Best way to get "loaner" hard drive for RAID array rebuild?

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jagooch

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Aug 30, 2010
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I've decided to load Windows on my file server currently running Ubuntu . My files are on a RAID array using the growdfs file system, which Windows will have no clue how to read.

My plan is to copy the data (fortunately I've put a little less than <2TB on it ) to another drive, load the Windows OS, create a new software RAID arrray, and then copy the data back.

The problem is I don't have enough free disk space on my other systems to temporarily host the data.

I don't think any of my friends will have one to loan me. The idea I can think if is to buy one, use it, securely wipe it, and return it to the store a day or two after I purchased it. I really feel lame doing that.


Any ideas?
 
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jagooch

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Sigh, the dilemma is the new drive wouldn't be used after the conversion. When I upgrade storage I always buy 5-6 drives of the same type and manufacture, transfer the data to the new array, and then sell the drives on Craigslist after using Boot N Nuke or Killdisk on them.

I hate wasting
 
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Fulgurant

Fulgurant

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Nov 29, 2012
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So you're saying that having an extra 2 TB backup/spare drive would be totally useless to you? Craigslist wouldn't work for a single drive?

It's not that we don't understand your predicament or your sentiment. I'm sure most of us do. But you appear to have come here looking for tacit permission to act like a sleeze ball to fix a decidedly first-world problem. You know what you want to do is wrong; people here aren't going to line up to assure that it isn't.
 
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jagooch

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Aug 30, 2010
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I don't need anyone's permission. If I wanted to do it, I would just do it and not look for alternatives. So, the fact that I asked the question indicates I want to do something besides buy a drive, use it, and return it to the store.

I've thought about it more, It's more likely that I'd keep the new drive to use in my HTPC, and sell the 1.5TB drive that is in it. It would probably sell at about the same price and take the same amount of time to sell it.

So far, my options are
1) Buy drive and keep
2) Buy drive, use return
3) Don't do anything and keep using LINUX.

I've thought of setting up a local service where I help people out who are in the same situation as I am, it's a problem with software RAID to move between systems. Dynamic resizing ( adding a drive to a striped array ) is a similar problem.
 
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J

jagooch

Distinguished
Aug 30, 2010
24
0
18,510


I don't need anyone's permission. If I wanted to do it, I would just do it and not look for alternatives. So, the fact that I asked the question indicates I want to do something besides buy a drive, use it, and return it to the store.

I've thought about it more, It's more likely that I'd keep the new drive to use in my HTPC, and sell the 1.5TB drive that is in it. It would probably sell at about the same price and take the same amount of time to sell it.

So far, my options are
1) Buy drive and keep
2) Buy drive, use return
3) Don't do anything and keep using LINUX.

I've thought of setting up a local service where I help people out who are in the same situation as I am, it's a problem with software RAID to move between systems. Dynamic resizing ( adding a drive to a striped array ) is a similar problem.
 
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