Raid 1 question

[Tomc@T]

I currently have 2 x 200GB in raid 1 config, one of these drives is starting to fail more and more frequently, then has to be rebuilt by the Intel Matrix Storage software.

With this in mind, I want to replace the drive that is giving me problems, I can replace with a 250GB drive.

So my queries are:

Can I just unplug the old drive and add the new one and it would rebuild? (I know it will become a 200GB drive)

Would I need to add the new drive to the raid array first?

Also after the rebuild, if I decided to replace the other 200GB for a 250GB one, would I be able to "reclaim" the extra 50GB or would the drives just rebuild to 200GB? ...... Yes I am trying to avoid a reinstall!!!!

 

[GeezerButler]

Replace the duff drive. When you start up the RAID controller will show the new drive as non-RAID. Go into the Ctrl-I menu and you should get a prompt asking if you want to use the new drive in the RAID1 array. When you say yes it will add it - the rebuild will be automatic but only while the OS is running. So boot to Windows and monitor the rebuild from the Matrix Manager.

 

[droyden]

Also rebuild will probably take a while so better to just leave it to rebuild rather than try to use it (goto work, or bed etc)