Needed: Xp Raid "coach" For Raid Newbie

[CosmicSurfer]

I need a Coach or Mentor to walk me through an O/S replacement and re-configuring my "RAID 1" install, so I don't screw everything up and lose all my Data.

A little background... I have a new (almost) computer I had built in Pantip, but I let them install their Booleg O/S, instead of springing for a Legit copy.

Now I have a bunch of minor O/S related annoyances, so I took advantage of a friend traveling to the USA and ordered an OEM version of Win-XP Pro, SP2.

Now I have the disk and want to Re-install the O/S, but I'm worried about my RAID configuration, and I have no idea what to do.

The information I find on the net all pre-supposes that I have some technical understanding about RAID and computer O/S issues.. whereas I'm strictly a User, not a technophobe.

Some Hardware specs:

CPU - Intel Core2Duo E6750

Cooler - Thermaltake Ultra 120 Plus Fan TT LED 120MM

MotherBoard - ASUS P5KR

Case - Thermaltake Kandalf VA9000SWA

Power Supply - Enermax 460W

Hard Drives - Seagate Sata2 > 80GB (O/S), 250GB (Apps), 2x320 (RAID 1 - Data)

RAM - 3GB - Geil/800 DDR2 - 2x 1GB, 2x 512MB

VGA - Galaxy Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT 256MB DDR3

Creative Sound Blaster - X-Fi Extreme Audio

DVD - ASUS DVD-RW LiteScribe + ASUS DVD-ROM

Floppy Drive

TT Black Light

Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster 2232GW

Speakers - Altec Lansing 2.1 - ATP-3

O/S - XP-Pro, SP2

I have Windows installed on a seperate smaller 80GB drive, with an Applications drive of 250GB and 2x 320GB drives to hold my data..

These 2 drives (2x 320GB) are the RAID 1 drives.

What I have found on the net says that I must set up the Bios for RAID "Before" I install the O/S.

So, as it is already set for RAID now, do I have to do anything again when I Reinstall the Legit Version??

Will the Install screw with the Bios?

Do I need to reformat the O/S HD before the O/S install?

Should I UNPLUG all HDDs and leave only the 80GB O/S drive active during the install? Then replug the App & Data (RAID 1) drives back-in after the install is finished? How will this Effect the RAID???

I have Intel Matrix Storage Console installed (v7.5.0.1017) Do I need to reinstall this again?

I think Intel says that it should be installed BEFORE the O/S... ???? Duhhh.... How do I do that?

Intel has a newer version on their Website... (v7.8.0.1012)... I've downloaded a copy.. Should I install it NOW, before any O/S change???

I also have "JMB36x RAID Configurer" installed (by Jedi at Pantip), but it doesn't seem to do anything and besides opening up on every boot the window shows no data, nor will any menu work.. Do I need this??

Is there anything else I should know, or do, before the re-install????

Can anyone "Walk" me through this????

Mucho Thanks and Appreciation,

CS

Edited March 26, 2008 by CosmicSurfer

[CosmicSurfer]

Are there no RAID Experts out There?

CS

[dave_boo]

I need a Coach or Mentor to walk me through an O/S replacement and re-configuring my "RAID 1" install, so I don't screw everything up and lose all my Data.

A little background... I have a new (almost) computer I had built in Pantip, but I let them install their Booleg O/S, instead of springing for a Legit copy.

Now I have a bunch of minor O/S related annoyances, so I took advantage of a friend traveling to the USA and ordered an OEM version of Win-XP Pro, SP2.

Now I have the disk and want to Re-install the O/S, but I'm worried about my RAID configuration, and I have no idea what to do.

The information I find on the net all pre-supposes that I have some technical understanding about RAID and computer O/S issues.. whereas I'm strictly a User, not a technophobe.

