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expanding windows raid array

Geofrancis

Geofrancis

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Processor Ryzen 7600
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Software Windows 11
is it possible to expand a windows raid 5 array without destroying it like if i set up raid 5 with 3 drives and then add a new one will i be able to expand array on to it.
 
Should be able to add the drive, boot the system. Go into Disk Manager under Administrative tools. The new drive should show as unallocated space. Then you should be able to right click the raid 5 and expand it into the unallocated disk/new drive. Im not sure if I missed a step so if I did someone say something :). Depending on the raid controller you might have to add it first through the controller config first.
 
have you done this personaly?
 
If it's an Intel RAID, download and install the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, read their instructions and win. PS - for the record, I have not ever specifically done this, but I have recovered an array in that way.
 
i plan on using the built in windows software raid so that if i upgrade the motherboard or add a sata card i can just plug the array into it and reinitialize it.

so can i just plug in an extra drive and expand the array? or would i have to find some way of backing up 4tb and rebuilding the array to add a hard drive?
 
anyone?
 
IMO, don't attempt to do anything with software RAID unless you have backups. I certainly would not entrust 4 Tb of data to a windows dynamic disk.
 
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