M17x RAID issues + more

I thought I would get more replies if I made a thread about my issue so here it goes from my original messages:

Well, I've accidentally unraided my hard drives and I want to re-raid them back to 1. I'm not sure what to enable though. I chose RAID and enabled the nvidia thing, then there are two slots, 0 and 4 (or was it 3?)... should I enable both of those too?

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reply:
put raid and then enable every option

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Hmm, I've just tried that and now I'm having even more issues. The HDDs still won't merge (when I open up Computer, they're separate OSs). Plus my computer keeps restarting (blue screen shows up).

At one point, somewhere during the start up, it says the HDDs have degraded... but now they aren't.

Also, maybe unrelated, my Illustrator is being annoying, won't open up some files saying it doesn't have enough memory when it opened fine before?

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Update: It seems it says "degraded" when I enable everything in RAID. The hdds seem fine in safe mode... I can open most files and such. Also, I've noticed my backup hdd has 1 gb less filled up... so they're not exactly the same atm, could this be the issue why I can't merge them together?

Update 2: I've just ran HD Tune and both hard drives had no errors... so I don't think they've failed.

Update 3: Every time I boot up and sign in (safe mode, since normally just blue screens and restarts), "Windows needs to install driver software for your Message-oriented TCP/IP and TCP/IPv6 Protocol (SMB session)." Of course it fails everytime and asks for a disc.

I've also deleted 1 array and now while it's booting up it lists one hard drive in "rebuild" state and mirrored. I check my Computer in safe mode and only 1 hdd is listed... seems alright now though I still get a blue screen when normally booting.

 

When I turn off the computer, the power button stays lit (but the system does seem to turn off).

When will my RAID 1 complete rebuilding? It still says that for the status. And what's MBR?

Anyways, I guess I'm going to have to call them up soon... or I can do a system recovery... is there anyway to keep the data on one drive at least if I do that?

 

One more bump before I try respawning then calling dell up.

 

Okay one more question. When I system restore, is there any way to keep the data on my mirrored hdd? Do I just unraid and restore on one hdd and the data on the other will be fine (then I can rebuild from there)?

 

I am very sorry you've not had any responses to your thread, but I have never had to deal with rebuilding a RAID 1 setup before. The intent of RAID 1 is to have a backup copy of your Main HDD in the event one drive fails. This is what you had up until you un-raided. If you wanted to put your RAID 1 back together, I fear you would need to copy your data from either of your drives to an external drive, build your RAID 1 array from scratch, reformat, and restore to factory. Otherwise, leave your HDD's unraided, wipe/reformat the second drive, and you now have 2x the capacity but lose the security of the backup drive. I am unsure if you can simply reformat your second HDD in non-RAID, then setup a RAID 1 array and get it to image your primary HDD to your Secondary HDD after the fact.

Sorry if I didn't help much, but as I said, I've never done this particular operation before. Good Luck.

 

Me either. Just wait for a response (there are many experts here that can help you) or you can just call dell and help them set it up for you over the phone!

 

nemoris, I hope you've resolved your issues, but on the off chance you haven't, I put together a how too on RAID 1 or 0 based on my experiences. Your's may differ in that it sounds like your system already came with RAID 0 configured, so you shouldn't need to hunt down the drivers like I did.

Be aware that if you've "broken" the RAID, your data is, well, will be lost once you get the raid configuration working again. At least that was my experience. You will need to create the RAID, set your stripe block, load both drives into it and then use your recovery CD to restore your default programs. So I would advise accessing the system like you have been and doing a backup of your data (to a network share, usb drive, etc). Let me know if that helps (or if the help was unneeded as you came to a better solution).

 

Raid is a very picky, but reliable technology. I can confirm that once you break the raid array, you must completely restore to get it back (assuming you re-create the array). You've very lucky to have your data after deleting the array. Usually, it causes the hard drives to lose logic for what is installed, and you inevitable have to restore.

Thanks,
Gabe

 

Thank guys, I should be able to get it fixed by tomorrow and finally stop booting in safe mode. Also, to system restore, I just use one of the discs that came with the notebook right? What was that extra $50 disc one could have bought with the system?

My RAID 1 seems to be fine, but again, I can't log in normally without getting BSOD.

 

The $50 extra CD is a factory image with Vista and all drivers installed. The CD's you were provide are Vista CD's and Drivers CDs, so you'll have to install the Vista CD, then install the drivers seperately. Takes a little longer then a re-image is all. Make sure you backup any data you want saved on an external driver though.

 

I see, thanks. One more question before I get going with this... it doesn't matter at this point which hdd is the one being mirrored right? I think I switched them.