Possible to create Raid0 by adding a second hard drive...

[riv816]

I have a computer where they already have a 37gb Raptor for the OS.
I have a spare 37gb Raptor, and was going to add it to their system for Raid0.
Can I take existing HD, add 2nd HD, and then create a raid0 array without reformatting everything?

Abit an8-32
HD installed in Sata port 1
In bios set Sata to Raid, and not IDE?

 

[RebateMonger]

No can do.

You need to copy any important data to a third drive, install an OS on your new RAID array, re-install any programs and copy any important data to your new array.

Alternatively, you can use a third-party imaging utility to make an image of your entire system on a third drive and then restore the image to your new RAID array.

Most folks have data that's important to them that they'd hate to lose, so spending a few bucks on an inexpensive external USB drive for this and for future backup needs would likely be a great idea, anyway.

 

[riv816]

Thanks. I was hoping to be lazy and not have to reinstall/configure all the software they have on there. There is a 80gb ide drive already in there. The western digital disc has a utilty to replace a "hard drive" with a new one and will transfer everything over. I may play with that.
Rob

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

actually, intel's matrix raid system will build the raid0 for you. I have an A64 on an nforce4 mobo- pretty sure it does the same. sorry to get back so late......

 

[Madwand1]

It's tricky, naturally risky, and takes some time. It can be done, but you shouldn't try anything like this without a backup (unless you really don't care about losing all your stuff, but if you didn't at all, then you wouldn't be asking this question).

The details depend on the particular RAID implementation.

With nVIDIA RAID, there are a few issues to be aware of:

1. The nVIDIA Raid Management tool is installed with the nVIDIA SATA chipset drivers only when RAID is enabled for some ports in the BIOS.

2. You need to migrate arrays to add drives, and that can only be done with the RAID management tool, and to migrate you need a RAID array to start. So you're either stuck, or have to start off somehow with a single drive RAID "array" -- you do this with a single drive RAID 0 "array".

You create a RAID 0 array, and add only one drive. For practical purposes, this is just a simple single drive that uses the nVIDIA RAID drivers. It gets recognized by the RAID management tool, and can be migrated to some other array types including a proper 2-drive RAID 0. This step takes a long time, as a lot of data has to be shuffled (the RAID tools typically don't know the file system, so work blindly moving the entire drive, regardless of how full the drive is with file system data).

3. Typically RAID expansion is done, but the file system stays unchanged. This means that the partition size is left unchanged after the RAID array is expanded. You need to use some other tools to expand the partition or to create another partition as desired.

The above come with no guarantees of success, etc. I avoid doing this sort of thing personally by installing the OS on a separate drive from the RAID arrays.

 

[Comdrpopnfresh]

if you are just looking for a merging of the drives, without the full benefits of raid0, I'd suggest jbod if your mobo supports it....

 

[riv816]

Thanks folks, I wimped out and just started over. I appreciate your help and have added all of this to my "notes".
Rob