To break your RAID 1, start by pushing CTRL i shortly after booting the system on. Breaking the mirror should not result in data loss. There should an option in the RAID BIOS utility to set the disk to non RAID. Then you will left with two separate hard drives with the same data.
I might be wrong on this but AFAIK
you will not be able to partition a disk
and use it in a raid1 configuration
as the controller on your motherboard
(intel sata/raid) will force you to use
the entire drive when it is a part of a
raid1 array.
I know you can get away with using half of the drive
to set up a raid0 array, but won't work with raid1.
You need all of both disks.
There's one point that you should consider, is that if you use any partitioning utility, like Partition Magic, the Dell installed PC Restore feature becomes unusable
I think when you migrate RAID 1 again from your SATA drive 0 (boot drive) any partitions you create will be setup on the New RAID volume.
Bev is correct about loosing your restore parition. The restore parition that Dell provices on the newer models is sort of nice since it allows you to re-build the system back to the orginal state.
I used to create a lot of parition before getting my Dell but now I just keep everything in one Partiton, for a drive. Kind of got used to it now. In some respects it better, since I do not run out of space on the Paritions any more.
One issue on a re-install you need a diskette drive to install the Pre-OS RAID Driver. You may eventually need to do this anyway. But breaking the Array and using some tool like Partation Manager to re-size the Partition is much easier.
I have broken and re-build my array a couple of times with no issues. I left my Partition as is, one issue on the re-install you loose the re-install feature Dell has provided which makes it realy easy to get back to the orginal configuration. This way I do not think you need to worry about having a diskette drive.
shesagordie
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September 22nd, 2005 02:00
Jyaki
To break your RAID 1, start by pushing CTRL i shortly after booting the system on. Breaking the mirror should not result in data loss. There should an option in the RAID BIOS utility to set the disk to non RAID. Then you will left with two separate hard drives with the same data.
Bev.
shesagordie
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46K Posts
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September 22nd, 2005 03:00
Jyaki
4 Posts
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September 22nd, 2005 03:00
Jyaki
4 Posts
0
September 22nd, 2005 05:00
cityslicker
77 Posts
0
September 22nd, 2005 14:00
you will not be able to partition a disk
and use it in a raid1 configuration
as the controller on your motherboard
(intel sata/raid) will force you to use
the entire drive when it is a part of a
raid1 array.
I know you can get away with using half of the drive
to set up a raid0 array, but won't work with raid1.
You need all of both disks.
shesagordie
10 Elder
•
46K Posts
0
September 22nd, 2005 19:00
TomXPS
1.3K Posts
0
September 22nd, 2005 21:00
I think when you migrate RAID 1 again from your SATA drive 0 (boot drive) any partitions you create will be setup on the New RAID volume.
Bev is correct about loosing your restore parition. The restore parition that Dell provices on the newer models is sort of nice since it allows you to re-build the system back to the orginal state.
I used to create a lot of parition before getting my Dell but now I just keep everything in one Partiton, for a drive. Kind of got used to it now. In some respects it better, since I do not run out of space on the Paritions any more.
cityslicker
77 Posts
0
September 22nd, 2005 22:00
The migrate option on my 8400 never worked properly, had to do everything from ground up to work right.
I wouldn't recommend using it, but if you're so inclined I'd make sure you are ready if all your data is lost.
Jyaki
4 Posts
0
September 23rd, 2005 18:00
Thanks for all the help guys! What if I reinstall the OS....could I set-up the partitions and RAID 1 config then? Thanks!
TomXPS
1.3K Posts
0
September 23rd, 2005 18:00
One issue on a re-install you need a diskette drive to install the Pre-OS RAID Driver. You may eventually need to do this anyway. But breaking the Array and using some tool like Partation Manager to re-size the Partition is much easier.
I have broken and re-build my array a couple of times with no issues. I left my Partition as is, one issue on the re-install you loose the re-install feature Dell has provided which makes it realy easy to get back to the orginal configuration. This way I do not think you need to worry about having a diskette drive.