So I've got 4 storage units, 2x 1TB HDDs that came with my PC about 3-3.5 years ago, 1x 500GB hybrid drive (about 1.5-2 years old) and 1x 120GB SSD (about the same age as the hybrid). Before I just kind of plugged them in and got on with it, now I seek some knowledge about them, hopefully a few of you might be able to help.
1) Ok, given how a lot of my documents, etc. are fairly time intensive (lot of 3D designs, simulations... video game saves
... etc.) I recently decided to raid my two 1TB drives together in RAID1 and forgo the extra storage (it means a bit more spring cleaning, etc. but means I automatically have a backup if I put stuff on one of those drives). I've done this using Intel Rapid Storage Technology (no idea if that's the best thing to use but was the way I worked out how to do it!). It now lists them as drives merged in an array to form a single 1TB volume. So my question is, should one fail what would I need to do, if anything, to gain access to the remaining HDD? Would I be able to access it straight away or would I need to un-RAID it or something? Also would I be likely to get any indication that one of those HDD had failed? Or would it come down to looking at the program previously mentioned regularly to check on them? [On a side note if any of you know about this program I have an additional question but I'll save that for if anyone has dealt with it!]
2) Self Solved
3) As mentioned, until recently I never paid much attention to my storage, just plugged it in and got on with it. Now I'm starting to realise that this isn't the best policy! I recently saw that it's recommended to have SSDs using ahci. Until recently I wouldn't have even known what my system was using, but the other day I had an issue with my computer restarting during boot and a helpful person on this forum worked out a setting in BIOS had swapped to ahci. The other option was RAID and when I selected it my computer went back to normal. So basically, what's the difference? Should I swap over? If so how would I go about doing that? Would it involve reformatting all my drives?
Anyway, I THINK that's all for now! As I said they're probably very basic/naive questions, but hey we all had to start somewhere
Any help will be much appreciated!
1) Ok, given how a lot of my documents, etc. are fairly time intensive (lot of 3D designs, simulations... video game saves
... etc.) I recently decided to raid my two 1TB drives together in RAID1 and forgo the extra storage (it means a bit more spring cleaning, etc. but means I automatically have a backup if I put stuff on one of those drives). I've done this using Intel Rapid Storage Technology (no idea if that's the best thing to use but was the way I worked out how to do it!). It now lists them as drives merged in an array to form a single 1TB volume. So my question is, should one fail what would I need to do, if anything, to gain access to the remaining HDD? Would I be able to access it straight away or would I need to un-RAID it or something? Also would I be likely to get any indication that one of those HDD had failed? Or would it come down to looking at the program previously mentioned regularly to check on them? [On a side note if any of you know about this program I have an additional question but I'll save that for if anyone has dealt with it!]2) Self Solved
3) As mentioned, until recently I never paid much attention to my storage, just plugged it in and got on with it. Now I'm starting to realise that this isn't the best policy! I recently saw that it's recommended to have SSDs using ahci. Until recently I wouldn't have even known what my system was using, but the other day I had an issue with my computer restarting during boot and a helpful person on this forum worked out a setting in BIOS had swapped to ahci. The other option was RAID and when I selected it my computer went back to normal. So basically, what's the difference? Should I swap over? If so how would I go about doing that? Would it involve reformatting all my drives?
Anyway, I THINK that's all for now! As I said they're probably very basic/naive questions, but hey we all had to start somewhere
Any help will be much appreciated!
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