Windows Home Server newbie questions

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asdiasx

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#71002 3-Nov-2010 13:21

Hi everybody! I'm just beginning with a DIY media server and have a basic question.

1- After installing the OS, do I need to format all HD that I insert on the "library"? I mean, do I loose all existing data when a HD is included in the WHS "array"?

2- Is it possible to install the OS on a machine with 4 HD, one dedicated for the OS, and after installation use WHS to handle existing data to free up one HD at time before including it to the "library"?

Sorry if its not clear my question, mainly the second one but my concern is about the need to free up HD before WHS installation (using Win 7) or if I can do it using the WHS. The objective is to migrate all data from my existing HD to a WHS environment.

Regards,

SepticSceptic

2186 posts

Uber Geek

Trusted

#400038 4-Nov-2010 10:25

1) Yes, you will lose existing data when the HDD is added to the storage pool. It will be automatically formatted.

2) In order to avoid an "oops' moment, I would make sure the HDD's that have the data that you want to keep is NOT in the WHS at the time of loading the WHS OS. Once the WHS is complete, install the data HDD's into the case, and they will be there as standard HDD's. Using the WHS desktop ( not the console ), open up Windows explorer to access the HDD's.
WHS will have also created a number of shares - Music, User, etc. You should be able to copy the data from the data HDD;s to the appropriate share via explorer.

Once the data has been copied to the appropriate share, you can then return to the WHS console, and add the old data HDD to the storage pool.

Once data has been copied, don't forget to enable folder duplication on the appropriate folders -

asdiasx

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#400204 4-Nov-2010 14:18

Thank You very much!!!

CYaBro

4582 posts

Uber Geek

ID Verified

Trusted

#400218 4-Nov-2010 14:56

Don't bother with a seperate HDD for the OS, I made that mistake.
With WHS you have no control over partitions or anything, the default is 20GB of the first HDD for the OS and then the rest gets added to the DATA drive / storage pool.
As you add HDDs to the storage pool your DATA drive just gets bigger, you don't see it as a seperate HDD anymore in Windows explorer.

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

asdiasx

3 posts

Wannabe Geek

#400240 4-Nov-2010 15:50

Thanks CYaBro, but what if I need to upgrade the OS or something like that? Won't mess up the pool?

Regards,

Adriano Dias

shadybrothers

236 posts

Master Geek

#406310 18-Nov-2010 15:49

I do not believe MS are offering any upgrade paths to Vail so no need to worry there. The storage pool in Vail will be using a different file structure, so will need to re-transfer files again from what I understand

this is a slap in the face!