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    Best way to copy hard drive

    Discussion in 'Gateway and eMachines' started by HDforme, Mar 15, 2009.

  1. HDforme

    HDforme Notebook Guru

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    Hi,I have a 7811 and I want to add raid,I updated the bios to 9.08 and have 2 320GB 7200RPM drives to go in,I have the CMS transfer kit to copy the drive.I got all the stuff a few days ago and 1 drive copied but locks up my pc after a few minutes and #2 isn't seen by my system,I sent both back to newegg to check and replace them.When I first tried to use the transfer kit it got 68% done and then hung up on a tmp folder.I deleted the folder and it copied but froze my system every few minutes.When the drives come back I want to put them in and use raid,Should I copy my drive and then install the other one and then turn on raid in bios? Has anyone used a CMS transfer kit?
    Thank You,Bob
     
    HDforme, Mar 15, 2009
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  2. E-wrecked

    E-wrecked BANNED

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    You would need to enable RAId in the BIOS, but then install Vista as RAID. Otherwise you won't have the Intel Matrix Manager installed, and you'll be copying a non-RAID config to a RAID setup..you'll BSOD at boot everytime. you gotta setup RAID and then install Vista. There's a couple work arounds out there, but it's a pain in the arse. Actually, you can find the work-around on the Gateway forum somewhere..but it was going from RAID to non-RAID. Either way, good luck. :)
     
    E-wrecked, Mar 15, 2009
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  3. HDforme

    HDforme Notebook Guru

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    I'm not sure how to do this,can I copy my main drive and then add the second drive and then turn on raid in bios?

    Please explain,I don't know how to do this
    Thank You,Bob
     
    HDforme, Mar 15, 2009
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  4. E-wrecked

    E-wrecked BANNED

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    If you enable RAID, it will prompt you to build the RAID array(link the HDDs for striping or mirroring), at which point if you do then it will let you know the HDDs will be erased. So, you can't take a HDD and turn it into being part of a RAID-0(striping) array. You would need an external storage device to backup to, and then create the RAID array, then copy that info back to the newly formed RAID array. But, then there's a bunch of more hoops to jump through cause the info didn't come from a RAID array. I'm not gonna spend an hour typing a walk through.. I suggest you do research on the benefits, advantages, and risks of RAID arrays before you continue any further.

    http://www.recoverdata.com/raidfaq.htm
    That is a brief start for you. In this situaion, I suggest you make an external backup of your important files..then create your RAID setup and freshly install Vista, then copy your files back to the new Vista install. Otherwise you're risking losing ALL of the info you currently are trying to keep. Good luck.
     
    E-wrecked, Mar 15, 2009
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  5. TANWare

    TANWare Just This Side of Senile, I think. Super Moderator

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    About the only way to do this is install the raid driver, even if inactive, before the clone with a drive. Even that is not a garenty. I have alot of experience with nVidia Raid controler and this method has worked fine so far, I have 0 experience with Intel Matrix controler so there are many more here more experinced to help you out.

    I am with E-W here and the reason I just went with a secondary storage drive. This avoids all the possible Raid0 headaches and from what I hear Raid0 does not have the extreem benefits you may normally expect..........
     
    TANWare, Mar 15, 2009
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  6. husky55

    husky55 Notebook Evangelist

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    I use Acronis to make a copy of the c: drive to the d: drive.
     
    husky55, Mar 16, 2009
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