RAID, partitioning and imaging

[Bob S]

This isn't quite a WinXP question, so if there's a better
place to ask, please let me know.

My basic question is whether I can partition a hard drive
that's in a Raid level 1 configuration. I want to do so for
the purpose of putting the system and apps on one partition
and my data on another partition, so that I can image just
the system/apps partition for the purpose of back-up.

The computer is a Dell XPS 720 with two 500 G hard drives in
a RAID level 1 configuration. I don't know anything about
RAID other than what's in the owner's manual, which isn't
much. I asked Dell tech support whether I could partition
the hard drive in such a set-up, and got contradictory
answers: one stated flat out that I shouldn't do it; the
other said it was ok.

So is it ok or not? Are there any special considerations?

Thanks.

 

[DL]

Sure you can, but if you are imaging why not image the entire drive?
You are aware that raid 1 is a mirror?, and as such you should be able to
disconnect one drive and the PC will still function correctly.
Not that raid mirror is an alternative to backup

 

[Bob S]

Sure you can, but if you are imaging why not image the entire drive?
You are aware that raid 1 is a mirror?, and as such you should be able to
disconnect one drive and the PC will still function correctly.
Not that raid mirror is an alternative to backup

I have over 150 G of word processing documents. I believe
that would mean a pretty large image, even allowing for
compression.

My purpose in imaging is simply to be able to go back if,
say, I install a program which changes things for the worse,
in a way so that I can't otherwise fix it. As I've been
given to understand, such a change would work across the
mirror, and so the problem would exist on both drives, so
notwithstanding the RAID configuration I'd need a backup
image to turn back the clock.

As for the data, it's constantly changing and being backed
up on a portable hard drive, which I carry back and forth
between home and the office, because most of the documents
are for work, with the result that my home and office files
serve as backups for each other. It therefore doesn't seem
to me to be worth it to continually image everything, when
the data is backed up elsewhere.

I readily admit that I have no technical competence, so if
I'm thinking about this the wrong way, I'd certainly
appreciate being set straight.

Going back to the RAID thing: so if I partition my C drive,
will that cause the 2d drive in the RAID configuration also
to be partitioned, given the fact that it works as a mirror?

Also, why would one of the Dell tech guys tell me not to try
it? Do you know whether there's a theoretical concern
lurking somewhere? I recognize the alternative that he
simply could be mis-informed.

Thanks.

 

[DL]

If you use partitioning software on your current system it will see a single
drive.
Any partition created will be mirrored / identical in your second raid drive

Why Did the Dell tech say no, probably either he had no idea or was being
ultra cautious.
If however you have a Dell recovery cd's or hidden partition any recovery to
factory supplied condition will allmost certainly put it back to the single
partition.
I've amended partitions on a mirrored system on numerous occassions with no
problems.

 

[Andrew E.]

If both hds would have diffrent configurations (variable data to each drive),
then youre not or wouldnt have a RAID set anymore,RAID-"redundant array of
independent disks"...While in level 1,you could format the other & then reset
RAID set,you cant add/delete software & expect it to work independtly & still
be of a RAID set...Try file transfer wizard,set as old pc,select all youre
data to
save,save to new folder,once thru,move to cd.This backups all youre data &
settings,also,always run from xp cd...

 

[DL]

What an earth are you babbling about?

If both hds would have diffrent configurations (variable data to each
drive),
then youre not or wouldnt have a RAID set anymore,RAID-"redundant array of
independent disks"...While in level 1,you could format the other & then
reset
RAID set,you cant add/delete software & expect it to work independtly &
still
be of a RAID set...Try file transfer wizard,set as old pc,select all youre
data to
save,save to new folder,once thru,move to cd.This backups all youre data &
settings,also,always run from xp cd...

 

[Bob S]

Thanks very much, DL.

 

[SteveL]

Bob,

You will need to purchase a partitioning utility to partition the drive. Not
hard at all.

 

[DL]

your welcome

 

[Bob S]

You will need to purchase a partitioning utility to partition
the drive. Not hard at all.

I have that already. I just wasn't sure whether the RAID
deal was a complication.

But thanks for mentioning it.

 

[Og]

What an earth are you babbling about?

The kind staff at the mental hospital allow Andrew to play in the Newsgroups
while he is undergoing Electro-Shock therapy.
Steve

 

[Frank]

This isn't quite a WinXP question, so if there's a better
place to ask, please let me know.

My basic question is whether I can partition a hard drive
that's in a Raid level 1 configuration. I want to do so for
the purpose of putting the system and apps on one partition
and my data on another partition, so that I can image just
the system/apps partition for the purpose of back-up.

The computer is a Dell XPS 720 with two 500 G hard drives in
a RAID level 1 configuration. I don't know anything about
RAID other than what's in the owner's manual, which isn't
much. I asked Dell tech support whether I could partition
the hard drive in such a set-up, and got contradictory
answers: one stated flat out that I shouldn't do it; the
other said it was ok.

So is it ok or not? Are there any special considerations?

RAID = Redundant Array of Independent Drives.
Drives is plural. Drives is not partitions.