Change boot drive on Windows 7 System that has Raid setup

[nofx1728]

I need some help. I have a Windows 7 Pro 64 computer with a Boot Drive, 2 Drives that make up RAID 0, and 4 drives that make up RAID 10.

I need to change my boot drive with a new SSD drive. How can I do this without messing up my RAID drives? I can not afford to lose this data.

This is my first RAID system so I'm not sure the steps I need to take since the RAID controllers are coming from Windows. Help would be very much appreciated.

 

[boosted1g]

How did you raid the other drives? Are they using raid cards? are they using the hardware raid built into the motherboard? or are you using windows software to raid it?

 

[nofx1728]

I'm pretty sure they are using software from bios. I have an ASUS P8z68-v pro motherboard. It's been 2 years since I built the computer and I can't remember if I used windows driver during initial setup. Is there a way to tell?

 

[boosted1g]

You can go into bios and look at raid configurations. If it is there then you have hardware raid and you are free to transfer or reinstall windows with no worries at all.

 

[nofx1728]

Ok - It is in bios so I should be good. Another quick question. My bios is pretty outdated. But it says to do the following before updating:

Update procedure for users needing Intel Smart Response Technology:
(1) Enter OS, and ensure Intel Smart Response Technology has been turned off under Intel Rapid Storage Technology interface.
(2) Install version Intel Rapid Storage Technology driver to version 11.5.0.1207
(3) Reboot the system, and update BIOS to version 3603, then reboot.
(4) Enter the BIOS setup screen, press F5 to load BIOS default, then change the Intel SATA Port to RAID mode.
(5) Boot into OS, and re-enable Intel Smart Response Technology under Intel Rapid Storage Technology.

Will doing any of this mess up my current RAID setups? Should I just leave bios alone?

 

[boosted1g]

If the bios upgrade is not needed to fix any hardware incompatibilities it is best to just leave it alone. The bennifit has to outweigh the risk, which is higher in non ufei bios without second bios chips on them.

As far as update wiping raid settings, the answer to that is yes.

 

[nofx1728]

Ok, thanks I'll leave bios as is and try to install windows on ssd and install. Hopefully no issues I'll let you know how it goes tomorrow. Thanks for all of your help.

 

[boosted1g]

Make sure to load your raid drivers into windows though.

 

[nofx1728]

Make sure to load your raid drivers into windows though.

How do I do that? I just got the ssd drive and installed windows on a different computer at my house (other is at my office). I haven't installed the motherboard drivers yet or anything else

 

[nofx1728]

Did I have to load some drivers during Windows install or do you just mean to load my motherboard drivers before connecting to the computer with the RAID drives? I'm really confused now and I do not want to do something that will possibly damage the RAID contents.