Quick Question on RAID 0

beast · 12 Dec 2006 at 01:39

I'm just looking at the instructions on the CD that came with my motherboard on how to create a RAID 0 arrangement. It says please use two New drives of the same make/capacity.
Okay well I have just ordered and identical drive to the one I have, but this one I have installed windows on, had files on, It's been used basically. Does this mean that I cannot create a RAID 0 setup now that it's not technically new :confused:

mrthingyx · 12 Dec 2006 at 08:12

I think the RAID 0 array will need a fresh format before being created. Doing this will effectively 'renew' your current HD.

Back up all of your important data and reformat. It's the safest and quickest way, will prevent any heartache at a later date and is probably needed by the average system, anyway.

rpstewart · 12 Dec 2006 at 08:51

You don't need to format the drive before creating the array but the process of creating it will destroy any data which is already on the drive. As a result you will need to reinstall windows, you won't be able to simply migrate from what you have now to RAID0.

Jay_t · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:30

Yes, you're going to have to backup data from that drive first. Creating the RAID 0 array will indeed destroy any existing data.

beast · 12 Dec 2006 at 09:43

Yes, I knew this already. Just wanted to check that I could still create a RAID array after using one of the drives. Thanks!