RAID Question

[giuseppe]

I am confused about how to set up a RAID on a new build that I am in the middle of. My motherboard came with drivers for the RAID but the instructions assume an OS is installed. Once I set up a RAID won't that wipe out all the hard drive Data including the OS and put me back to where I started? Sorry if this is a dumb question I am new to all this.

[Spartan]

Not necessarily. What type of Raid are you considering and on what type of controller?

-Spartan

[giuseppe]

A 0+1 RAID with 4 drives. THe controller in on the motherboard. I just tried installing Windows XP and it asks if you need to install 3rd party RAID drivers. I didn't because my plan was to just get the thing going and then set up the RAID after. However, Windows didn't even find the drives so I will try again and install the RAID drivers. I add a post letting you know if it worked.

Thanks.

[glc]

Before you even try to install XP, you need to set up your array in the bios. Then you do need to do the F6 thing to install the drivers. You can't just install XP on one drive, then convert it to raid - when there's striping involved, that will destroy what you already have.

[giuseppe]

Re-read the manual and did exactly as you said. First set RAID 0+1 in the BIOS then found drivers that came with the motherboard and hit F6 and installed. Windows then installed on the RAID. It was actually not too bad in the end. The ABIT motherboard is very easy to use. Since RAID is onboard, all the stuff I needed was included with the MB.