Install on raid setup

[amigo max]

Hello guys,
I made a raid 0 setup through the disk management of windows of 2 320GB hdds, and now i want to install clean windows seven in my PC on those raid hdds.
I went till the disk selection for installing but it shows me 2 hdds of 640GB.. and i i try to install on them they tell me to change something in the bios.
Can anyone guide me how to install on a raid 0 hdd setup?

 

[bobkn]

I believe that you cannot install Windows 7 on a software RAID 0 array.

Does your motherboard support RAID? On an Intel board with a SATA controller that supports RAID, the normal way to install would be to switch the controller to RAID mode (the other options would be IDE and AHCI). That will give you a RAID sub-BIOS that'll allow you to configure the disks as a RAID 0. (That will also eliminate the data that are on the drives.) Windows will see the array as a single drive.

I haven't done this since Vista. I'm not sure whether Win7 includes RAID drivers, but it has a lot more drivers than Vista did.

 

[amigo max]

Well my mobo doesn't support raid but I have a raid pci card though which they r connected.

 

[bobkn]

Well my mobo doesn't support raid but I have a raid pci card though which they r connected.

That's good, better than the motherboard RAID (also known to some as Fake RAID, as it's more software than hardware).

What RAID card is it?

I've never used a real RAID controller, but it must be like the motherboard type: configure the array in the (controller's) BIOS setup. That produces a single logical drive, to which you can install Windows.

 

[amigo max]

My RAID card is VIA VT6421 RAID controller.
And BTW how do i configure the array in the bios?
I don't see any option to do that?

 

[gregrocker]

Why do you want RAID0 with Win7? You'll have no performance increase and no real redundancy since you lose everything if you lose one HD.

Better to install directly to your fastest HD on SATA1, then later plug in your other HD for storage including storing a Win7 backup image which provides real redundancy. http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/663-backup-complete-computer-create-image-backup.html

 

[Golden]

I agree with GregRocker on this one :

Installing your OS to a RAID0 is fraught with problems - we have seen several difficulties/failed installations (mine included) of this here on the forums over the last few weeks. My recommendation is to steer clear of this for the time being.

 

[bobkn]

My RAID card is VIA VT6421 RAID controller.
And BTW how do i configure the array in the bios?
I don't see any option to do that?

The card should have its own BIOS, separate from the PC's BIOS. There should be a screen during bootup that you enter via a hotkey that allows you to configure the array. (On a Syba card with your Via controller, it's the tab key.)

Do you get such a screen?

 

[amigo max]

Well the main reason was to get faster speed and boot, and for installing games so that I can get an improvement on playing speed. But how come you people say that a HDD fails mostly in raid? At least till now none of my raid HDD has failed.

 

[amigo max]

My RAID card is VIA VT6421 RAID controller.
And BTW how do i configure the array in the bios?
I don't see any option to do that?

The card should have its own BIOS, separate from the PC's BIOS. There should be a screen during bootup that you enter via a hotkey that allows you to configure the array. (On a Syba card with your Via controller, it's the tab key.)

Do you get such a screen?

I'll check the bios screen a lil later ATM I have to go somewhere.

 

[WindowsStar]

Well the main reason was to get faster speed and boot, and for installing games so that I can get an improvement on playing speed. But how come you people say that a HDD fails mostly in raid? At least till now none of my raid HDD has failed.

RAID 0 is not fast and is only supposed to be used in systems that need a large data storage area that is backed up daily. If one drive fails the entire RAID array is unusable. This is why you need good backups.

If you are looking for speed then you need RAID 5 on 4 or more hard drives. Typically RAID 5 on 6 hard drives will give you very good performance. But that is a lot of work to go through and you will need a case and power supply that can support many hard drives, as well as the expense of buying drives.

You are better off getting a fast SSD. That should give you the performance you are looking for. -WS

 

[amigo max]

OK well thanks for the answers, but i can put up raid 5, just the problem, i got the following drives...
160GB, 2 X 320GB, 500GB, and a 640G sata hdds. But then in that case my storage used on each drive will just be 160GB. Well, for now ill stick to a normal drive with no raid installation until i have the knowledge and resources too.
Thanks again.

 

[Golden]

Hi,

You will have signifcant problems trying to create a RAID array with a mixture of different HDD's. I think you are wise to clear steer of RAID for OS installation - it's too problematical.

Good luck,
Golden

 

[WindowsStar]

OK well thanks for the answers, but i can put up raid 5, just the problem, i got the following drives...
160GB, 2 X 320GB, 500GB, and a 640G sata hdds. But then in that case my storage used on each drive will just be 160GB. Well, for now ill stick to a normal drive with no raid installation until i have the knowledge and resources too.
Thanks again.

You can RAID those with RAID 5 however your total data area will only be ~700GB.

160GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 160GB
320GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 160GB
320GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 160GB
500GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 160GB
640GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 160GB

160GB x 5 = 800GB - Parity ~100GB = 700GB

It would be much better to buy 1 320GB drive and have:

320GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 320GB
320GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 320GB
320GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 320GB
500GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 320GB
640GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 320GB

320GB x 5 = 1600GB - Parity ~310GB = 1290GB

The best way would be to buy 3 500GB drives and have:

500GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 500GB
500GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 500GB
500GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 500GB
500GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 500GB
640GB ---- Will be seen as ----> 500GB

500GB x 5 = 2500GB - Parity ~450GB = 2050GB

If you use hardware RAID you can create one large array and then install the OS on the array. Since you have many hard drives with many platters/read heads the system will be fast. -WS

 

[amigo max]

Well thanks for the info on hdds,
I cannot buy any new hdds right now but in case I get them,
How do I set the up on raid, I have only two sata slots on my raid card?
In that case won't I need a new card? Or I can put some from the mobo too?
Thanks.

 

[WindowsStar]

Well thanks for the info on hdds,
I cannot buy any new hdds right now but in case I get them,
How do I set the up on raid, I have only two sata slots on my raid card?
In that case won't I need a new card? Or I can put some from the mobo too?
Thanks.

You will need a SATA card that supports 5 or more drives. If you motherboard has 5 or more SATA connectors and your BIOS has RAID options then you can use the MB SATA.

RAID 5 can be expensive if you have to buy drives and a 6 port RAID card. -WS

 

[amigo max]

First thing my mobo doesn't support raid, and i only have 4 sata ports.