Help Converting a R5 array over to a R0 array using ATI WD 2012 edition
Hello all,
I initially built my new machine using a r0 array (2-WD black 500gb sataIII). 3 months later (about a week or so ago) one of my drives failed and I had to start over. I installed the new drive, added another drive and installed a R5 array for a little more protection. Well, to make this short, I am not too happy with the performance of the R5 array. I want to migrate back to a r0 array using ATI WD 2012 edition, if possible and then continue using ATI for backups so that if this happens again I will be ok.
I am pretty sure this can be done, and probably could figure it out, but I am hoping for a little help from the experts here. What are the exact steps to doing this? I can upgrade to the retail version of ATIH 2012 for $29 if I need to. I will create the backup within windows using ATI. Do I need to backup both the c: drive and the system reserved partition? Argh so many questions so little time. Thank you all in advance for the help.
Here is my current setup:
Intel i7-2600k
CM Hyper 212 plus CPU cooler
AsRock P67Extreme4
8GB G.Skill Ripjaw X PC3 12800
EVGA GeForce GTX 560ti FPB
Samsung SyncMaster 2253BW
Creative X-FI Fatality Professional
3x WDB Sata3 500gb R5
1x WD Sata2 1500gb (I could store the image here if need be)
1x JBOD (500gb sata II) Roswell external enclosure (used for data backups & could put image here too)
Corsiar PSW750XT
Antec 902v3
Logitech G5,G15,G35
Win7 64bit Home Premium
Chip,
Moving from one Raid level to another on the same controller should be no problem.
Create the ACronis recovery CD, boot the computer on the CD and create a disk and partition backup of all the partitions (including the hidden ones if any) to a local USB disk.
For good measure, copy you irreplaceable files to the same USB.
Using the CD, validate your backup.
Change your RAID configuration.
Reboot on the recovery CD and restore everything. If the RAID volume ends up being a different size from the previous RAID, restore each partition at a time, in the same order they were laid out before. Do not resize any partition except C:\system or any other user created partition. Don't forget to mark active the partition that was active before. Finish by restore the MBR+track0 and the disk signature.
Pat L,
Thank you for the response. Is there any quick way you can explain the following a little clearer:
"Don't forget to mark active the partition that was active before. Finish by restore the MBR+track0 and the disk signature."
Chip
There are 2 ways to restore a full disk when you are using the CD:
1) You check the box at the disk level. This selects automatically all the partitions. If the disk is of a different size, ATI will scale the size of the partitions proportionally,
2) You restore one partition at the time, then the MBR+track0. When you do this, you can change the size of each restored partition. You also have to mark the right partition primary, active. Since you have tor restore the partitions in the same order they were before, know which one was active and ATi is displaying them in a different order (don't ask me why), it is better to print a screenshot of your disk management consolde of your old disk for reference.
After you have restored all the partitions, restore the MBR+Track0. You don't need to reboot between each restore. You will see on one of the last screens of the wizard, you can restore the disk signature. Do restore that signature to avoid some software activation issues.
Pat L,
Ok, so basically #2 above is handled by the wizard and I just need to follow the steps. ATI backs up the MBR+TRack0 and disk signature when I create the partition backup.
When I created the backup I selected my c: drive (which has the OS) and the 100mb system reserved partition that win 7 created. So each of these were partitions so I would recreate these one at a time and in the order that they are shown within the wizard when I made the backup. Next, The wizard will tell me to recreate the MBR+Track0 portion of the C: drive. Next the wizard will ask me to restore the disk signature. After that it will tell me to reboot.
I know that I will have to go into the mb raid controller and break my current raid array (Raid 5) and create a new one in Raid 0. Once that is done the partitioning steps above should take place. Is there any need to reformat before I replace the partitions? Also, I guess there is really no way to know if your backup is good? I mean is there anyway to verify that it is a good backup? Finally, I have my backup on another internal HD. This shouldnt be a problem right? It doesnt have to be on an external drive, right? Thank you so much for all your help. Once I get through this I will know what to do.
... So each of these were partitions so I would recreate these one at a time and in the order that they are shown within the wizard when I made the backup.
No. Not the order they are in the wizard, but the order they were laid out on your original disk. Print a screenshot of the disk management console to have a reference.
Is there any need to reformat before I replace the partitions?
No need to prepartition before restoring.
Also, I guess there is really no way to know if your backup is good?
Validating the backup helps increase confidence by a lot. There is no 100% guarantee until you actuall do the restore on the target disk/setup.
I have my backup on another internal HD. This shouldnt be a problem right? It doesnt have to be on an external drive, right?
Theoritically no. Some users have had issues with internal disks that disappeared with external disks. Really depends on your hardware.