can raid be set up from an existing install of xp?

graylinghunter · 14 Sep 2006 at 19:08

I am running my system in normal sata mode can I swap this to raid 0 without a complete re install ?
I have a second sata hd on the sytem? This is used for store at the moment.
one is 300gb and the other 160 although my 300gb has a 160gb partition which has xp home installed.
I have a lot of softwate on this rig and it takes two days to re install.

smids · 14 Sep 2006 at 22:27

Simple answer: no.

Complicated answer- it can be done, but only on nVRAID as far as I know. Maybe more can do conversions but I only know of nVRAID being able to do this - and it needs to be setup as a 1 drive RAID array before it allows you to do this.

graylinghunter · 15 Sep 2006 at 07:29

thanks I will stick to my current single drive set up

wizardmaxx · 15 Sep 2006 at 09:50

I you want to experiment with raid and you have xp professional you can try the software raid built into xp. basically your xp install runs in non-raid, but your apps games etc run in raid 0. there are good guides on the net for this.

Rambaud · 15 Sep 2006 at 16:23

Ghost and/or Acronis should be able to do this, but you will need a 3rd drive (with enough space) to do so.

I cannot remember which one I used to clone to my current RAID0 array.

smids · 15 Sep 2006 at 16:49

Rambaud said:
Ghost and/or Acronis should be able to do this, but you will need a 3rd drive (with enough space) to do so.

I cannot remember which one I used to clone to my current RAID0 array.

Why is there no hitself smiley in this forum?! Considering that I actually have Acronis True Image 9 - I cannot believe I forgot!!! You could create an image of the drive and then install this onto the RAID or you could image your current install to a new RAID array as Rambaud suggests.

Do not use Ghost with RAID arrays - I have had no end of problems and there is a known problem with this - Norton have a workaround but why should we have to put up with that?

Rambaud · 15 Sep 2006 at 16:55

smids said:
Do not use Ghost with RAID arrays - I have had no end of problems and there is a known problem with this - Norton have a workaround but why should we have to put up with that?

Might be the main reason I bought True Image - I cannot remember. :cool: