Creating a RAID1 array and preserve old data

Johannes

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I'm about to build a new machine based on the Asus P8Z77-V Deluxe motherboard and windows 8 pro x64. Windows will be clean installed in UEFI mode on a SSD while data will reside in a RAID1 array. For the array I'm planning to use two HDDs from a RAID1 array in my old system, the motherboard of which is an Asus P5W DH Deluxe. I would very much like to keep the data in the old array.

So, is there a way of creating a RAID1 array that will preserve the old data? I believe on most (all?) motherboards data is erased from disks when RAID arrays are created.

The long-winded way is of course to back up this data onto an external HHD and then load it back onto the new array after it is created. I would rather use a short-winded way.

Thanks for help.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Motherboard
    asus p8z77-v deluxe
You are going to have to backup your data and restore it. When you do the install with UEFI and such, it's going to set the drives as GPT instead of MBR.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
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    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
Non-booting drives do not have to be GPT. There is a fairly good RAID setup guide in the back of the Owner's manual, maybe it will help. I don't run RAID and have very little experience, but possibly if the array had already been created, it would maintain the data. Hopefully someone else will know for sure.

I do agree with backing up you data, in case you do have to recreate the array...
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
Thanks pparks1 for reply. Actually, I've read on a Microsoft blog that GPT and MBR style disks can co-exists in the same system. I understand that the new SSD will be formatted in GPT style, but why does the RAID array need to be formatted that way as well?
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Motherboard
    asus p8z77-v deluxe
sorry, I had assumed that the RAID 1 was for the OS. I don't usually see people use RAID 1 for data volumes.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 7
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Self-Built in July 2009
    CPU
    Intel Q9550 2.83Ghz OC'd to 3.40Ghz
    Motherboard
    Gigabyte GA-EP45-UD3R rev. 1.1, F12 BIOS
    Memory
    8GB G.Skill PI DDR2-800, 4-4-4-12 timings
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA 1280MB Nvidia GeForce GTX570
    Sound Card
    Realtek ALC899A 8 channel onboard audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    23" Acer x233H
    Screen Resolution
    1920x1080
    Hard Drives
    Intel X25-M 80GB Gen 2 SSD
    Western Digital 1TB Caviar Black, 32MB cache. WD1001FALS
    PSU
    Corsair 620HX modular
    Case
    Antec P182
    Cooling
    stock
    Keyboard
    ABS M1 Mechanical
    Mouse
    Logitech G9 Laser Mouse
    Internet Speed
    15/2 cable modem
    Other Info
    Windows and Linux enthusiast. Logitech G35 Headset.
I just went through the process of creating a RAID 1 array on an ASUS P6T motherboard with MBR configuration. Moved the array to the P8Z77-vPro and it was seen without any changes and no data was lost. This does not guarantee you will be successful, but it looks hopeful.

In my case, I did have to change the SATA controller to RAID, but you will probably already be there. I did check the RAID OpRom during boot and the array was present and recognized. And I did attach mine to the normal Intel SATA ports.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1 x64
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Home Grown
    CPU
    i7 3770K
    Motherboard
    ASUS P8Z77 -v Pro, Z87-Expert
    Memory
    16 G
    Graphics Card(s)
    EVGA GTX 680 Classified (2)
    Hard Drives
    Kingston SSD 240 GB
Many thanks everyone for your valuable feedback to my question. I will report back in due course on how the new RAID1 setup is going. In the meantime I will first backup my legacy data before I start building the new machine. Just in case!
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    windows 8 pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Motherboard
    asus p8z77-v deluxe
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