Do I have a broken HDD?

CryptKeeper · 5 Sep 2006 at 12:33

I have 3 HDDs in my system:

1 IBM IDE 60GB Deathstar (Yes this one still works perfectly!!!)
2x IBM IDE 120GB 7k250s (IIRC)

Originally, the 2 120GB drives were in RAID (making 1 big 240GB drive).

After some computer problems, I resintalled windows, but had problems with setting up the RAID again, so just forgot about it and ran the single 60GB HDD. I had uni work to do, so didn't have time to mess around.

Anyway, I'm running out of space and would like to set up these two drives again, in RAID setup. I remember trying this 6 months ago and not getting anywhere. I had a suspiscion that I had a broken HDD.

Right now, I've completly forgotten everything about RAID and setting up new HDDs.

I baisically need someone to tell me how to determine if any of the HDDs are broken. Then give me instrusctions on how to setup the two HDDs in RAID (assuming no problems), given that XP is already installed on my 60 GIG IDE hdd.

I hope this makes sense :confused:

Thanks
Crypt

semi-pro waster · 5 Sep 2006 at 13:29

There should be a drive diagnostic tool on IBM's website that you can run to check drive fitness.

For Raid you have to go into the Raid 'bios' usually accessed by pressing a key combination(for me with a Promise Fasttrak controller this is Ctrl + F) then building the array however you will lose whatever you currently have on the drive(s). Can I ask why you want the Raid array? Raid0 increases your risk of data loss and doesn't hugely benefit most users.

CryptKeeper · 5 Sep 2006 at 13:50

semi-pro waster said:
There should be a drive diagnostic tool on IBM's website that you can run to check drive fitness.

For Raid you have to go into the Raid 'bios' usually accessed by pressing a key combination(for me with a Promise Fasttrak controller this is Ctrl + F) then building the array however you will lose whatever you currently have on the drive(s). Can I ask why you want the Raid array? Raid0 increases your risk of data loss and doesn't hugely benefit most users.

Thanks I'll take a look at that.

I need to run a RAID array as my mobo only has 2 IDE ports
One has the 60gig HDD
The other has a DVD-ROM and DVD-RW

As the 2x 120gig HDDs are IDE, my only option is to use the RAID port.

ErNciLator · 6 Sep 2006 at 06:16

The RAID port? :O

CryptKeeper · 6 Sep 2006 at 10:11

ErNciLator said:
The RAID port? :O

Lol sorry, I forget the term.

The slot on my mobo where I plug the IDE cable into where it accepts RAID

semi-pro waster · 6 Sep 2006 at 10:12

ErNciLator said:
The RAID port? :O

On some (older) motherboards you have 4 IDE ports, 2 of which are run by the Raid controller. I suppose CryptKeeper could put one of the other hard drives as a slave to the 60gb on the same chain and see if the Raid controller will allow one drive to work on its own.