Upgrade to Vista w/ RAID1

You should download the RAId 1 Pre-OS driver and Intel Storage Matrix Storage controller from the Dell site or you can find it on the Intel site.   YOu can burn the Pre-OS driver to a disc and load it shortly after booting off the OS CD when you install Vista.

I would break the RAID 1 before Installing Vista.   This way you have a copy of all your data and can copy it to the vista OS drive once you install vista.   To break the array just press CTL I shortly after powering up the system.  You get a warning about loosing all the data bout you basicall y will have 2 disk with exactly the same contents.

After breaking the array set the boot disk to be SATA 0.  Also need to add the DVD/CD to the order to boot of the Vista DVD.

After you get vista installed install the following in this order. 

Chiip set driver.    (Dell)
Video Card.    (Cand download from vendor or Dell)
Sound card (Dell,Vendor)
Network card (Dell)
Any othe device needing driver

Install Intel Matric Storage controler.

Copy any data from the other STAT drive to your Vista Driver

Migrate to RAID 1 using Intel Storage Controler there will be an option to migrate.

Install all the Vista SP1
Install all the Window updates.

TomXPS,

Thanks for the quick reply.  One followup question:

>>YOu can burn the Pre-OS driver to a disc and load it shortly after booting off the OS CD when you install Vista.

When does this step occur?  Do I start to install Vista from DVD, then somewhere it will ask me to install and Pre OS Drivers?

I don't recall an option like this Vista starts, (maybe I just forgot).

Thanks again.

This will be my Christmas vacation project.

Happy Holidays.

Tom