Raid1 and partition query under Vista

JEB · 13 Oct 2008 at 12:07

I ordred components for a new build yesterday, but decided as an after-thought that I'd buy an extra HDD and configure as Raid1 for extra resiliance. Am I best to wait until both discs are home before doing my Vista install, so that the raid is built before the OS is installed, or can I build with one disc and then add the other and built the raid when it arrives?

Also - I have a USB floppy. What'e the drill with copying the raid drivers onto it? I assume I just copy them from the CD that comes with the Mobo, and then do F6 when it prompts me? I've never installed a raid before, so this is new to me. It's a GIgabyte GA-G33M-DS2R.

Finally - my two HDD's are 750Gb Samsungs F1's. I was planning partitioning as say 100Gb OS and the rest for data. Can you do this as part of the install of Vista\raid, or do you have to partition using a 3rd party tool like Acronis after your build? Will the creation of the partition effect the raid config in any way, or will that all be okay?

rpstewart · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:10

The easiest way is going to be to wait for the second disk but you should be able to migrate from a single drive to RAID1 if you set the controller to RAID mode before you start and install the RAID drivers with the install. On Vista that's much more simple than XP, there should be built in ICH9R drivers for a start which will get you through the basic setup without the need for floppies or anything else.

JEB · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:15

Cheers - will the ICH9R driver in Vista be the same as the one that'll come on the Gigabyte CD?

Also - do you get the option under a Vista install, like you did with XP, to create a partition for the OS? I have a copy of Acronis otherwise.

Thanks for your help.

Pandobear · 13 Oct 2008 at 13:55

I think that you will find it easier to set up the raid array first, it can be done afterwards though if you make a mistake you can be back at square one, so best start at square one in the first place. If you are using Vista then you should not need any addtional drivers to 'see' the array for setup, if you are using XP then you will, and you should have the usb floppy with a driver disk handy before you begin, you can get this from *** Intel site if you do not have them on your mainboard disk.

When installing your OS you will be asked where you would like to install it, and at this point you can define your OS partition. On Vista this is particularly easy. Once you OS is installed then you can create seperate partition (s) in the remaining space.

I hope that this helps

JEB · 13 Oct 2008 at 17:18

Pandabear - thanks for that. This will be my first Vista install, have always been XP in the past. Just to clarify - at the stage of installing Vista it'll ask me where I wish to install it and will it also let me create a smaller partition for the OS at this stage, say a 100Gb-650Gb split of my HDD space, or will I need to install Vista on the 750Gb, then create the partition once Vista is installed? I thought I'd read somewhere that you can't create a partition with a Vista install as easily as you can with XP, but that you need to install first, then create your partition with a 3rd party tool?

PaulyD · 14 Oct 2008 at 00:08

Its still easy to do under Vista, certainly no more difficult than XP!

Or you could always use Acronis when you get Vista installed, brill program that - much better than Partition Magic which i used to use

Pandobear · 14 Oct 2008 at 17:13

You can if you wish create both partitions when you install vista, as it gives you the option to create which ever partitions that you like. I would just create the boot OS partition at this stage and then once your OS is installed then use Disk Management, which is in Control Panel, Administrive tools, Computer Managment, to create and format your further partitions.

Acronis is an excellant tool, though not really required for what you require.

JEB · 14 Oct 2008 at 17:36

Sound - cheersfor all the replies. All my bits arrived today, but my case is all bashed up so needs to RMA'd. Gutted as I was all ready to start tonight, never mind, hopfully I'll be up and running as soon as I get the replacement case. By the way - this is the first time I've had to RMA anything, and so far so good. The guys at OcUK have been very helpful.