Really stupid RAID question

[Mellon Head]

I'll apologize ahead of time if this is in the wrong forum.

I'm about to install 7 Home Prem x64. My PC has two 80GB SATA II drives and three 500GB Sata II's. I have Vista installed on one of the 500's and XP installed on one of the other 500GB drives.

What I would like to do is to enable a RAID 1 setup with the two 80GB drives and then install Win 7 to them as a bootable array, and then use the 500's as data drives. (I'm keeping XP on one of them and wiping Vista after the new install.)

What I need to know, is if this will work. I think I understand how a RAID setup works, but I haven't got any experience with mixing RAID arrays with normal drives, and my motherboard manual isn't exactly helpful.

Can anybody spare a little advice for a RAID noob?

Thanks.

 

[Barman58]

First off have a read of this link ...

RAID - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

That should give you the basic grounding in the principles.

I would advise that you, if you decide to go ahead, consider purchasing a specialist raid card and not relying on the on-board function.

To be honest i would probably not go for a raid array unless you really need it as I see more reports of broken raid arrays than failed disks.

a single 80GB disk should be plenty large enough to use as a Windows 7 System drive

Once you are happy with the basic principles please post back with more specific questions and we will try to help further

 

[Antman]

I have not read your BIOS/chipset manual for RAID config.

In the mobo and chipset BIOS, you will have to select your RAID config. In mobo BIOS, tell the chipset you will use RAID. Boot. Engage the chipset BIOS settings. Config your RAID. Boot. ENter mobo BIOS and set the RAID array as your boot device. Boot with install media inserted. Select non-default boot device (commonly F8). Select appropriate device containing install media. During Windows install, select the new RAID volume as the installation target.

Your only real concern is to ensure that the 500's do not become targets for any of the Windows 7 boot files (can happen if they are sitting on SATA/IDE port 0). Best defense - simply disconnect them before install, re-connect following install.

I do not have to do any such disconnecting, and I run multiple RAID arrays on multiple controllers, but my drives are connected and configured in the proper order to avoid any issues.

 

[Antman]

Barman makes a good post. You will get (arguably) a better form of protection by installing the two 80's normally - and using a planned imaging routine to protect your install and data.

In fact, I would do that. The second 80 will make a good target for your page and temp files.

Well, I am lying. I recommend the foregoing, but I would run the two 80's in RAID0. But that's me. I am a preacher. What I practice is different.

 

[Mellon Head]

Thank you to both for the quick answer.

Barman makes a good post. You will get (arguably) a better form of protection by installing the two 80's normally - and using a planned imaging routine to protect your install and data.

Barman definitely does make a good point. Yikes. RAID is a bit more complicated than I thought.

I had considered the routine image approach, but I haven't been able to find any really easy to use synchronization or imaging software that would handle the process automatically. I would forget my head if it wasn't attached, so the backups usually go by the wayside.

In fact, I would do that. The second 80 will make a good target for your page and temp files.

I think I'm going to re-evaluate my thoughts on using RAID for the time being. My copy of Seven won't get her till next week anyway.

Well, I am lying. I recommend the foregoing, but I would run the two 80's in RAID0. But that's me. I am a preacher. What I practice is different.

Different drummer, eh? Hilarious.

Thanks again to you both.