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Converting Raid 1 configuration to 1 normal hard drive with Windows XP Professional
I have a Dell Precision 380 Workstation that was configured from the factory as Raid 1 with 2 Seagate 160GB harddrives. The operating system is Windows XP professional. I would like to eliminate the Raid 1 configuration and make the computer a 1 normal hard drive configuration. Can anyone help me with a step by step procedure to accomplish this?
osprey4
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January 23rd, 2013 16:00
Hi cbcenterplus,
RAID 1 means you have essentially two separate drives with identical information. So breaking the RAID is simple. Boot to the Intel RAID Option Rom Utility (ctrl + I ), change both drives to NON-Member disks then reboot. The 2nd drive will be assigned new drive letter, and you can reformat it using disk management, and have additional space.
cbcenterplus
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January 24th, 2013 02:00
Hi Osprey4,
After I change both drives to non member discs, can I remove one of drives and only have one drive in the computer?
osprey4
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January 24th, 2013 04:00
Yes.
cbcenterplus
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January 24th, 2013 08:00
Will it matter which drive I remove? One of the drives has a blue ribbon going to SATA 0 on the mother board, and the other drive has a blue ribbon going to SATA 2 on the mother board.
osprey4
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January 24th, 2013 09:00
Your system drive should be connected to port 0.
cbcenterplus
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January 24th, 2013 12:00
After I remove the Raid 1 configuration and restore the system to a regular 1 hard drive configuration, I plan to remove the second hard drive from the computer--the one I plan to remove is the one attached to SATA 2 on the mother board. Then I would like to replace the existing hard drive with a brand new one. When I do this, the new hard drive will have no partitions and will not be formatted. Then as I install my Dell reinstallation CD Windows XP Service pack 2 disc that I received with my computer, will the operating system as it is being installed partition and format the new hard drive? Will I just have to watch the screen and make decisions as I am asked during the install?
osprey4
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January 25th, 2013 10:00
Yes, you've pretty much got it. Let me refer you to Natakuc's clean install guide (link below) for help with the procedure.
I've installed XP a hundred times but still like to refer to the guide when I do it.
cbcenterplus
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January 25th, 2013 11:00
Thank you,
I plan to install the new hard drive over the weekend.
cbcenterplus
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January 25th, 2013 12:00
Just one more thing, I pressed F2 to get into the BIOS and went to "DRIVES" and then "SATA OPERATION". There were 4 catagories at the top of the screen at the right.
Raid autodetect/AHCI
Raid autodetect/ATA
Raid ON
Comination
Raid autodetect/AHCI was high lighted. Should I change anything here?
osprey4
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January 26th, 2013 03:00
No, leave it as is.
cbcenterplus
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February 5th, 2013 00:00
I did install a new OEM Seagate 160 GB Hard Drive and it is working. I had been in contact with Dell earlier and was informed to change Raid autodetect/AHCI to Raid autodetect/ATA. So I did change it from Raid autodetect/AHCI to Raid autodetect/ATA. I didn't think to ask why the change from AHCI to ATA was to be done. I guess I could go back in to change it back to AHCI but it is working with it set to ATA so I think I'll just leave it like this.
Thank you so very much for your help.
osprey4
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February 5th, 2013 16:00
Glad to hear you're up and running!
ZQu99
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October 11th, 2014 05:00
Thanks for the helpful posting. I have Dell Precision T5500 running Window-7. I want to do the same -- change one RAID to a regular drive as well. Is the procedure the same for Window-7? Could you please specify how to "Boot to the Intel RAID Rom Utility". Thanks you very much!
cbcenterplus
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October 26th, 2014 01:00
I did the switch last year and did not write down step by step what I did. I don't remember what all I did and really can't help you, I wish I could. I recently purchased a new Dell Optiplex 3020 from Dell with Windows 7 Pro installed with only one hard drive.
Why don't you start a new thread and maybe someone will be able to give you step by step instructions on what to do. Sorry I can't help any further.