OS HDD + RAID HDD(s) - how to install

[baius]

I've spent 4 hours looking on Hexus for the answer to this - I haven't found it, so feel entirely justified in starting this thread.

Question: How do you install a (new) RAID array into a system that already has an "OS" HDD? Can it be done via the OS?

I.e.
C: 1 disk (Operating System)
D: RAID 1 array
(3 disks total)


BUMF:
I've bought 2 Western Digital 1tb GP hard drives that I'd like to "test" a RAID setup out on, in leiu of getting my server (which will have 4 raid 1 arrays on an Adaptec controller).

I've never set up a RAID array before, and, to be honest, they seem seem quite scary.

There seems to be quite a lot of information on setting up a "new" computer so as to utilise raid 1 or 0. However, I want to add an array to an already-running PC.

Surely, also, one must be able to do all this through windows for additional disks. I don't need to go into BIOS and RAID software settings, do I?

Yeah, so there you have it. (I'm going to catch a few hours' sleep now, following my search...)

[Splash]

You *could* do it through Windows in software but you're setting yourself up for a world of pain if you do. Best advice is that you setup through the RAID BIOS (be that your motherboard or RAID card).

Take a backup of any data that you need to be on the array, shutdown the machine and create the array and then restore the data to the array.

[Steve B]

i asked this in my thread, but i'll ask again here
why are you using 4 RAID1 arrays?

[baius]

i asked this in my thread, but i'll ask again here
why are you using 4 RAID1 arrays?

Just replied to your question...