I currently have 2x120gig hard drives set up in a raid 0 array with windows occupying the primary partition (10gigs). I just got myself a new 300Gig drive and want to move the installation to that disk.
Firstly, is there any software that can accumplish this? Bearing in mind that in using a RAID array and not just a normall hard disk.
Secondly will windows still work if I do this (Im using windows XP proffessional), I know it gets very upset when you change certain bits of hardware. When I changed my motherboard I had to replace ntldr and re-enter my installation key, Im hoping I wont have to do anything more when changing the hard disk?
you can clone a disk, or partition to another with "acronis true image" or "norton ghost" i prefer the first the one. but its up to you which one you like most...
Are you going to keep the RAID array, and use the new drive as your boot drive? If so, there are a few things you are going to have to do.
First, your going to have to set the 300GB drive as the boot drive.
Second, clone your drive over to the new drive, stiing whatever size partition you want it to be.
Boot off your WinXP disk, open the command counsel, and finish partitioning and formatting the 300GB drive if you are going to do this.
Disable your RAID array for the moment, and then again boot off your WinXP disk and run a repair install (this is needed to fix the boot parameters and drivers needed). Make sure you have the chipset driver floopy handy if needed.
Once you have gotten this far, reenable your RAID array,repartition and format to what ever you are going to do with it at that time.
I would suggest you create an "image" on DVD/CD media if there is any data you want saved... in fact I would image all data and partitions for an hard back-up before starting, if there is anything important you don't want to lose. Another option would be to makes sure you burn to CD/DVD and files you want saved. If you do this... you can partition and format the RAID array, and have it clean before you reenable for your rebuilt install.
Norton Ghost won't work on RAID.
I tried XXClone recently and it worked great. It's free as well and works on RAID.
I'm surprised you have troubles with RAID arrays, wusy. I have no problems imaging my RAID arrays, or many others that I have dealt with. Only caveat it when working with some SATA RAID Arrays, then you will need the latest Ghost v10. Acronis true image v9 will also image/clone SATA RAID arrays.
Is there any software I can use from in windows to copy my entire windows partition from the RAID array onto the new drive? This would save me having to find a cloning program that supports RAID arrays. I wasnt sure about this because Im assuming it wont let me copy windows files that are currently in use.
The only thing I am really worried about keeping is my coursework which I will save on to memory stick. I plan on copying the windows partition to the new drive, booting up with from the new disk with but with the raid array still attached, copying any other files I want to keep and then wiping the RAID array.
Yeh I havent posted in ages, I started uni in september and just havent really found the time (I dunno why, all I seem to do at uni is watch episodes of south park and drink too much).
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