How best to setup x25-V raid?

[eea3]

I have a second x25-V that I want to add as a raid0 array. Windows 7 is installed on the first x25. I have a third hard drive to use as a scratch disk, and Acronis True Image to work with. How do I incorporate the raid drivers and transfer the Image to the array. Also what tools should I use to refresh the drives as they have been used as OS drives for a few months.
How should I maintain the performance of the array without trim support?

 

[spy2520]

i couldnt even get windows to boot from once i switched the BIOS setting from AHCI to RAID. So you might have to do a clean install on the raid array. Thats just what happened to me though, and since this was my first raid setup i could be wrong.

 

[eea3]

I was thinking, by using the scratch disk to image to first. I could boot from the scratch disk and build the raid array. That will install the raid drivers in the OS. Then Image the scratch drive and transfer to the raid array, reboot and hope it works.

 

[angelkiller]

I was thinking, by using the scratch disk to image to first. I could boot from the scratch disk and build the raid array. That will install the raid drivers in the OS. Then Image the scratch drive and transfer to the raid array, reboot and hope it works.

The problem is that your image of your OS won't contain the correct drivers. Hopefully I understand you correctly. You're gonna image the X25-V to a third drive. Then you're gonna build the array, then put the image back on the array, right? You build the array through the BIOS, not in Windows.

 

[spy2520]

The problem is that your image of your OS won't contain the correct drivers. Hopefully I understand you correctly. You're gonna image the X25-V to a third drive. Then you're gonna build the array, then put the image back on the array, right? You build the array through the BIOS, not in Windows.

Thats exactly what happened to me. Windows wouldnt recognize the drives and as far as i know, you cant install the drivers beforehand then switch to raid.

 

[eea3]

I will build the array in the BIOS and boot from the scratch disk. That should install the drivers
into the scratch disk OS. Could also check the array with Intel RST. Then Image the scratch OS and transfer to the array!

 

[spy2520]

the problem i ran into is after building the array, i could no longer boot from the original drive because the BIOS was in RAID and windows would not recognize the RAID drivers. Goodluck though, if you get it to work let me know what you did.

 

[eea3]

Working RAID

I have successfully transferred the image to the raid array and it boots!

I moved the non-raid disk to the gigabyte controller on the UD4 motherboard.
Booted and let OS install drivers. OS Rebooted. Restarted->setup,
changed main controller to RAID mode. OS booted and installed RAID drivers.
OS rebooted, checked devmgmt, OK!
Imaged with the updated drivers.
Moved X25 back to original controller and added the other X25.
Restarted->setup and built the RAID array.
Restarted->Acronis boot disk, and restored Image.

Rebooted into RAID array!!

Did not use the scratch disk!

 

[spy2520]

damn thats cool.

I dont know what i did, but just changing the controller to RAID mode stopped windows from booting from the original drive. I wonder if it has something to do with the setup of the controllers, because it looks like i only have one controller with different modes.

 

[eea3]

I think you need more than one controller to use this method. Most of my Gigabyte mobo's
have a second controller. There are 5 blue SATA and 2 white SATA connectors on P55M-UD4.
The blue are the P55 express and white are gigabyte controller.
I tried just changing the P55 express controller to RAID with a resulting blue screen.

I think I have a lot of background processes going on during the benchmark run.
Still need help with trim replacement!
I have left 5Gb unallocated in the hope that it will make the RAID array more resilient.
Also does anyone know if ccleaner wipe free space has any positive effect on nand?

 

[spy2520]

Yeah my ASUS just has 6 ports on the same controller. I think i might get another x25-v then i can leave free space. I'm too nervous with 74GB.