RAID 0 need a crash course

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  • Neat_Hedgehog

    #1

    RAID 0 need a crash course

    Well, I'm planning to get a 2nd HDD soon. Another DiamondMax 10 250gb SATA. Then I intend to link them in a RAID 0 config to get a jump on building my new system and helping out this tired old rig at the same time. (and let's face it, it needs all the help it can get) Now I understand how to hook it up and all, but I'm still sketchy on what I have to do to prepare the drives.

    I would assume I'd have to move all data off the drive before linking them in a RAID so that they would "fragment" properly? Would have I to format the partitions, hook them up, and then re-partition them?

    I'm asking because I'm having a hard time finding a way to back up my data (all 140gb of it). So many programs and things. I should be able to clear out about forty gigs or so when I put some stuff on to DVD (mainly video, no programs), so that'll help a lot. Since this thing it isn't full yet, I might even be able to cut it down to fit on my 80gb drive.
  • NoSoup4You

    #2
    Re: RAID 0 need a crash course

    First off, you cannot back up programs. Windows needs Registry Entries, and its easiest to just re-install everything rather then try and reload it how it is now.

    That being said, move all your critical documents (music, my documents, etc) either to CD or DVD if you can.

    RAID 0 will not give a huge speed increase. It will help a little with larger files, but overall performance there isn't much of an increase.

    That being said, if you choose to RAID your drives, then you will need to reformat the one that currently has Windows on it. Then when you go to install Windows again it will start to load files. The first thing it will say on the bottom is "If you need to install 3rd party RAID or SCSI driver press F6 now". I'll let you guess what to do. The RAID drivers should be on a floppy disk, currently this is the only way to load them during Windows setup. The array will then show up as a single drive to Windows Setup. Also you have ot make sure that you enable your RAID controller in your motherboards BIOS.

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