Creating a RAID1 array and preserve old data

[Johannes]

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.

 

[pparks1]

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.

 

[Saltgrass]

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...

 

[Johannes]

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?

 

[pparks1]

sorry, I had assumed that the RAID 1 was for the OS. I don't usually see people use RAID 1 for data volumes.

 

[Saltgrass]

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.

 

[Johannes]

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!