New
#1
Software raid 0 on Boot disk
Hi, this is my first post in Windows seven Forums.
I am building a laptop for college with two identical drives, and unfortunately no on-board raid controller. They are 2 120gb ssd's and I feel like they would be alot more useful as one drive rather than 2 small drives. I have Windows 7 professional x64
After doing a ton of research, I believe it is impossible to boot Windows 7 from a software striped array, correct? The only thing I have found to combat this is "Native VHD Support". Unfortunately I don't understand VHD at all. Is this exactly what I am looking for?
My only other option (as far as I know) is to install windows 7 onto as small a partition as possible on one of the drives, and then stripe the rest of that drive with the other drive. The only real problem I have with this is I have used a computer with a small drive and a storage drive before, and it is very annoying, 1 drive is much simpler. Is it possible to move many important (and large) windows files onto a secondary drive (the striped array in my case) and "convince" windows that the "D:" drive is the OS drive? essentially have everything naturally install to, be on, and run from the "D:" drive?
Better yet is it in any way possible to run a small program pre-windows boot that will software raid the 2 drives? Or can Windows set up the software raid, and then boot from said raid array?
Basically I have 2 drives, no hardware raid controller, and I don't want the hassle of having to deal with 2 drives, 1 is much easier (and faster and a more useful size). I want everything on the software raid array (or as close to everything as possible) Whats the best way of accomplishing this?
Thanks!