RAID 0 to Bigger RAID 1, add SSD w/new OS (Win7)

NOS KIA · Sep 21, 2013

Please help me out. I am sooo lost here. I am getting ready to move, promotion, and want to get this done before I move and don't have internet for a couple weeks.

Question:
-I currently have (2)750Gb WD Black HDDs in Raid0. Started getting raid errors and raid was getting quite full.
-Have the 120 SSD to put new OS (win7) onto.
-I want to upgrade my space utilizing (2)3TB WD Red's in Raid1.
-I have Acronis True Image 2009 and want to know what the correct sequence would be to get all this accomplished.
-I want to do a clean install of WIN7 on SSD for a fresh new pc experience. How would I go about all this, keeping all the files of my family. (Videos, pictures, Home movies) My wife might just divorce me if I lose all the pictures/videos of my three kids' 1st birthdays.

This is my assumption:
1. Using Acrois TI 2009, create "Clone" of Raid0 to one of the 3 TB drives via usb 3.0 external HDD enclosure.
2. Replace old Raid0 Drives with new 3TB drive to work as C:/ Drive.
3. Remove 2 750GB HDD's.
4. Create Raid1 with 2nd 3TB WD Red HDD.
5. Install SSD and install Win7 onto new SSD.
??????? Have not a clue where to go from here.
Please let me know what is the safest route!

Thank you ahead of time for guiding me on this one.
-NOS

USAFRet · Sep 21, 2013

Before you do anything with moving around RAID arrays and reinstalling windows, etc....go buy a 2TB external drive.
Copy ALL of your personal documents, images, videos, etc to that.
Verify that they are all accessible.
Now unplug it and put it in a drawer.

OK...NOW you can go messing about with the boot and RAID config.

NOS KIA · Sep 21, 2013

USAFRet... I get that, have a backup. I want to know more specifically how to go about the installation of the OS to SSD and all other programs/data to new HDD.
Will WinXP want to boot? How do I change my SSD to my boot drive? BIOS?

yoji · Sep 21, 2013

you missed some key info.. but if poss (i.e. you have enough SATA ports)

Add your new 3TB drives as raid 1
Backup EVERYTHING to your new RAID 1
Remove your old Drives and add SSD
Install clean Win on SSD
recover from backup anything you need.
set up your backup policy
3 month later when sure you got all - delete original backups.

BUT be aware... you MUST listen to USAFRet.. Your RAID1 will help.. but what if your PC/RAID controller dies? check you can get data off it from a raw PC..
Also.. what if your house burns down? Make sure you have an off-site backup.
While Divorce may hold some attractions...best not enter into it for the sake of back backup policy ;-)

HTH
Cheers

popatim · Sep 21, 2013

after you backup everything you need, preferably twice IMO, then remove everything and only install the SSD.
Install Windows including the raid drivers. You will probably need the pre-installation driver handy on a usb or dvd.
once windows is installed shut down and install the two 3tb drives.
On boot up, press the key combo to enter the raid bios and setup your raid 1
After windows loads format the raid1, you will need to format it as GPT since they are larger than 2.2TB
Restore your backed up data.

USAFRet · Sep 21, 2013

NOS KIA :

Personally, with that drastic a change, I would not bother trying to clone anything. You'll spend far more time in trying to work around the existing setup, rather than just starting over from scratch.

Verify a good copy of ALL personal files.
Verify a good copy of all application installation files and/or disks
Install Windows on the new SSD
Verify it works correctly
Build whatever RAID array you want.
Install applications as necessary.

(And I wouldn't do this just before a move and promotion. That is a hard timeline. What if things go tits up during this swap over?)

NOS KIA · Sep 21, 2013

Thank you guys so much for the info.
IF I read everyone correctly, there is really no point in doing a clone of the Raid setup.
1. Backup all data i want to an external HDD. Verify all data to be complete and stable.
2. Remove all HDD's. Load Windows on new SSD.
3. Install new 3TB HDDs and format to RAID1.
4. Transfer all necissary data to new RAID1 setup.
5. Sign up for Cloud backups ASAP.

Does that about cover it?
I was trying to figure out the easiest way to make all this happen, but apparantly the easiest way is to start over....
:-(
I really hate transferring all my relevant data over to new HDD. I am always afraid to miss something important.
How would you go about saving all the important data?
Backup (what kind? Image?)or Drag and drop into a HDD?
As for the divorce proposition, its a non-starter. I love my wife and kids too very much. So its essential to get this figured out.
I didn't know if I should do it before the movers get a hold of my computer and "throw" it onto the moving truck. Supposedly there is insurance, but how to you insure 4 years of pics and home movies of your 3 most precious people in your life?
Anyhow, I digress.
Back-ups will be done.
-NOS

Thanks again guys!
-Austin

USAFRet · Sep 21, 2013

Supposedly there is insurance, but how to you insure 4 years of pics and home movies of your 3 most precious people in your life?

You do that by carrying it on an external drive in your car.
Preferably multiple copies....one with you, one at a friends or parents house.

Your personal files are the only thing irreplaceable. Everything else can be reconstructed. OS, applications, the last season of Breaking Bad....all can be replaced.

As for how? Only you know how you structured your file system. Only you can be sure you got everything.
But drag and drop to a HDD folder structure is best and safest.

NOS KIA · Sep 22, 2013

How'd you know bout breaking bad?!
I think I will go that route. I will backup everything of worth onto a freshly formatted HDD. Test it out to make sure its all good, then continue on the road to upgrading. Thought many a times of upgrading CPU and MOBO, but I don't want to spend $600 on top of the new newly aquired HDDs.

Thank you all again for the help. I might wait until after the move as I will be able to focus on the re-build a lot better that way.
Think Ill be carrying a backup Drive with me though through the move. That is a great idea.

-NOS

popatim · Sep 22, 2013

Please prep your pc for the move by at least taking off the cpu cooler and put the pc into a sealed bag if its going to be boxed with packing material, esp packing peanuts. they get into everything. You will need new thermal coompund to reattach the cooler when you're all moved.

NOS KIA · Sep 22, 2013

popatim :

Thanks a bunch Pop...
I had not thought of that. I also figured it might be worth it just to pack up the pc in the orginal tower box. I still have the plastic and syrofoam that came with the tower. Is there any downside of transporting it this way? Yes, I will take off the Tower as its a push/pull TRUE cooler and very large.
Any body else have any wisdom to share. This has been a great learning thread for moving a pc.
-NOS

USAFRet · Sep 22, 2013

NOS KIA :

Remove the CPU cooler and GPU if it is one of the larger ones. You cannot depend on the movers to be 'extremely' delicate with a PC n a box. Yes, they will probably be careful. but stuff happens.

A few years ago, a friend of mine was moving cross country. New job, promotion...
Along the way, the moving van (major company) with ALL their stuff burned to the ground. The entire household of stuff.
Literally, all they had left what was in the car. A couple of suitcases.

popatim · Sep 22, 2013

stick it in a garbage bag first, tape the bag shut so nothing gets inside the case.... after pulling the cooler. Ive seen the big ones rip out of the board

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