Best way to convert Vista64 & data to RAID???

Now that the RAID BIOS is out and working for the 7811, what's the best way to implement the RAID array? I definitely want RAID 0 (I know the risks), but what are the best disk settings to use and what is the best way to get Vista64, my applications, and all my data from the stock drive to the new RAID array? I have an external SATA drive solution, so can copy from the external back to the RAID.

Specifically, does disk cloning work? I've heard Vista64 chokes when cloned to RAID 0 and I must reinstall a fresh copy, is this true?

What's the fastest way to get the rest of my applications and data onto the RAID array?

Any help most appreciated.

 

Johnk and E-wrecked and dook went back and for for a couple days about which is best and why in that raid thread for the 7811. you should poke around in there towards the last 20 pages of the thread i do believe .

 

I am trying to do the same thing (take a AHCI mode image of my system and restore it to a RAID-0 config)....

 

I did a clone backup of the Seagate drive via Acronis but once I popped in my 2nd Hitachi and enabled RAID I couldn't get the 7811 to boot from that drive via a SATA to USB connection and ended up reinstalling everything. Not the most fun way to spend the afternoon, but now I have that lovely "freshly installed" tingle all over - lol.

 

It's too late, but for future reference, if your current Vista install was setup from "Compatibility/IDE" mode in the BIOS, you have to do a clean re-install. However, if it was set to AHCI before the previous install an image should work.

 

Dook, my BIOS is set to AHCI but I don't remember if I changed it. Is there a way to tell in the OS if it was set up AHCI or Comp/IDE?

I suppose it is that Reg discussion John and E-w had. I'm thinking it was factory AHCI.

Edit: Looks like changing in BIOS after Vista install will BSOD unless drivers are installed so I must have AHCI.
And then there is always this little number:


Here is a reg method of changing after install
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/922976

In Windows GUI the drive must be updated then BIOS can be changed.

So sounds like there may be a couple ways of changing post install but just flipping the BIOS selector is not one of them.

 

TBH, Syn, I'm not sure. I haven't had to check. Seems to me like there would be something in Device Manager that would differ, but I can't be sure. If its ACHI now, I'd say it was set that way from the factory, unless you have a habit of changing such things.