From Raid0 to Single drives

[mcquicker]

I have 2 identical 1 TB WD drives in a RAID0 setup, with 3 partitions and Win 7 and Win 8 Beta installed.

Partition 1 is the System Reserved
Partition 2 is for Win 7
Partition 3 is for Win 8

Because of the danger in RAID0 loosing one drive, hence the whole setup, I decided to break up the RAID0 configuration and return to single drives, with leaving Partition 1 as is, but turning now drive 0 to Win 7 and drive 1 to win 8.

Of course, I backed up both partitions independently prior to breaking the RAID0 setup and did a Recovery of the data for each Partition to their corresponding drive.

Except that the bootloader which I carefully kept intact and recreated in drive 0 is not allowing either system to boot.

Is there a way to breakup a RAID0 configuration and reinstall back up partitions to independent single drives?

Many thanks in advance,
Peter

[warnerr]

It is a mirror- a messy but easy war is to simply remove second drive. System should boot warning that mirror is degraded. Second drive can be wiped by zeroing to remove ALL traced of raid. Add back in as second drive- not part of raid anymore. If you dont like it you could reverse the process alowing it to join origional raid mirror.

[loki]

It is a mirror- a messy but easy war is to simply remove second drive. System should boot warning that mirror is degraded. Second drive can be wiped by zeroing to remove ALL traced of raid. Add back in as second drive- not part of raid anymore. If you dont like it you could reverse the process alowing it to join origional raid mirror.

OP mentioned it was setup as a raid0 (striping)
Best method would be to back up the users data first before breaking the stripe raid.
Wipe both drives & then install Win7 to the first drive + all applications.
Then install Win8 beta to the other drive.
That way they will have a working duel boot system.
Then just copy the users data back.

Loki

[Cleanroom]

i agree with loki

raid 0 is stripping ,raid 1 is mirror

[warnerr]

Just returned to kill post- not enough coffee yet! It is a stripe!!!! Image off, build paid , image back..... dissimular hardare support by Acronis, etc. may assist. Too early in morn......

[mcquicker]

Loki:

I tried doing what you suggested but when I try to log on to the second drive, the Win 8 Beta drive, it won't boot. It hangs on the fish then gives an error. I know it has something to do with the bootloader, but I have not figured it out yet.

Also, when I tried putting the RAID0 back, in order to use the PC, I also get an error when trying to boot to Win 8.

BTW, what do you mean by "wipe" the drives?

Thanks to everyone for the help.
Peter

[northwind]

Yes it won't boot because it was configured to boot from a RAID-0 which now does not exist. So you have two drives with striped data in them, and you handle them as independant ones. As Loki said you need to wipe drives (ie. erase, delete, format) and then re-install everything from scratch.

Assuming you have backed up everything, turn off raid from BIOS, so you now have two independant SATA drives, install Win 7 on drive 1, install Win 8 on drive 2 (that creates a loader) and put your data back in their place. Now you have a dual boot machine.

[mcquicker]

Yes, but what I'm trying to avoid is having to install the OS all over again. I have the two partitions backed up. Also, I backed up the System Reserved partition with the loader info.

What happens is that after break the RAID0 chain, wipe the drives and try and install the partitions to the now single drives (e.g. Partition C = Disk C), the loader is not recognizing the drive because it comes up with an error.

I supposed the loader has information that is not checking out with the current configuration (letter drive, etc.) but I've done everything so the information of the single drive is the same as that in the partition of the RAID0 setup.

Peter

[einstein9]

Yes it won't boot because it was configured to boot from a RAID-0 which now does not exist. So you have two drives with striped data in them, and you handle them as independant ones. As Loki said you need to wipe drives (ie. erase, delete, format) and then re-install everything from scratch.

Assuming you have backed up everything, turn off raid from BIOS, so you now have two independant SATA drives, install Win 7 on drive 1, install Win 8 on drive 2 (that creates a loader) and put your data back in their place. Now you have a dual boot machine.

Sorry to disagree with you here, but it is possible, AND FOR SURE NOT EASY TASK

I did it before but needs more time + headache if there was a server app. installed
but IT CAN BE DONE.

Usually i charge MORE on such a case (even if HW changed) compared to fresh OS install + app. setup/config

Nothing is Impossible, but again needs more time specially on the OS repair process which would be the beginning

good luck

[northwind]

Yes it won't boot because it was configured to boot from a RAID-0 which now does not exist. So you have two drives with striped data in them, and you handle them as independant ones. As Loki said you need to wipe drives (ie. erase, delete, format) and then re-install everything from scratch.

Assuming you have backed up everything, turn off raid from BIOS, so you now have two independant SATA drives, install Win 7 on drive 1, install Win 8 on drive 2 (that creates a loader) and put your data back in their place. Now you have a dual boot machine.

Sorry to disagree with you here, but it is possible, AND FOR SURE NOT EASY TASK

I did it before but needs more time + headache if there was a server app. installed
but IT CAN BE DONE.

Usually i charge MORE on such a case (even if HW changed) compared to fresh OS install + app. setup/config

Nothing is Impossible, but again needs more time specially on the OS repair process which would be the beginning

good luck

Sorry, what do you mean? I didn't say something CAN or CAN'T be done, I was only TRYING to explain why OP's system didn't boot.

[mcquicker]

So how is it done?

You would think many people try this once they realized how prone to losing data RAID-0 can be.

Thanks the help

Peter