New install, save data on old second hdd..??

[Guest]

I have a legal copy, been reinstlled because of a previous mb crash..know how
to go about the "revalidation" process..

Running single C: drive, and 2-Raid Mirror arrays... (stupid).. the C:
drive crashed... Now, when I re-install I am going to use another Mirror
array so it doesn't happen again...(total 3 Mirror Arrays / 2-sata II and 1
pata / 6-drives) total. that is not my question, I know how..

There are 4-drives in the "old" mirror arrays, E: and F: (C: was partitioned
to C:/D

My question is... when I install XPpro will it ask me to "intitiate" the old
drives (really doesn't matter if their RAID I don't think, the BIOS saved
them, each array should be recognized as a single-drive), ....and if it does,
will I then be able to access the data (about 600GB) on those drives, or
will it be lost...???

I have a valid copy of W2000pro, and could put that on an alternate
drive-set to access the arrays and save the data, would that be necessary or
even work..??

I am realy nervous about this, most of the data is "irreplacable"

 

[Guest]

Once any RAID array is physically unplugged from the board(s),once re-plugged
the system picks it up like any other IDE hd,so long as RAID is enabled in
the BIOS.Thiers no data lost of any kind....

 

[Guest]

Hi, and thanks for the response...
I am pretty sure the Raid arrays are ok, they are in place, and a set by the
BIOS..
My concern was with XPpro... if I do a complete install on a new single hdd,
or raid-set..will Windoz just "pick-up-the-drive(s)", raid or single IDE...??

Or will it ask me to "intitiate" the drive(s), and when I do, will I be able
to read the "old" data..
THAT is the part I am unsure about... (and VERY worried)

I had a problem with a failed MB, last summer....I replaced it with a
"newer" mb, with more features.. (nForce4ultra from nForce2)...the old single
hdd would not boot because of the mb change.. so I did a complete install...

After the install, I "initialted" the two old single IDE drives in the
previous system per Windoz request..., and they had NO DATA and windoz needed
to Format them to use..

I don't know if I lost the data because of the mb failure corrupted the
boot-sectors or this is "normal" for XPpro

This is what scares me...