Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k? From what I've seen in
so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror in Win2k is to use
dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic disks require the use
of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?


TIA,


Greg

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:59:53 -0400, David H. Lipman
<DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote:

> Controller that does RAID rather than the OS doing RAID.
>
> Dave

Here, here. Software raid is eeevil.


--
Using M2, Opera's revolutionary e-mail client: http://www.opera.com/m2/

"Paul Dietrich" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news(E-Mail Removed)...
> On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 22:59:53 -0400, David H. Lipman
> <DLipman~nospam~@Verizon.Net> wrote:
>
> > Controller that does RAID rather than the OS doing RAID.
> >
> > Dave
>
> Here, here. Software raid is eeevil.
>
>

Agreed. But I am tinkering more than anything and don't have the funds for
hardware.

So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic disk in order
to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic disk, what happens
to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on the dynamic disk?
I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I could just
mirror a single (ntfs) partition.


Greg


"Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> raid. Regards

> >-----Original Message-----
> >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> From what I've seen in
> >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> in Win2k is to use
> >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> disks require the use
> >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> >
> >
> >TIA,
> >
> >
> >Greg
> >
> >
> >.
> >

The whole disk will become dynamic but it does not really
matter: Your drives will look and behave in exactly the same
way as before, except that the disk is no longer accessible
from DOS. (This is actually not strictly true: In an emergency
you could easily convert a dynamic disk back to an
ordinary disk, without Win2000 and without loss of data).

Once you have converted your disk to dynamic, you can
mirror any partition you chose. All you need is sufficient
space on a different physical disk that is also dynamic.


"GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:#wuQLM$(E-Mail Removed)...
> So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic disk in order
> to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic disk, what happens
> to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on the dynamic
disk?
> I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I could just
> mirror a single (ntfs) partition.
>
>
> Greg
>
>
> "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> > to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> > the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> > software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> > have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> > will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> > the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> > drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> > a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> > raid. Regards
>
> > >-----Original Message-----
> > >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> > From what I've seen in
> > >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> > in Win2k is to use
> > >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> > disks require the use
> > >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> > >
> > >
> > >TIA,
> > >
> > >
> > >Greg
> > >
> > >
> > >.
> > >
>
>

I might add that my conversion method will certainly
fail after you implement some of the functions that
are particular to dynamic disks (other than mirroring).


"GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Cool! Sounds good. But it was my understanding that you cannot convert
a
> dynamic disk back to a basic disk, other than wiping it clean and
> repartitioning. Are there third party tools that can convert it back?
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Greg
>
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > The whole disk will become dynamic but it does not really
> > matter: Your drives will look and behave in exactly the same
> > way as before, except that the disk is no longer accessible
> > from DOS. (This is actually not strictly true: In an emergency
> > you could easily convert a dynamic disk back to an
> > ordinary disk, without Win2000 and without loss of data).
> >
> > Once you have converted your disk to dynamic, you can
> > mirror any partition you chose. All you need is sufficient
> > space on a different physical disk that is also dynamic.
> >
> >
> > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:#wuQLM$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic disk in
> order
> > > to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic disk, what
> happens
> > > to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on the dynamic
> > disk?
> > > I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I could just
> > > mirror a single (ntfs) partition.
> > >
> > >
> > > Greg
> > >
> > >
> > > "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> > > > to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> > > > the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> > > > software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> > > > have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> > > > will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> > > > the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> > > > drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> > > > a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> > > > raid. Regards
> > >
> > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> > > > From what I've seen in
> > > > >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> > > > in Win2k is to use
> > > > >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> > > > disks require the use
> > > > >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >TIA,
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >Greg
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >.
> > > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Great! Thanks!! I'll keep that in mind. What tools are available to change
the partition type? Can Partition Magic do this?




