100 Mb FAT Partition

[snit3]

I screwed up when installing Win 7-64 on a RAID 0 array (C) and wound up with the 100 Mb FAT 32 partition on my third (storage) drive, D. The system is running, but read speeds from the RAID 0 array are slower than write speeds. This is exactly opposite from an identical system I'm building. (where I got it right!)

I hate to undo the system at this time, since I've already got this machine close to loaded with programs. Is there any way to move the FAT partition to the C array, or am I forced to re-install and start over?

 

[richc46]

I screwed up when installing Win 7-64 on a RAID 0 array (C) and wound up with the 100 Mb FAT 32 partition on my third (storage) drive, D. The system is running, but read speeds from the RAID 0 array are slower than write speeds. This is exactly opposite from an identical system I'm building. (where I got it right!)

I hate to undo the system at this time, since I've already got this machine close to loaded with programs. Is there any way to move the FAT partition to the C array, or am I forced to re-install and start over?

There is a great free application called gpartd. If you download, you may be able to eliminate that extra drive and make it part of C. Give it a try. But first, make a system image and a restore point. Fooling around with partitions, can really screw things up.

Good luck

 

[snit3]

Richc46,

Thanks for the hint, but I gave up and spent most of yesterday re-installing the OS and programs.

A couple of things others might want to consider:

1) Do yourself a favor. Disconnect any external and internal drives that are not a part of the OS. In other words, only the C drive should be operational when installing the new OS. Otherwise, like me, you MAY get things mixed up in the BIOS (boot order of HDs). This is especially true if your RAID ) is made from a pair of drives with the same total Gb capacity as another disk in the system. In my case, I have a pair of 150 Gb Velociraptors in the RAID 0 and a 300 Gb Velociraptor as a storage HD.

2) If you use Passmark as a performance evaluation tool, don't expect the RAID HDs to perform (score) properly right after the OS install. You MUST download both the latest RAID drivers for your motherboard AND perform the first Win 7 updates for your OS. In my particular case the sequential read and write speeds went from about 140 Mb/s to near 200 Mb/s after completing these steps.

 

[richc46]

Richc46,

Thanks for the hint, but I gave up and spent most of yesterday re-installing the OS and programs.

A couple of things others might want to consider:

1) Do yourself a favor. Disconnect any external and internal drives that are not a part of the OS. In other words, only the C drive should be operational when installing the new OS. Otherwise, like me, you MAY get things mixed up in the BIOS (boot order of HDs). This is especially true if your RAID ) is made from a pair of drives with the same total Gb capacity as another disk in the system. In my case, I have a pair of 150 Gb Velociraptors in the RAID 0 and a 300 Gb Velociraptor as a storage HD.

2) If you use Passmark as a performance evaluation tool, don't expect the RAID HDs to perform (score) properly right after the OS install. You MUST download both the latest RAID drivers for your motherboard AND perform the first Win 7 updates for your OS. In my particular case the sequential read and write speeds went from about 140 Mb/s to near 200 Mb/s after completing these steps.

You did the right thing, you made your own decison. You came here looking for help and ideas, you used them in conjuction with your own expertise and came up with the solution that was right for you. Compliments to you.

 

[richc46]

Thanks for the rep. Everyone here tries to help others and its a great feeling to know that someone appreciates it. Thanks again, a Happy and Healthy New Year.