Question about Windows XP Pro backup utility and RAID setup.

[kegleron]

If I use Windows XP Pro's backup utility to create a complete backup,
can I then configure 2 SATA drives as RAID 0 and restore the image to
that? Or will I have to completely reinstall everything after setting
up the RAID 0?

 

[timO']

If I use Windows XP Pro's backup utility to create a complete backup,
can I then configure 2 SATA drives as RAID 0 and restore the image to
that? Or will I have to completely reinstall everything after setting
up the RAID 0?

Hi:
that's what my question is too! I posted mine on th ASUS newsgroup
since I have an ASUS p5wd2e-premium mobo. I got a couple of responses
like: "are you sure you want RAID 0, it won't protect you from drive
failures" and, "Are you prepared to do a full reinstall on your
system, since reconfiguring the drives will wipe them"

Yes I knew that about RAID 0, and no I don't really want to go through
a full reinstallation.
So far no additional replies, but I got to thinking, that right now I
have two identical WD SE16WD2500KS SATA drives. Drive C has the OS and
so forth, Drive D has nothing, and I use an external USB drive for all
data like my thunderbrd folder, photos, docs, etc.
my mobo will accommodate additional SATA drives and IDE drives too.
Also there are different possible RAID array configs possible too,
with native chipsets on the mobo.
So I'm thinking I might add another WD drive, set up a RAID0 array on
D and the new one, install Windows into the new array, and migrate all
the files over from C at my own convenience.
Is that an option for you?

I'd much rather do what you proposed, but thusfar no one is giving
answers we want to hear.
please keep me in the loop.

 

[peter]

To the best of my knowledge XP Pro backup does NOT Image a drive and you
will need to have XP Pro installed before you can "restore" the backup.
by creating a RAID you are also formatting the drives during the RAID
setup.......Then you would need to load the RAID SATA drivers during the
reinstallation of the OS...Once the OS is up and running then you can
"restore" the files/settings that you have backed up to a directory of your
choice...it will be different than the original.Programs that you have will
need to be reinstalled.

peter

 

[peter]

After some more research I found it is possible to image the old
installation and then apply that image to a RAID setup.
First you would need to install your RAID SATA drivers into your present
system
Then using Acronis True Image create a bootable Rescue Disk...........and
then Image the present drive to another..or a DVD..
Set up your RAID Array............Then boot with the Rescue disk......start
in basic mode and it should see your RAID.......then apply that saved image
to the RAID drive.
good luck
peter

 

[Patrick Keenan]

If I use Windows XP Pro's backup utility to create a complete backup,
can I then configure 2 SATA drives as RAID 0 and restore the image to
that? Or will I have to completely reinstall everything after setting
up the RAID 0?

One might ask, first, why you are considering Raid 0, which has zero fault
tolerance - damage to one drive instantly loses everything - for the system
drive?

You may be seeking a performance gain, but in case of any failure, the
performance drops to "none" and stays there until you rebuild the system.
Is this a tradeoff you are willing to accept?

Note that ntbackup can only create a complete, bootable system backup using
ASR, and that this *requires* a floppy drive and disk (many modern systems
don't have floppy drives), and that it cannot write to CD or DVD. IIRC,
it also cannot change the target partition size.

I would also suggest that for imaging purposes you examine other solutions
that don't require floppies and are more flexible and reliable, such as
Acronis TrueImage, Ghost, Drive Image, etc.

HTH
-pk

 

[Patrick Keenan]

To the best of my knowledge XP Pro backup does NOT Image a drive

It can, using ASR, which requires a floppy (which many modern systems do not
have). ASR restore starts with formatting the drives and a mini-XP setup.

There are a number of more flexible and easier to use imaging solutions, and
they aren't particularly expensive.

HTH
-pk