How to Win10 NON-RAID to Win10 RAID 1?

[Imacflier]

Hi, ALL,

I have searched and maybe have figured this out. Please review my process and comment on its feasibility or tell me of a better way!

When using ICH10R to implement RAID 1 one is supposed to configure the RAID set prior to installing the OS. I REALLY do not want to do a clean install, so I plan on the following 10 step program:

Existing: 1 Samsung 512GB, approx. 256GB in use.

Process:

1. Remove existing SSD and set aside.
2. Install two new Samsung 512GB SSDs.
3. Boot into BIOS and PRESS <CNTL>I to enter the INTEL Raid configuration menu.
4. Configure the two new SSDs as a RAID 1 array.
5. Reinstall the old SSD.
6. Boot into WIN10 from old SSD
7. Enter Acronis and CLONE Old SSD to RAID 1 Array.
8. Shut down and remove old SSD.
9. Boot and confirm.
10. DONE!

OK, all ye smarties....it this gonna work?

TIA,
Larry

 

[reedo_43]

I think it would. Well thought out!

 

[13thmonkey]

and you need to change the drivers. BUT. Why?

Raid is about uptime and availability, for 99% of home users a backup does everything you need it to do, and with raid (of any type) you still need a backup.

Raid will only protect against disk issues, it will not protect against corruption, accidental deletion, ransomware, etc. etc.

 

[Imacflier]

and you need to change the drivers. BUT. Why?

Raid is about uptime and availability, for 99% of home users a backup does everything you need it to do, and with raid (of any type) you still need a backup.

Raid will only protect against disk issues, it will not protect against corruption, accidental deletion, ransomware, etc. etc.

Why: I must have 100% up time to satisfy contractual purposes.
Backup: I am following the USARet regimen....PLUS Raid 1
Murphy protection: Ain't no such thing.....fools are just too damned ingenious to make anything fool proof. I am simply doing the very best I can to mitigate damages.

"Change the drivers.": Could you expand on that a bit, please?

Larry

 

[13thmonkey]

and you need to change the drivers. BUT. Why?

Raid is about uptime and availability, for 99% of home users a backup does everything you need it to do, and with raid (of any type) you still need a backup.

Raid will only protect against disk issues, it will not protect against corruption, accidental deletion, ransomware, etc. etc.

Why: I must have 100% up time to satisfy contractual purposes.
Backup: I am following the USARet regimen....PLUS Raid 1
Murphy protection: Ain't no such thing.....fools are just too damned ingenious to make anything fool proof. I am simply doing the very best I can to mitigate damages.

"Change the drivers.": Could you expand on that a bit, please?

Larry

So pleased to hear this is an actual need, we get so many people wanting to use raid because they've heard of it.

Your disk will currently be in ahci mode, and Windows has drivers installed for that, you'll need to change to raid mode in bios, and windows will need to be aware of that change. Normally you make the modification to windows before the final shutdown, move it to a raid mode disk and then when it starts up it either already has raid drivers or it reassess what it needs. Give me 5 and I'll find a page about it.

 

[13thmonkey]

Try this https://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/588c6cc0-03f0-44c4-b9dc-49143db95000/changing-from-ahci-to-raid-without-reinstalling-win-10?forum=win10itprohardware

But, be very very careful, hold a backup as is right now, then make another backup to transfer, so you can always revert to a known good state.

 

[Imacflier]

Thanks for that VERY scary link! For those interested the non-broken link is: http://www.overclock.net/forum/20-hard-drives-storage/1227636-how-change-sata-modes-after-windows-installation.html

13thmonky,

This never addresses Win10...do you believe it is still correct?

Thanks!

Larry

 

[13thmonkey]

Thanks for that VERY scary link! For those interested the non-broken link is: http://www.overclock.net/forum/20-hard-drives-storage/1227636-how-change-sata-modes-after-windows-installation.html

13thmonky,

This never addresses Win10...do you believe it is still correct?

Thanks!

Larry

I think someone in the technet site said it worked, I'm on my phone at the moment so lacking some detail.

I've used it on win7. Going raid to achi.

 

[USAFRet]

Following the overclocker.net procedure should work.
I've not tried it, though. Not had a need to.

Personally, I would dredge up a couple of 1TB HDD's, and try it with backed up data, on a spare system first. Just to verify the procedure and pitfalls in my own mind.
A couple of 1TB HDD's are only $40 each, brand new. Cheap insurance.

Never try a new procedure like this on the primary drives with the only copy of customers data.

 

[Imacflier]

USAFRet.

Since the only time source data will be in the system, per procedure in first post, is during cloning TO the new array, I do not see where there is any risk to that source data. On reflection, I make a cloned copy and use that for a cloning source before I do anything at all!

Larry

 

[USAFRet]

USAFRet.

Since the only time source data will be in the system, per procedure in first post, is during cloning TO the new array, I do not see where there is any risk to that source data. On reflection, I make a cloned copy and use that for a cloning source before I do anything at all!

Larry

Known tested backups, before and during (and after) any major operation.

 

[13thmonkey]

I know it might seem like we belabour a point regarding backups, but there's a good reason for that. Some people don't get it, and then we end up with the 'i've formatted my disks and lost my data, help!' style of posts. No-one wins at that point.

 

[Imacflier]

I want to thank you all for your advice and help in this and I will report back once I have tried to make the conversion.

And I do not think you have 'belabored' anything, since I am one who has managed to reverse source and target during a cloning operation and ended up with nothing left at all!

Thank you all, again,

Larry