Possibleto install RAID without formating disk?

[kirkster]

Guys,
Got a single WD 500Gig disk in my system. I want to buld a RAID array with four of the same disks. My question is will I have to do a compete reinstall and lose all the data on my existing disk when I build the new volume? I think yes but wanted to confirm.

 

[rpstewart]

The Intel Matrix Storage Manager will let you migrate from a single drive to a multi drive RAID0 array but the BIOS has to be set to have the SATA ports in RAID mode and the appropriate driver must be installed in Windows. If your BIOS is currently not in RAID mode then you're not quite stuffed but nearly. It is possible to encourage Windows to load the RAID driver by shifting the disk onto the JMicron controller and booting off that while you swap the Intel ports to RAID mode and load the driver. It's tricky but do-able.