Raid 1 (Mirroring) with Windows Vista

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nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#30582 13-Feb-2009 17:47

Hi does anyone know of a software solution for mirroring with windows vista. I have 1x 500gb hdd for os (not included in raid) and 2x 1tb drives that I want to mirror. Must be a software solution not hardware.
Cheers

Adamal

544 posts

Ultimate Geek

#195987 16-Feb-2009 08:37

Windows Disk Management will allow you to do it.

Make one of the disks an active disk, then right click on it and you should have the option to add as mirror. You should then be able to select the other spare 1Tb drive, and Bob is your uncle.

nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#195998 16-Feb-2009 09:52

Hi Adamal, just tried doing that now but there was not any "add mirror" option, I have only seen this option in windows 7, are you sure it is in Vista? I am very much hoping it is. Thanks for your help.

sbiddle

30853 posts

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Biddle Corp

Lifetime subscriber

#196000 16-Feb-2009 10:03

Off the top of my head this only exists in the Windows Server OS 2k/2k3/2k8 and isn't in Vista however has been introduced in Windows 7.

nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#196004 16-Feb-2009 10:16

If this is the case, do you know of any software for Vista that will allow me to do this?

CYaBro

4568 posts

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#196014 16-Feb-2009 11:20

Can I ask why you want a software RAID solution?
Does your mainboard not have hardware RAID built in?

Software RAID can be a PITA if something goes wrong and is also a lot slower.

Opinions are my own and not the views of my employer.

nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#196073 16-Feb-2009 16:32

Yes it does have a hardware RAID but I am trying to put an OS image on the PC using win PE and it wont run up into, it stops while it is loading the files. I have even made a new WinPE CD with the drivers injected into but it still wont run up. I am using the Gigabyte MA&8G-DS3H motherboard.

Ragnor

8199 posts

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#196102 16-Feb-2009 17:29

Well this doesn't fit you situation of restoring an image but for general backup....

I do a ghetto 1:1 copy/mirror of my D: drive to my E: (USB external drive) with robocopy which is a command line program included in Vista. You can even schedule it as a task and use no gui options.

Generally I put something like this in a bat file:

robocopy D: E: /z /mirr /XD "System Volume Information" "RECYCLER"

Have a look at robocopy /? for the many options.

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nzwogboy

93 posts

Master Geek

#196105 16-Feb-2009 17:52

Thanks for that, robocopy looks like a very handy tool. Decided just to install windows from scratch. Thanks for your help guys.