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    Upgrade board, lose RAID?

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by ttupa, Dec 31, 2007.

  1. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    I know this deals with hardware, but my main question is about the software involved. On my desktop, I am thinking of replacing my stock DG965WH Intel board (no possibility of overclock) with an aftermarket board.

    I currently have a RAID 0 configuration. When I switch boards, the RAID controllers will be different, and thus I will lose my array. What do you think is the best course of action to save my data? At this point, I think I can use an image program to create an image of the drive (the RAID array) and load that image into the new array. Would that work? Is there a better way to go? What software should I use to create this image?

    I have Windows Vista Ultimate x64.
     
    ttupa, Dec 31, 2007
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  2. Eleison

    Eleison Thanatos Eleison

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    An imaged backup should work without issue, but make sure you get a backup utility that is compatible with your hard drives (I THINK Acronis is compatible with most hardware configurations now, but I know there was a big stink over incompatibility a while back).
     
    Eleison, Dec 31, 2007
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  3. nizzy1115

    nizzy1115 Notebook Prophet

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    Not always, actually not likely to work. I know in servers, often times if you replace the board even with the same model but of a different lot number, the array will break. From my experience it has to be the incidental board otherwise you need to recreate the array from scratch again. I dont even know if imaging would help it.
     
    nizzy1115, Dec 31, 2007
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  4. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    If I took an image of the entire array, couldn't I restore that in a boot environment once the new array is in place? The physical size of the array would be nearly identical to the old one (about 306gb). Otherwise, I could create partitions with the Vista disc and restore each partition's image individually.

    I checked out Paragon's Drive Backup, and it looks very promising. Little cheaper than Acronis, and a lot cheaper than Norton.
     
    ttupa, Dec 31, 2007
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  5. Eleison

    Eleison Thanatos Eleison

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    @nizzy:

    I think the OP was aware that the array would break. That's why he asked about imaging his drive. As long as the drive is imaged, he can recreate the array on the new board and just flash the image back on.
     
    Eleison, Jan 1, 2008
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  6. ttupa

    ttupa Tech Elitist NBR Reviewer

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    Anybody have experience with Paragon Drive Backup? It looks like a pretty good program. Otherwise I can get Acronis TI 11 for $36 at Newegg.
     
    ttupa, Jan 1, 2008
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  7. gerryf19

    gerryf19 I am the walrus

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    I think that it is very much a toss up as to whether this will work or not. I've had it go both ways.

    I think you are much better off imaging the drive with acronis as suggested, then installing your OS from scratch and then just mouting the image and copying data to the new raid
     
    gerryf19, Jan 1, 2008
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