System Builder and Multiple HDD

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crwchf505

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Feb 1, 2014
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I have a HTPC running Windows 7 System builder currently working. My plan is to change out all of the older hard drives and install some new larger ones in its place. I was also thinking of changing the CPU, would any of this cause an issue when re-installing System Builder? From what I have read it is more embedded in the mobo and as long as that isnt changed it shouldnt be an issue.

The other question is this....currently I run two HDD, one with windows and one with my files on it, they are identified as C and E drives. If I were to remove those and replace them with, say, four hdd what is the best way to run these as one?
Is it possible to use one as the windows hdd and mount the other three to appear as combined drives? or are they all going to show up as individual drives?
 
Solution
pauls3743
Instead of a fresh installation you could try this suggestion:-

Install one of the new drives, partition and format it and mount it
Using Backup and Restore create an image of your system and store it on the new hard drive
Remove the old hard drives and install the new hard drive you plan to use for the OS
Boot with your install disc and choose repair your computer, the repair should find the backup and restore it to your new hard drive

As to your multiple hard drive mounting as one, this would imply some sort of raid setup. Desktop Windows only supports mirroring and striping. Mirroring (RAID 1) simply makes sure that each pair of hard drives contains the same data, this looses a drive for every drive mirrored. Striping (RAID 0)...
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pauls3743

pauls3743

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Dec 24, 2011
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Instead of a fresh installation you could try this suggestion:-

Install one of the new drives, partition and format it and mount it
Using Backup and Restore create an image of your system and store it on the new hard drive
Remove the old hard drives and install the new hard drive you plan to use for the OS
Boot with your install disc and choose repair your computer, the repair should find the backup and restore it to your new hard drive

As to your multiple hard drive mounting as one, this would imply some sort of raid setup. Desktop Windows only supports mirroring and striping. Mirroring (RAID 1) simply makes sure that each pair of hard drives contains the same data, this looses a drive for every drive mirrored. Striping (RAID 0) split the data between 2 or more hard drives, this has the problem should a hard drive fail you lose all data across the set. Your motherboard may support RAID 5 (A combination of striping and mirroring where the equivalent of one drive is used for data security) but I don't know if it would support it with the size of drives you're planning on.

However, if data security and performance aren't so critical you could mount your additional drives as folders within your primary drive. This can be accomplished in the disk manager.
 
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Solution
pauls3743

pauls3743

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Do I think there would be an issue by just upgrading the processor? I don't think so as I've done it before on my own systems without re-activation. However, I have retail licences and the rules for re-activation may be a bit slacker than for OEM (system builder).
 
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crwchf505

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Feb 1, 2014
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I really appreciate your help. Im pretty new to this, the computer im looking to upgrade was my first build.

Saying that, this computer was built as a HTPC running two 2TB HDD (one for the operating system and one for my media files). I didnt really go all out on it since its initial purpose was to merely serve as media player and storage. The problem that I am a little worried about though, is that I went cheap on the HDD. They are both WD Greens which I bought on ebay, so their condition is questionable. The plan that I am now considering is possibly keeping the WD Green HDD that the OS is installed on and merely adding two more WD either reds or greens that are new (thus replacing the possible bad one and increasing the storage capacity). I also figured if I was in there digging around I mine as well upgrade the CPU and ram for a little more kick.
 
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