Move from one drive to raid and windows activation

[igeorge]

Hi,
I have windows 7 Ultimatum installed on my Hard drive.
I want to convert the one drive to a raid 1.
I have the original CD from the store and i can install windows again on the new Raid disk.
What will happen and what to do if windows said it is not genuine.
Before, i had the option to call, and the support fix it.
Now with no support, what to do ?
Thank you.

P.S.
On my laptop i made the mistake to move to 10 and i hate it, so it is no way i will move to 10 to keep the windows genuine.
Sorry.

 

[iko22]

Intel say you cannot setup RAID when the OS is already installed .


However these folk say You can change between SATA disk controller modes, without having to reinstall windows 7.
See How to change SATA modes after Windows installation | Overclock.net
and
how to change SATA hard-disk mode from IDE to-AHCI-RAID in bios after installing windows | Askvg

 

[igeorge]

HI Iko22
Thank you for guidance but i am scared as i have a lot of work files on the drive.
Of course i made backup, but most of the program installed are profesional and if i loose them i get sh.... from the developer.
I have to read more in details.
Is it a windows program to convert the one drive to a raid 1 by adding an extra drive.
I remember long time ago i converted the main drive to a raid just using windows and not going in BIOS.
Even in the manual they give you a warning when convert from AHCI to RAID and they said you could loos the data and is not reversible.
That is my problem.

 

[iko22]

There is a Software version of hardware RAID disks, it is called Convert a Basic Disk to a Dynamic Disk

But the warning is that, if one of the Basic disks has an installed operating system, then you would no longer be able to boot or start the computer, after converting it to a dynamic disk.

 

[Barman58]

Why bother with RAID at all, simply get a modern fast hard drive for data and a suitably sized SSD for the OS. It will be a much more usable, reliable and maintainable setup

The whole RAID concept was developed when hard drives were small, slow and unreliable, not meeting the requirements for the servers of the day - this is no longer the case.

Modern hardware is likely to be faster and more reliable that any Raid array built from old consumer grade disks, plus of course i can be wasteful, you will normally lose around a third of capacity three one terabyte drives will provide a maximum of a Two Terabyte RAID Array

RAID can still be a useful tool in high volume server use when It can provide better uptime by using the right settings so that one drive failure does not cause the whole "drive" to be unavailable, it also allows the system to be recovered without downtime for the user access the RAID array.

One thing you must remember a Raid array will still need a full planed set of Backup routines RAID itself is not a Backup

 

[igeorge]

Thank you Barman58, but my whole idea is to have a Raid 1 , as i had before.
Thank you Iko22. I just got from Amazon a Raid card. I wait to get it , then start from scratch.
Make a raid 1, then copy my OS on it. Casper or Aomei backupper can do that and i have them.
The biggest reason for which i want is not the data. Data i can put it on a separate drive and back it up constantly.
It is the OS part of the disk where i have all the program installed. Most of them protected by license or serial, and reinstalling them again it is a pain. Developers always said that i have to uninstall the program before i move it to a new drive, but they are so stupids and never think that i do not have time to move it when the drive crash.

 

[iko22]

Make a raid 1, then copy my OS on it. Casper or Aomei backupper can do that and i have them.

That wont work, because you wont have the RAID drivers installed. Better to install RAID drivers into operating system, then backup system image. That will save you a lot of trouble later on.

Developers always said that i have to uninstall the program before i move it to a new drive, .

I'm sorry, but treat that advice as gold; some application licences have to be de-activated before they can be reinstalled. And, you need correct version of installer to re-install, as latest installers might not be covered by your older licence.

 

[igeorge]

Thank you Iko22,
You save me a lot of trouble.
I work with computers since the last 30 years, BUT....... using the keyboard to write my programs (microprocessor programs, not windows).
Thank you very much.
I will update you how it works.
An image from the old drive transferred to the new raid will boot or not ?
With the card drivers installed of course like you told me.

 

[iko22]

Sorry I overlooked one crucial point.

You will also need System Recovery\Rescue Media disk that recognises your backup software, as you will have to restore system image to bare metal. You will need the System Recovery\Rescue Media Disk/USB stick to do just that. You will also need to add RAID software drivers to the System Recovery\Rescue Media, before you start.

