Quick question about RAID 1

[gopunk]

ok so say my installation of windows is fubar'd but i want the documents on it... what should i do? when i go to the Intel RAID configuration utility, it gives me 4 options:

create RAID volume
delete RAID volume
Reset disks to non-raid
and exit

both #2 and #3 say that i will lose the data... but what i want to be able to do is to have a fresh install of xp on one of the drives, and be able to access the old documents on the other one. is this possible?

i should mention that i am running the array through the built in Intel controller... the mb is ASUS P4C800-E.

 

[DaFinn]

Get a 3rd disk, install windows to it, move files from raid array... Even your raid installation is fubar, you should be able to see it and acces the files. Also, both disks have same data so you could pull out one, install windows on it and still access files on the other one (providing your disks are ok, and installation is not fubar because either of the disks failed).

Edit: Oh, dont mess with the raid configuration utility if you wish to keep your data... making any changes will destroy your array + files on it. If you install an empty disk, it should offer an option to rebuild raid array.

 

[gopunk]

Originally posted by: DaFinn
Get a 3rd disk, install windows to it, move files from raid array... Even your raid installation is fubar, you should be able to see it and acces the files. Also, both disks have same data so you could pull out one, install windows on it and still access files on the other one (providing your disks are ok, and installation is not fubar because either of the disks failed).

Edit: Oh, dont mess with the raid configuration utility if you wish to keep your data... making any changes will destroy your array + files on it. If you install an empty disk, it should offer an option to rebuild raid array.

hmmm... i don't have any spare hard drives lying around though... do you think it would work if i disconnected one of the drives, deleted the raid volume (which wouldn't touch the disconnected one), installed windows on the remaining one, which is no longer in RAID, then hooked the disconnected one back up? or would the RAID controller somehow detect this and proceed to wipe everything off the disconnected one upon reconnection?