Help With RAID 1 please

[Pro2010]

Hi there,

I ve got a pc with RAID 1 , running windows 7 and XP . I have messed up with one of them and need to know how to recover it ( deleted some partitions )
Also I would like to know how to replace a faulty hard drive if thats happened please . I am very new to RAID stuff .

Regards

hani

 

[stduc]

Most RAID 1's will offer to rebuild on boot if you replace one of the drives. RAID 1 is a mirror RAID - both drives are identical. The idea being that if one dies, you can continue working unprotected as long as you 'dare'. You replace the drive in the normal way.

As far as partitions go - nothing is any different. So you can use software, such as partition magic just as if there was only one disk.

All the above applies to hardware/BIOS RAIDs, with or without the need for a driver. If your using the Windows software RAID then no.

But you really need to explain your problem a little better to get better advise than this!

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[kjv1611]

If you're needing to recover partitions, look at Active Partition Recovery:

http://www.partition-recovery.com/

And there are other recovery programs as well, I just know that one works well with RAID partitions from personal experience.

Otherwise, we do definitely need more info if you are looking for better help.

If you're just saying that you messed up the MBR, then there are free utilities out there that you can use via bootable CDs to repair/recreate your boot partitions. One such method that's built into Windows 7 is the Startup Repair utility. You may have to run it from the Win7 DVD.

 

[Pro2010]

Ok ,I did partitioned on of them only based on the faxct that RAID 1 dublicate the thing , but that render in having the system not bootable .

I used a software called EASUES and from that softward I createdc a bootable CD whuich I uesed to boot the machine that its got RAISD 1 on . I booted that machine from that CD and I got that software not recognizing the 2 HDD as RAID , instead its just got them as 2 seprate HDD . So I though if I m using RAID mirroring then I can just partition one of them and RAID will doblicate that .
The system had 2 operating system , XP and 7 64bit and the idea was to add another 2 partitiones one is for windows 7 32 bit and the third should be largest one for data only .

Regards

 

[kjv1611]

So, unless I'm reading wrong, you already had it setup, then used some other software outside the RAID setup to change one of the disks' partition tables and hoped to use that to rebuild the RAID. If you did fully get the one disk working by itself, and did get the RAID rebuilt using the 2nd drive, then you may also be having a driver problem at this point.

From what you're wanting to do, I'd suggest it may be time to just step back, wipe everything clean, and start from scratch. If you can see the data, back it up first of course.

Then...
1. Use the hardware RAID configuration if you used Windows before. Because if you use the Windows RAID configuration, you're going to have an awful time handling that same RAID (if it can be done at all) for multiple operating systems. You may have to enable the hardware RAID from within your BIOS settings.

2. Once that is setup, you'll need to install each OS. I forget the order, but it's best to go from oldest to newest or newest to oldest (not your choice, just one of those works easiest - there are lots of walkthroughs that talk about the hows and whys of it).

3. If you are inexperienced in doing a setup like this, then be sure to do plenty of reading ahead of time, so you're not scratching your head afterward.

4. If you intend to do it again at any time, then it might be a good idea to document everything you did.

5. It may not hurt to consider a 3rd party boot manager. You can use Grub, which is free (Linux). There is also EasyBCD, which I think has free and paid versions. There is also

http://www.terabyteunlimited.com's

BootIt NG. The latter costs $30 or $50, I forget, but they also have videos on their site showing you step by step how to install multiple OS on the same system using their boot management software.

 

[Pro2010]

Ok , I take that I need to start doing everything again , but can I ask if one of HDD fail , then how can I add the new drive and RIAD write everything back to the new one .

I am using hardware config

Thank s

 

[stduc]

If you re-install 7, with the RAID drivers and partition the drive as you wish using 7 the the RAID will detect a failed drive and re-build the RAID when it is replaced. Your problem was caused by changing things outside of the RAIDs control.

If you install a 2nd operating system on one partition, say XP, then that to must be installed with the same RAID drivers.

[navy]When I married "Miss Right" I didn't realise her first name was 'always'. LOL[/navy]

 

[Pro2010]

ok ,, I ve got on the hard drives now working fine , as I unpluged one of them . How can recover the system with second drive without losing my data on my working hdd ?

 

[Pro2010]

Many thanks Guys for your help and your advice .I got working fine , super !

Regards

 

[goombawaho]

All I can say is: "Don't mess with it now!!!".

If one drive dies, you simply unplug one of the drives, see if it will boot. If it boots, then you know the drive you unplugged was the bad drive. Turn off PC, replace drive, boot up and allow rebuilding to take place.

If system won't boot after pulling one drive, you know you pulled the GOOD drive.

 

[MDEnce]

Can you post what you did to get it working fine Pro2010?
It might help others in similar situations.