Vista RAID-5 doesn't recognize WinXP Raid-5?

[Torben Gundtofte-Bruun]

Hi all!
I'm using a software RAID-5 hack in WinXP as described by Tom's Hardware(1),
but when I boot in Vista, this RAID array is just "failed". The XP hack is
RAID-5 such as it also exists in Windows Server and Windows NT.

Are XP & Vista RAID really incompatible?
Naturally I don't want to "just try it" at the risk of essentially
formatting my 950GB array.

(1):
http://www.tomshardware.com/2004/11/19/using_windowsxp_to_make_raid_5_happen/

 

[Kerry Brown]

Neither OS supports software RAID 5. Why would you expect an unsupported
option from one OS to work in another OS? There may be a hack for Vista but
it will obviously be different and again you would be in an unsupported
position. It may break without any notice because of updates or service
packs. Software RAID 5 is not a good choice for any OS. Hardware RAID
controllers are quite inexpensive and fully supported.

 

[Torben Gundtofte-Bruun]

It seems that I should do something about that software RAID anyway, I
agree... but:

Neither OS supports software RAID 5.

I haven't done any hacking in Vista, but it recognises the RAID-5 disks
anyway and labels them RAID-5 (failed). This would suggest to me that Vista
does support software RAID-5. At least in the RC2 "Premium" version.

Why would you expect an unsupported option from one OS to work in another
OS?

Since the XP hack does nothing more than enable in XP what was disabled from
NT, I don't think it's a particularly ugly and unsupported hack.
Unofficial hack, yes.
Officially unsupported, yes.
But unofficially supported? It appears so.

Hardware RAID controllers are quite inexpensive and fully supported.

I thought they were rather expensive for simple home use. That's why I opted
for software in the first place. Could you perhaps suggest a useful,
affordable 4-port PCI SATA II controller?


Thanks!

 

[Kerry Brown]

I thought they were rather expensive for simple home use. That's why
I opted for software in the first place. Could you perhaps suggest a
useful, affordable 4-port PCI SATA II controller?


Thanks!

http://search.live.com/results.aspx...mkt=en-us&FORM=LVSP&go.x=18&go.y=10&go=Search

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&safe=off&q=low+cost+raid+5+sata&btnG=Search&meta=

 

[Torben Gundtofte-Bruun]

Thanks Kerry!
I'll have a look at some of those hits.