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Can you convert Windows 7 boot partition into a dynamic disk

Forum Windows 7 : Can you convert Windows 7 boot partition into a dynamic disk

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npolite   08-24-2009 at 05:26:13 AM

Hello,

I want to setup a Raid 1 mirror from one drive to another using Windows software raid. I know in previous versions of Windows you could not do this on the boot partition (C drive). Is it possible to do this in Windows 7?

Thanks

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Bronze Win 7 badge Zoron   08-24-2009 at 06:27:19 AM
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Why software RAID? Doesn't your motherboard have a RAID controller?

------------------------------ Desktop: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; Intel Q6600 CPU; E-VGA 780i SLI motherboard; E-VGA E-GeForce 8800GT; OCZ Vista 4GB dual-channel kit; Ultra X2 750W power supply; 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB in RAID 0. Laptop: Acer Aspire 8730-6314;
 Reply to Zoron
npolite   08-24-2009 at 01:52:27 PM
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No it doesn't. When I bought the MB I didn't realize Intel dropped the raid controller in certain models. Since this is my work PC I really don't mind the slower performance. I just want to know if changing the primary basic disk to a dynamic disk will cause any problems. I know if you try this in XP, it won't boot.


Reply to npolite
JonathanDeane   08-24-2009 at 07:40:53 PM
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I would back up my hard drive first then try it and see what it does :)

I always love a good experiment....

If you do decide to make a back up let me know what you use, I hear Acronis can do it but Ghost does not like it (although I have not tried the newest version of Ghost, I am loath to buy it if the thing does not work)

Reply to JonathanDeane
MRFS   08-24-2009 at 07:52:16 PM
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I predict that it will NOT work, chiefly because the BIOS
will probably not recognize that "soft" partition in the boot menu.

 

This problem is somewhat similar to running Windows XP Setup
with RAID enabled in the BIOS: F6 must be selected in order to load drivers.

 

Likewise, with Intel's ICHx controllers, after running the RAID Option ROM,
one should enter the BIOS again, in order to confirm that this RAID array
is detected as one of the possible boot devices. If the BIOS does not
see that newly configured RAID array, it's very likely that Windows Setup
won't see it either.

 


Anyway, let me know if my prediction is correct :)

 


MRFS


Message edited by MRFS on 08-24-2009 at 07:56:57 PM
Reply to MRFS
JonathanDeane   08-24-2009 at 09:26:01 PM
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I wonder if there is a hacked BIOS out that would enable that feature ?

I know sometimes the difference between two boards is just the BIOS features and some connectors. (well price too)

Message quoted 1 times
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npolite   08-24-2009 at 09:33:24 PM
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JonathanDeane wrote :

I wonder if there is a hacked BIOS out that would enable that feature ?

I know sometimes the difference between two boards is just the BIOS features and some connectors. (well price too)




There is chipset that handles the raid for the hardware. I don't think the BIOS has anything to do with what I am asking because you can set a software raid in Linux regardless of if the BIOS has a raid controller on it or not.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to npolite
JonathanDeane   08-24-2009 at 09:59:48 PM
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npolite wrote :

There is chipset that handles the raid for the hardware. I don't think the BIOS has anything to do with what I am asking because you can set a software raid in Linux regardless of if the BIOS has a raid controller on it or not.



What Mobo is this ? or Dell or HP model ? I can look into it :)

Most Sata hardware is capable of RAID and the difference between a non RAID board and a RAID one is literally the BIOS.

Unless its IDE then yeah you need some hardware in there to do RAID.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to JonathanDeane
npolite   08-25-2009 at 12:34:37 AM
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JonathanDeane wrote :

What Mobo is this ? or Dell or HP model ? I can look into it :)

Most Sata hardware is capable of RAID and the difference between a non RAID board and a RAID one is literally the BIOS.

Unless its IDE then yeah you need some hardware in there to do RAID.




The board is a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L...it doesn't have it. You need to get the model with the R in the model in order for it to have it...I'm going to give it a try now and see...hoping for the best.

Message quoted 1 times
Reply to npolite
JonathanDeane   08-25-2009 at 02:44:38 AM
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npolite wrote :

The board is a Gigabyte GA-EP35-DS3L...it doesn't have it. You need to get the model with the R in the model in order for it to have it...I'm going to give it a try now and see...hoping for the best.



