RAID 5 Recovery

[ViRtualWorlds]

I bought a computer with a large RAID 5 array so that the data on it would be secure. The C: drive was not part of the array and this went down a couple of weeks ago so I put a new disk in to replace it. After installing the drive and re-setting up the array in BIOS windows XP can only see it as a foreign disk and wants to import it as a basic disk which means reformat and loss of data.
The array is 4# 200GB SATA disks the driver is Silicon Image, the original faulty C: drive was a 200GB disk but has been replaced by a 80GB disk.
Has anyone any help for me.

 

[Fullmetal Chocobo]

First of all, do not do anything to the disks that contained the RAID 5 array. Install the drivers for the RAID controller, and you should have RAID available again.

I've done this several times now. Now, I just hide the RAID 5 array, reformat, and then unhide the array after all of the drivers are arranged. Allows for a much smoother transition.

 

[ViRtualWorlds]

Thanks for your reply last week but the main problem was that all the drivers were on the currupt C: drive and the guy who built the array couldn't remember what he had done. The installation disk didn't have the correct files and the handbook guide was useless.
I've now got to the situation where the RAID5 is there and recognised as drive D: but the system wants to format it.
Is it possible to recover from this?
Will I have to format?
Can a data recovery company do anything?

Thanks again
Dave

 

[SuperFreaky]

You need to find the array drivers that Fullmetal Chocobo was talking about. Find what company makes your RAID controller and get the drivers from their website

 

[Ichinisan]

Been having a similar problem but I haven't touched it in nearly a year.