Windows 7: Restoring system image from HD2 Raid0 to new HD1

Hi guys,

I have a Windows 7 ultimate on HD1 and had created a system image on HD2 as well as a repair cd. HD1 and HD2 are configured as Raid0. I just purchased a new and larger capacity HD to replace HD1.

After I swapped out original HD1 with the new HD1 and booted off the repair cd which I had created. Unfortunately, because HD2 is part of the RAID 0 with the original HD1, I am unable to allow restore to browse to that drive to obtain the image.

What should I do - remove the 2nd hd, insert the new HD as HD2 and see if I can create another system image onto HD2 (non-raided)? What would be your strategy in getting the windows 7 to be transferred onto the new HD. I do not have any installation CD.

Thanks.

KammaK

Curious: What is the purpose of having RAID for redundancy if you're making Drive images anyway?

Backup in real time? Performance?

I only know about RAID from the problems reported every day with Windows 7 installs, so wonder why anyone would bother.

How did you install it exactly?

Have you tried cloning for your solution here? Acronis is good. HD makers have free versions for download.

Gregrocker - I believe raid0 only allows for quicker access when working with 2 duplicat drives. I have 150GB on HD1 and 150GB on HD2. Since I did not create Raid1 or Mirror, I really need the backup images. And since I bought a larger HD to replace HD1, I no longer need Raid0, as HD2 and the new HD are no longer equal in size.

Since I have Windows 7 Ultimate, I think I installed it from within windows 7. I went into the bios and I have the option to delete the raid0 from HD2, but then I'd lose my data, including the backup image that is stored there.

I guess I still need to be able to access the backup image from HD2. My solution around is to put the original HD1 back and then create a backup image onto an external usb HD. And hopefully after I put the new HD in, I can boot off from the repair cd and have the external usb HD be recognized and accessible so I can write the image onto the new HD.

WOW!! Everyday I learn something new...

RAID0 means data is stripped between BOTH drives HD1 and HD2.
HD1 and HD2 are components of the same volume. You cannot image one and save it on the other. Every file has pieces on both of them. When you remove one drive, the data on the other one is meaningless. I'm not sure you described your setup properly since it's impossible to create an image of a drive and save it on it at the same time.
What you should do is to put both original drives in and hopefully you will be able to boot the system again. Add another drive, USB, SATA, etc and create your backup or image there.
Then remove the original drives, insert the new ones, configure the RAID in BIOS again, then put the Windows DVD or imaging software disk in and use the backup that you have saved on the extra drive.
The new drives have to be same size for RAID 0 and at least the same size as the old ones to be able to restore an image on the newly created RAIDO array.