XP and SATA/RAID0

[Jim]

I am going to install two new Serial HDs in a RAID 0 (Striping)
configuration on my computer and install XP from scratch. Currently I have
two parallel HDs that I may keep for back up data storage which will be
disabled during the OS installation. The MB is a Gigabyte with native SATA
and RAID support. My question is do I configure for RAID before or after I
install XP? Also are there any potential problems I should be aware of
before I go ahead?

TIA

Jim

 

[Vagabond Software]

When you boot, you will be given instructions to enter the RAID configuration utility. You'll need to setup your array using that menu prior to installing Windows. Also, you will likely need to copy the RAID drivers from the CD that came with your motherboard to a floppy disk. There is probably an option on the CD that will do this for you.

When you boot to your Windows XP CD, one of the first options is to press F6 to load additional drivers. You'll want to do that and insert your RAID driver floppy when prompted.

You should be good to go after that.

carl

 

[Jim]

Thank you Carl

I have one more generic question that I have been unable to find the answer
to. When I Stripe two drives, do I see two drives or one in Windows? Also,
Is it possible to partition?

Jim
When you boot, you will be given instructions to enter the RAID
configuration utility. You'll need to setup your array using that menu
prior to installing Windows. Also, you will likely need to copy the RAID
drivers from the CD that came with your motherboard to a floppy disk. There
is probably an option on the CD that will do this for you.

When you boot to your Windows XP CD, one of the first options is to press F6
to load additional drivers. You'll want to do that and insert your RAID
driver floppy when prompted.

You should be good to go after that.

carl

 

[Bob Davis]

I also have a Gigabyte mobo with two Raptors (SATA) in RAID0. Ideally, set
up your RAID0 first according to Carl's instructions. If you have two SATA
controllers like I have (on-chip ICH5R and on-board Sil3112), connect to the
ICH5R (on-chip), as it accesses the Southbridge chip directly, theoretically
giving you higher data-transfer speeds.

Next, boot up and immediately go into your bios and enable the SATA
controller and RAID mode, if not already enabled. When you boot you'll see
the RAID bios setup screen after POST, which will allow you to set up RAID0
array. Unless you have reasons to change it, use the default stripe size
(mine is 64mb).

Then, have your SATA RAID drivers, preferably the latest available for your
chipset and controller, on a floppy--and when installing XP it will prompt
you to hit f6 to install the drivers. After you hit f6 when prompted, there
will likely be a delay before it asks for the location of the drivers, so
don't expect it to react immediately.

You can also add SATA RAID after installing the OS, like I did, by cloning
the original disks to SATA using Norton Ghost or other cloning app.


|I am going to install two new Serial HDs in a RAID 0 (Striping)
| configuration on my computer and install XP from scratch. Currently I
have
| two parallel HDs that I may keep for back up data storage which will be
| disabled during the OS installation. The MB is a Gigabyte with native
SATA
| and RAID support. My question is do I configure for RAID before or after
I
| install XP? Also are there any potential problems I should be aware of
| before I go ahead?
|
| TIA
|
| Jim
|
|

 

[Bob Davis]

Referencing my earlier message, my default stripe size is 128mb, not 64mb as
I originally posted.

 

[Bob I]

another correction

you mean kb not mb