This suggestion works with Acronis True Image Restore Non-RAID backup to RAID 1 | Acronis Forum

 

[igeorge]

Hello Iko22,
1. What is System Recovery\Rescue Media disk ? Do you mean the original windows disc ? I have it.
If not, how to make it ?
2. I have a Raid 1 which my system see it as Disk 3. I put a partition and format it. What do you suggest?
A-Install windows booting from CD ?
B-Install windows after i regular boot on my OS ?
3. Will my old OS will be an option at boot screen (like before "Old Windows"), or windows will just boot on
the new installed one and no selection options ?
I love to have the option to select the old OS if something goes wrong and i need to work.

Sorry for so many questions, but i need some help here.
Thank you very much for help.

 

[iko22]

(A/B) - No (BIG NO!), you cannot do that with one product licence.

If you purchase one (1) retail Windows 7 edition, you may install and activate just one (1) installation at a time.

Source: Can I use the same product key to run a Dual Boot OS | Microsoft Answers

To do so would be illegal, and therefore against this Forums rules for me to discuss such matters.

 

[Barman58]

I think that with the status of Windows 7, support wise and the fact that the set-up of both copies on the same system, which cannot run them both at the same time ...

If we examine the rule

If you purchase one (1) retail Windows 7 edition, you may install and activate just one (1) installation at a time.

This install would meet the spirit and the letter of the rule, so is OK to continue here ... .... if the same key was on different hardware it would be a completely different situation and would not be a legitimate install

 

[igeorge]

Thank you both of you.
I will use Acronis true image 2020 to clone the disk, and i will see after.
Regarding the same license, I have drive E with Win7/64 retail license, and drive H with Win7/64 tha same license.
When i tried to activate the second one, i got an error, then call tech support, explain what i have and they activate it for me with no questions ask.

 

[iko22]

Hello Iko22,
1. What is System Recovery\Rescue Media disk ? Do you mean the original windows disc ? I have it.
If not, how to make it ?
Thank you very much for help.

Yes, you can use the original windows disk as a System Recovery disk. If you were using Windows Backup/Restore, then that would be all you needed.
If you are using Third Party Backup/Restore software, then you need to create their Rescue Media Disk.
A Rescue Media Disk has some of the features of a Windows System Recovery disk, but they are not identical.

 

[iko22]

2. I have a Raid 1 which my system see it as Disk 3. I put a partition and format it. What do you suggest?
A-Install windows booting from CD ?
B-Install windows after i regular boot on my OS ?

To Clean Install Windows, you need to Boot from Windows DVD, so you need to set DVD-player as First Boot device in BIOS, if it is not setup already.

 

[iko22]

3. Will my old OS will be an option at boot screen (like before "Old Windows"), or windows will just boot on
the new installed one and no selection options ?
I love to have the option to select the old OS if something goes wrong and i need to work.

If all disks on the computer are present when you Clean Install Windows, then the installer will modify the Bootmanager, and you will see an option at boot screen.
If you remove your "old" system drive from the computer, before Clean Install Windows, and then there will be only one OS detected, and no option at boot screen.

 

[igeorge]

Iko22 and Barman58 Update:
I used Casper 10.1 . I bought it long time ago and every time i get an update for free when they change.
I booted on my Other drive E , then i start Casper and i selected Clone (copy disk).
Because i cleaned the disk before, it took just 1 hour and 35 minutes, while i watched a movie.
Now, the trick. I reboot and i selected on Bios to boot from MARVEL which was my RAID drive.
It boot from there, and as i got on the old H , and easyBCD file, it ask me like before what i want :H or E
I selected H, and boot me on my old H drive. Then, i open EasyBCD, and edit to add a new entry - The RAID disk.
Now i have 3 entry :H,E and Raid.
Reboot again and selected Raid.
It took some time first time until it shows up, but everything was fine.
I tried some programs from the OLD H drives, and they work OK.
The BIG test. Click on the disk and select properties.
New screen, with everything about drive but GENUINE EMPTY.
After 5 minutes, finally post windows genuine, and the key.
I have to do more tests with my installed programs, but it looks OK for now.
Thank you very much guys for all the guidance and help.