Skip to main content

Upgrading RAID0; want to consolidate "System Reserved" with SSD

Thread solved

I have a PC which I use for video work; it has a 1 TB M.2 SSD; a 2 x 1TB RAID0 array for fast capture of uncompressed HD video, and two hot-swap drive bays along with a pair of Blu-Ray burners. Due to limitations of the built-in SATA controller, the two hot-swap drives are on a separate controller from the RAID array.

I'm wanting to replace physical disks and enlarge the size of the RAID array. However, at the same time I'd like to consolidate the "System Reserved" partition from the RAID array (where Windows automatically placed it against my wishes...I thought I owned the computer; guess I only get to pay the bills for it...) onto the SSD along with the (Windows 10) C: drive. All of the data which is on the array right now can be backed up to a hot-swap disk, no problem; none of it is critical anyway. The important data is on the C: drive SSD.

What's the best way to accomplish this with the least amount of hassle? I should have my original drivers and disks available if I have to reinstall Windows from scratch, but it's a pain (done it more times than I care to recall...). I'm making one backup of the PC to my NAS right now and I'll make another for extra security before I begin. Suggestions on how to best use True Image (2018) to accomplish this?

0 Users found this helpful

Eric, welcome to these public User Forums.

See webpage:  How to move system reserved partition to a different disk? This has an outline of the steps that are needed to perform this type of migration of the system reserved partition that you should be able to adapt to your own situation.

I have completed the modifications. In case anyone else is interested, here's what I did:

  1. Deleted all old data that I was sure I could do without.
  2. Shrunk the C:\ partition on the SSD by 500 MB, leaving the space unallocated.
  3. Used True Image 2018 to create rescue media on a USB thumb drive.
  4. Made a full backup of the system. For safety's sake I actually made two full backups, one to my NAS box and another to a 4TB drive in one of the hot-swap bays.
  5. Shut down the system and rebooted from the USB drive. Used True Image to restore the System Reserved partition (only) to the unallocated space on the SSD.
  6. Physically disconnected all of the spindle drives on the system, both RAID and hot-swap.
  7. Crossed fingers, rebooted...Windows started normally.
  8. Verified proper operation of the OS, then shut down again. Connected the spindle drives for the new RAID array and used the BIOS utility to configure it as desired.
  9. Rebooted to Windows; added the new array as a drive and formatted it.
  10. Used True Image to restore the 850 GB of data from the old array that I wanted to keep to the new larger array.

Eric, good to see your update and successful outcome, thanks for sharing!