Raid Existing HDD

[scarface-x]

HI guys
I have pc with 250GB SATA HDD running Win 7 64-bit, I have got new 250GB SATA HDD recently and I am plainning to RAID it. (mirrror)
What I want to avoid is fresh install of OS, I have so much stuff on it, programs, documents, ect.
What is the best way to add second HDD to my existing HDD and make it RAID.


I was thinking to clone my existing HDD to the 3rd HDD I have and then put it away and set RAID mirror on PC create array and quickly install fresh Win7 on the array and then install my cloning software on PC then reboot PC then connect my 3th HDD to SATA3 set boot from array (2x250GB) already with fresh Win7 OS and when it's get to the windows run the cloning software and clone the 3th drive to Array (2x250GB) then reboot and that should be it??????????

[PommieB]

Normally you'd clone the entire drive including win 7, then clone back to raided drives, if your re-installing windows you might as well start fresh and just use the clone as back-up. What you are wanting to do will not work, it's one or the other.

[68Olds]

With RAID1 (mirror), I'm pretty sure you just switch to RAID in BIOS and add the new drive to the existing drive using the Intel RAID manager (ctrl I).

[b1lk1]

Originally Posted by 68Olds

With RAID1 (mirror), I'm pretty sure you just switch to RAID in BIOS and add the new drive to the existing drive using the Intel RAID manager (ctrl I).

You cannot create ant RAID array without a destructive format.

[scarface-x]

PommieB done it as you suggested, all went ok until after clone HDD to RAID. When it's finished cloning then I switch PC off and unplug the HDD then look at the bios just make sure RAID is on and boot, then I reboot it and all I got was windows 7 start boot and then BSOD. Tried to repair boot sectors with win 7 disk no luck. Strange, in the end I deleted the RAID and cloned the working OS back to my original HDD, now at least it's working on single HDD as before.
I was just messing around, I am planing to build Home server so I was just try to see how to RAID works on this motherboard.

Thank you for help guys

[PommieB]

Sorry it didn't work for you, the cloning software needs to be compatible with raid arrays, most are not, I use Acronis True Image and Disk Director, true image doesn't work with raid arrays, Disk Director does, at least that's according to the specs.

[scarface-x]

he I am using 9 times of 10 acronic home, but sometime I am usinng norton ghoust, but in this case I used only acronic which didn't work. I didn't want to mess my PC even more so I decite to leave it lots of goods stuff I have on it so I didn't want to lose it. When I will build HS 2011 then it's gona be fresh install that is gona make everything easy
Thank you

[b1lk1]

THat is because the Windows install you are trying to clone did not have RAID enabled during the install. It is possible to edit the registry to fix this.

[PommieB]

+1 on that, you'd probably have to alter the registry prior to cloning to the raid partition, besides it's probably better to re-install when changing from a standard set-up to a raided set-up.