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#1
Mirror is useless if first drive fails
So, I installed windows 7 ultimate with 2 drives. I'm running on a MB with an AHCI (ICH10R SATA controller - No extra drivers needed. Win7 sees the drives fine during install). It did the normal thing on 1 drive of making a system reserved partition with all the bootmgr and BCD stuff. I'm not able to mirror it. But, I was able to mirror the main installation partition.
Forward a few days - Drive 1 (the one with the "System" (BCD and bootmgr) and the main installlation) dies. Now I have another drive with just the main installation. Of course, I can't boot anymore.
OK, I think - I'll add the missing boot files to the still working drive. I boot the install CD, go into a CMD prompt. Break the mirror, and make the working partition standalone. I copy bootmgr onto the drive's root, create a "Boot" folder. A run diskpart and mark the partition as active. I run bootrec/rebuildbcd (which works and finds my installation), bootrec/fixmbr (also works) and bootrec/fixboot (also works). Great, so now I can boot?
Wrong. I just get a blinking cursor on trying to boot. I've run through the GUI repair, and still no go. I cannot figure out what's missing.
So, the bottom line is - If you're using a mirror thinking you're safe - Think again. Your data will be safe, but forget ever booting that installation again (