"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I might add that my conversion method will certainly
> fail after you implement some of the functions that
> are particular to dynamic disks (other than mirroring).
>
>
> "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Cool! Sounds good. But it was my understanding that you cannot
convert
> a
> > dynamic disk back to a basic disk, other than wiping it clean and
> > repartitioning. Are there third party tools that can convert it back?
> >
> >
> > Thanks,
> >
> >
> > Greg
> >
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > The whole disk will become dynamic but it does not really
> > > matter: Your drives will look and behave in exactly the same
> > > way as before, except that the disk is no longer accessible
> > > from DOS. (This is actually not strictly true: In an emergency
> > > you could easily convert a dynamic disk back to an
> > > ordinary disk, without Win2000 and without loss of data).
> > >
> > > Once you have converted your disk to dynamic, you can
> > > mirror any partition you chose. All you need is sufficient
> > > space on a different physical disk that is also dynamic.
> > >
> > >
> > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:#wuQLM$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic disk in
> > order
> > > > to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic disk, what
> > happens
> > > > to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on the
dynamic
> > > disk?
> > > > I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I could
just
> > > > mirror a single (ntfs) partition.
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Greg
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> > > > > to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> > > > > the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> > > > > software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> > > > > have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> > > > > will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> > > > > the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> > > > > drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> > > > > a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> > > > > raid. Regards
> > > >
> > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > > >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> > > > > From what I've seen in
> > > > > >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> > > > > in Win2k is to use
> > > > > >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> > > > > disks require the use
> > > > > >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >TIA,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >Greg
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >.
> > > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Oh. Then what did you use in the past when you converted a dynamic disk
back to basic?



"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> I am not aware of any tools that will touch dynamic
> drives.
>
>
> "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:#VT#(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Great! Thanks!! I'll keep that in mind. What tools are available to
> change
> > the partition type? Can Partition Magic do this?
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > I might add that my conversion method will certainly
> > > fail after you implement some of the functions that
> > > are particular to dynamic disks (other than mirroring).
> > >
> > >
> > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > Cool! Sounds good. But it was my understanding that you cannot
> > convert
> > > a
> > > > dynamic disk back to a basic disk, other than wiping it clean and
> > > > repartitioning. Are there third party tools that can convert it
> back?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Greg
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > The whole disk will become dynamic but it does not really
> > > > > matter: Your drives will look and behave in exactly the same
> > > > > way as before, except that the disk is no longer accessible
> > > > > from DOS. (This is actually not strictly true: In an emergency
> > > > > you could easily convert a dynamic disk back to an
> > > > > ordinary disk, without Win2000 and without loss of data).
> > > > >
> > > > > Once you have converted your disk to dynamic, you can
> > > > > mirror any partition you chose. All you need is sufficient
> > > > > space on a different physical disk that is also dynamic.
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > news:#wuQLM$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic
disk
> in
> > > > order
> > > > > > to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic disk,
what
> > > > happens
> > > > > > to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on the
> > dynamic
> > > > > disk?
> > > > > > I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I
could
> > just
> > > > > > mirror a single (ntfs) partition.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Greg
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> > > > > > > to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> > > > > > > the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> > > > > > > software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> > > > > > > have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> > > > > > > will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> > > > > > > the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> > > > > > > drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> > > > > > > a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> > > > > > > raid. Regards
> > > > > >
> > > > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> > > > > > > From what I've seen in
> > > > > > > >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> > > > > > > in Win2k is to use
> > > > > > > >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> > > > > > > disks require the use
> > > > > > > >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >TIA,
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >Greg
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Sorry, I thought you were asking what "official" tools are
available to perform the conversion. I used ptedit.exe,
which is a partition table editor that you can freely download
from the PQmagic site. Any partition table editor or disk
editor will do.


"GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Oh. Then what did you use in the past when you converted a dynamic disk
> back to basic?
>
>
>
> "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > I am not aware of any tools that will touch dynamic
> > drives.
> >
> >
> > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:#VT#(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > Great! Thanks!! I'll keep that in mind. What tools are available to
> > change
> > > the partition type? Can Partition Magic do this?
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > >
> > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > I might add that my conversion method will certainly
> > > > fail after you implement some of the functions that
> > > > are particular to dynamic disks (other than mirroring).
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > Cool! Sounds good. But it was my understanding that you cannot
> > > convert
> > > > a
> > > > > dynamic disk back to a basic disk, other than wiping it clean and
> > > > > repartitioning. Are there third party tools that can convert it
> > back?
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Thanks,
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > Greg
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > The whole disk will become dynamic but it does not really
> > > > > > matter: Your drives will look and behave in exactly the same
> > > > > > way as before, except that the disk is no longer accessible
> > > > > > from DOS. (This is actually not strictly true: In an emergency
> > > > > > you could easily convert a dynamic disk back to an
> > > > > > ordinary disk, without Win2000 and without loss of data).
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Once you have converted your disk to dynamic, you can
> > > > > > mirror any partition you chose. All you need is sufficient
> > > > > > space on a different physical disk that is also dynamic.
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:#wuQLM$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic
> disk
> > in
> > > > > order
> > > > > > > to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic disk,
> what
> > > > > happens
> > > > > > > to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on the
> > > dynamic
> > > > > > disk?
> > > > > > > I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I
> could
> > > just
> > > > > > > mirror a single (ntfs) partition.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Greg
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > > > news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > > So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> > > > > > > > to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> > > > > > > > the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> > > > > > > > software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> > > > > > > > have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> > > > > > > > will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> > > > > > > > the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> > > > > > > > drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> > > > > > > > a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> > > > > > > > raid. Regards
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > > >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> > > > > > > > From what I've seen in
> > > > > > > > >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> > > > > > > > in Win2k is to use
> > > > > > > > >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> > > > > > > > disks require the use
> > > > > > > > >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >TIA,
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >Greg
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > >.
> > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>