Yeah I see that now :( I was hoping for you.

Usually they just remove the RAID option in the BIOS and a quick hack and reflash will put the option back in.

Let me know if it works, I am interested if this works or not (I would not use it myself but I can see where it would be useful)



Still in shock over the creation of separate hardware for your board... I guess they caught on to people moding the BIOS lol

Reply to JonathanDeane
npolite   08-25-2009 at 04:03:12 AM
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Well it worked! I converted the Disk0 into a dynamic disk, rebooted and then added my 2nd drive. After I converted my 2nd drive to a dynamic disk, I selected my C drive partition on disk 0, right clicked it and selected mirror. It asked me for what drive and I selected the 2nd one. It is re-syncing now and is about 66% complete. I'll post the results tomorrow.


One thing to note though...I had two partitions and selected to mirror both before I left. I came back 3 hrs later and noticed it was only 25% completed because it was trying to write both partitions at the same time. Make sure to only do one at a time.

Message quoted 1 times
Message edited by npolite on 08-25-2009 at 04:03:42 AM
Reply to npolite
JonathanDeane   08-25-2009 at 04:38:46 AM
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npolite wrote :


One thing to note though...I had two partitions and selected to mirror both before I left. I came back 3 hrs later and noticed it was only 25% completed because it was trying to write both partitions at the same time. Make sure to only do one at a time.



Yeah something I was never able to figure out is why double copies or transfers to the same drive take longer then if you did both of them separately.

I thought when the new SATA drives came out with NCQ that this would end and finally the operations would take at least the same amount of time..... but no :(

Reply to JonathanDeane
npolite   08-25-2009 at 01:52:39 PM
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Both partitions are now built. Here is what they look like:


http://i29.tinypic.com/160rm05.png

Reply to npolite
avolare   09-17-2009 at 09:48:45 AM
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Hi! I'm starting to get interested in this software RAID thing.

So in the picture above he has two drives C: and D: that are mirrored (to prevent data loss caused by disk failure). Correct?

- Would it be possible to use the unallocated drive space as a normal single disk?

- Could this be done as spanned disk - not spanned, but striped? (Spanned striped disks don't duplicate data. They split it to several disk for more speed. This of course puts your data at risk.)

My ideal plan would be to have windows and programs and games installed on spanned striped (faster but riskier) disks. And have my important data (,y documents, pictures, work projects, desktop) on a mirrored disk.

Disks don't fail that often anyway. If that happens you can install windows and programs again. Also for me it's enough to backup only the things I can't get back like my pictures (you can't get back moments), texts/work, and maybe music folder because it took so many years to download. Movies and videos are not worth backing up because you can get them again and you usually won't watch them again even you like to have them.

Any comments?


Message edited by avolare on 09-17-2009 at 09:52:48 AM
Reply to avolare
Bronze Win 7 badge Zoron   09-19-2009 at 09:43:36 PM
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You're much better off with hardware RAID. While disks may not fail often, your OS certainly does hose itself much more often... so depending on it for RAID isn't a preferable choice. Plus, hardware RAID will perform much better. Most motherboards support hardware RAID nowadays... there are very few that don't (mostly budget boards or budget systems)... and even if they don't, you can buy add-in cards relatively cheap. Hardware is always better than software.

------------------------------ Desktop: Windows 7 Professional 64-bit; Intel Q6600 CPU; E-VGA 780i SLI motherboard; E-VGA E-GeForce 8800GT; OCZ Vista 4GB dual-channel kit; Ultra X2 750W power supply; 2 x Seagate Barracuda 7200.11 500GB in RAID 0. Laptop: Acer Aspire 8730-6314;
 Reply to Zoron
avolare   09-20-2009 at 10:43:24 PM
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I actually read about a comparison where they concluded that with modern computers the difference in performance between software and hardware RAID was quite smal.

And isn't it a benefit of software RAID that you can just use a part of a disk for RAID (have a smal striped volume for paging file for example). With hardware RAID you lose disk space if the other disk is bigger than the other.

Reply to avolare
brettles   10-14-2009 at 11:51:57 PM
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I lost my disks once because of Intel hardware raid 0 corruption. It was a massive pain. It was also fiddly and there was no obvious way to fix the situation.

I by far prefer the dynamic disk / software raid approach, assuming one does not have a quality raid controller.

Reply to brettles
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