How does one set up RAID 0 on a Vostro 1700?

Got it a couple days ago. Here's what I've done so far:

1) Wiped Vista (didn't even give it a shot
2) Reinstalled XP
3) Installed the AHCI drivers for XP, AHCI and the Flash Cache are now enabled (I don't really care if it makes a difference it's one of those anal things I had to do)
4) Partitioned 1 of the 160 GB HDDs into 10 GB for the OS, and 75/75 data partitions
5) Partitioned the other 160 GB HDD into two 80/80 data partitions
6) Flashed the BIOS to the latest version (A06)

What's with all the partitions? I dunno ;P

Anyways, it didn't dawn on me until today that since I have 2 hard drives I could do a RAID 0 array and jack up my performance. I've never done that before and I'm not really sure how to proceed.

I don't see anything in the BIOS, I'm not sure if diskpart.exe will do the job (and if it does, does that make it a software RAID? Is there a difference in performance?), and I basically need the process spelled out for me, like what I'm gonna see in the setup disc after pressing F6, etc. I have my XP install discs and the Intel Matrix Manager drivers that I used to enable AHCI. No external floppy drive, just the optical, the Media Card Reader and a USB Key.

What do I do to get a RAID 0? Can it even be done?

Thanks in advance.

 

Hi, did you get raid0 set up and working?

 

Unless Dell advertises RAID0 as an option, I do not think it will be possible. There are usually two versions of a chipset...(1) ACHI and (2) ACHI/RAID. You probably have the first type, and RAID requires the 2nd type.

 

Thanks for the answer.
I bought this laptop with one purpose: Raid0 - I now have two SSD Mtron 7000, 2,5" - 32gb discs/drives ready in the vostro 1700...
But from here I can do nothing - this sucks

Talked with dell support - no help

 

btw. there are two options ATA or AHCI - I´m currently searching for ways to firmware update the bios/chipset to enable raid.

 

The ACHI/RAID chipset is a completely different physical part than the ACHI one. No dice.