Great! Thanks again! Now.....let's see what damage I can do ......




"Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> Sorry, I thought you were asking what "official" tools are
> available to perform the conversion. I used ptedit.exe,
> which is a partition table editor that you can freely download
> from the PQmagic site. Any partition table editor or disk
> editor will do.
>
>
> "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > Oh. Then what did you use in the past when you converted a dynamic disk
> > back to basic?
> >
> >
> >
> > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > I am not aware of any tools that will touch dynamic
> > > drives.
> > >
> > >
> > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > news:#VT#(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > Great! Thanks!! I'll keep that in mind. What tools are available
to
> > > change
> > > > the partition type? Can Partition Magic do this?
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > I might add that my conversion method will certainly
> > > > > fail after you implement some of the functions that
> > > > > are particular to dynamic disks (other than mirroring).
> > > > >
> > > > >
> > > > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > Cool! Sounds good. But it was my understanding that you
cannot
> > > > convert
> > > > > a
> > > > > > dynamic disk back to a basic disk, other than wiping it clean
and
> > > > > > repartitioning. Are there third party tools that can convert
it
> > > back?
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Thanks,
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > Greg
> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > "Pegasus (MVP)" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > > news:(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > The whole disk will become dynamic but it does not really
> > > > > > > matter: Your drives will look and behave in exactly the same
> > > > > > > way as before, except that the disk is no longer accessible
> > > > > > > from DOS. (This is actually not strictly true: In an emergency
> > > > > > > you could easily convert a dynamic disk back to an
> > > > > > > ordinary disk, without Win2000 and without loss of data).
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > Once you have converted your disk to dynamic, you can
> > > > > > > mirror any partition you chose. All you need is sufficient
> > > > > > > space on a different physical disk that is also dynamic.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > "GO" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > > > news:#wuQLM$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > > So you do need to convert the entire hard drive to a dynamic
> > disk
> > > in
> > > > > > order
> > > > > > > > to do mirroring? So if I upgrade my drive to a dynamic
disk,
> > what
> > > > > > happens
> > > > > > > > to my current partitions? Will the just become volumes on
the
> > > > dynamic
> > > > > > > disk?
> > > > > > > > I'm not even sure I want to go this route as I was hoping I
> > could
> > > > just
> > > > > > > > mirror a single (ntfs) partition.
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > Greg
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > "Ron" <(E-Mail Removed)> wrote in message
> > > > > > > > news:056e01c34ba1$6106f690$(E-Mail Removed)...
> > > > > > > > > So there's no big deal to converting your NTFS disks
> > > > > > > > > to "dynamic" and establishing the mirror. I agree with
> > > > > > > > > the other posts that hardware raid is better than
> > > > > > > > > software raid, but when you don't have the budget and
> > > > > > > > > have to use what resources you have, then software raid
> > > > > > > > > will work. Just convert your basic disks to dynamic in
> > > > > > > > > the MMC>computer management>storage by right clicking the
> > > > > > > > > drive and convert it to dynamic. Just make sure you have
> > > > > > > > > a good verified backup before you do. Then set your
> > > > > > > > > raid. Regards
> > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >-----Original Message-----
> > > > > > > > > >Is it possible to mirror an NTFS partition on Win2k?
> > > > > > > > > From what I've seen in
> > > > > > > > > >so far in my googling it's no....the only way to mirror
> > > > > > > > > in Win2k is to use
> > > > > > > > > >dynamic disks. And also from my understanding dynamic
> > > > > > > > > disks require the use
> > > > > > > > > >of the entire hard drive. Are there any alternatives?
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >TIA,
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >Greg
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >
> > > > > > > > > >.
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> > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > >
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> > > >
> > >
> > >
> >
> >
>
>