RAID drivers into your Windows install. But other than that you should be good.

I really enjoy the piece of mind that RAID 1 gives you. I had a drive die on me in my array 3 days after I set it up. Reinitializing the array was effortless with the replacement drive.

Good luck with your setup.
 
I had a drive die on me in my array 3 days after I set it up. Reinitializing the array was effortless with the replacement drive.
Click to expand...

Just look at all the fun you missed by not going Raid 0.

I personally am getting ready to build (maybe buy) a new system, but have decided to go with a 0+1 setup while dual booting XP and Vista. Should be fun. :rolleyes: Something always comes up, right.

I have done Raid 0 a few times in the past, and have been lucky that I never had one go down catastrophically. Figured I am on borrowed time, hence the high end setup on my new build. :cool:

Just make sure you have the driver diskette ready at the start of the Windows install to save yourself some running around at the last minute, like me. :eek:

Don
 
Thank you all for the help. Another question, can I install the RAID driver through flash drive or DVD? Or Vista already have some sort of driver?
 
You can...but again it depends on your motherboard. Mine supports boot CD emulation using a flash memory device, but I found it easier to just place the driver on a second hard drive let windows detect it that way.

To DonDon:

Oh yeah that would be loads of fun having to re-copy 250GB of files from DVD-Rs ALL OVER AGAIN just so I could have marginally faster write speeds and twice the storage in a RAID 0 configuration.

RAID 0 is too risky unless all you have on the drive is an OS and a couple applications.
 
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