Some Hardware specs:

CPU - Intel Core2Duo E6750

Cooler - Thermaltake Ultra 120 Plus Fan TT LED 120MM

MotherBoard - ASUS P5KR

Case - Thermaltake Kandalf VA9000SWA

Power Supply - Enermax 460W

Hard Drives - Seagate Sata2 > 80GB (O/S), 250GB (Apps), 2x320 (RAID 1 - Data)

RAM - 3GB - Geil/800 DDR2 - 2x 1GB, 2x 512MB

VGA - Galaxy Nvidia GeForce 7300 GT 256MB DDR3

Creative Sound Blaster - X-Fi Extreme Audio

DVD - ASUS DVD-RW LiteScribe + ASUS DVD-ROM

Floppy Drive

TT Black Light

Monitor - Samsung SyncMaster 2232GW

Speakers - Altec Lansing 2.1 - ATP-3

O/S - XP-Pro, SP2

I have Windows installed on a seperate smaller 80GB drive, with an Applications drive of 250GB and 2x 320GB drives to hold my data..

These 2 drives (2x 320GB) are the RAID 1 drives.

What I have found on the net says that I must set up the Bios for RAID "Before" I install the O/S.

So, as it is already set for RAID now, do I have to do anything again when I Reinstall the Legit Version??

Will the Install screw with the Bios?

Do I need to reformat the O/S HD before the O/S install?

Should I UNPLUG all HDDs and leave only the 80GB O/S drive active during the install? Then replug the App & Data (RAID 1) drives back-in after the install is finished? How will this Effect the RAID???

I have Intel Matrix Storage Console installed (v7.5.0.1017) Do I need to reinstall this again?

I think Intel says that it should be installed BEFORE the O/S... ???? Duhhh.... How do I do that?

Intel has a newer version on their Website... (v7.8.0.1012)... I've downloaded a copy.. Should I install it NOW, before any O/S change???

I also have "JMB36x RAID Configurer" installed (by Jedi at Pantip), but it doesn't seem to do anything and besides opening up on every boot the window shows no data, nor will any menu work.. Do I need this??

Is there anything else I should know, or do, before the re-install????

Can anyone "Walk" me through this????

Mucho Thanks and Appreciation,

CS

First, let's cover your install. I would highly recommend unplugging all your drives except that 80 GB one. This will eliminate a d'oh moment when you realise you overwrote one of your other drives!

Install windows, and assuming you don't need a driver disk for the hdd controller, it should be a cake walk. However, if you need the drivers, just write them to a floppy and have the floppy handy for the install. An alternative, but advanced one at that, is to slipstream the drivers into a new WinXP install disk that you burn. Definitely do a full reformat of the hard drive just in case there's any persistent nasties. Better safe than sorry.

You shouldn't have to change the settings in the bios. In fact, changing it from RAID to non-RAID will probably freak XP out when you change it back later.

Install all drivers needed, especially that Matrix driver and shut down. Hook up your new drives. You'll probably have to use the management program to let Windows know that those two drives are RAID 1.

The JMB36x RAID Configurer seems to be a low cost add in RAID controller. If there are no drives being shown in the program, and every drive shows up in your Intel management, it's superfulous.

[CosmicSurfer]

First, let's cover your install. I would highly recommend unplugging all your drives except that 80 GB one. This will eliminate a d'oh moment when you realise you overwrote one of your other drives!

Install windows, and assuming you don't need a driver disk for the hdd controller, it should be a cake walk. However, if you need the drivers, just write them to a floppy and have the floppy handy for the install. An alternative, but advanced one at that, is to slipstream the drivers into a new WinXP install disk that you burn. Definitely do a full reformat of the hard drive just in case there's any persistent nasties. Better safe than sorry.

You shouldn't have to change the settings in the bios. In fact, changing it from RAID to non-RAID will probably freak XP out when you change it back later.

Install all drivers needed, especially that Matrix driver and shut down. Hook up your new drives. You'll probably have to use the management program to let Windows know that those two drives are RAID 1.

The JMB36x RAID Configurer seems to be a low cost add in RAID controller. If there are no drives being shown in the program, and every drive shows up in your Intel management, it's superfulous.

Dave,

Exactly the kind of Info, Help and Hand-Holding a Paranoid Computer Un-Geek, like myself, is looking for...

Mucho Thanks and Best Wishes for you and yours throughout the generations.

CS