Advice on hard drive config etc

[dark-knight]

Guys you`ve been more than helpful and I appreciate all the advice given. I`m after your help yet again.

Here is my new build as stated in another thread http://forums.hexus.net/scan-3xs-sys...pressed-d.html

Question, what is Raid 0 ? and what is Raid 1 ?. I want to maybe add a 1tb HD for mass storage as well as data back up. I want to keep my SS drive and also my WD Raptor drive free from apps etc. I would like to back up my OS to my 1TB drive incase of boot failure etc. Any advice ??, I havent a clue about partitioning or data back up and I have lost lots of data in the past through sheer neglect on my part

Also how much extra would it cost me for a http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/1TB-S...RAID-Class-HDD to be put into my system ??.

Last question guys. Am thinking about purchasing 2 of these monitors come crimbo http://www.scan.co.uk/Products/236-S...-Speakers-VESA what are your thoughts.

Cheer`s

Mark

[DarkStar_GT]

From
http<< removeme >>://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RAID

# RAID 0 (striped disks) distributes data across multiple disks in a way that gives improved speed at any given instant. If one disk fails, however, all of the data on the array will be lost, as there is neither parity nor mirroring. In this regard, RAID 0 is somewhat of a misnomer, in that RAID 0 is non-redundant. A RAID 0 array requires a minimum of two drives. A RAID 0 configuration can be applied to a single drive provided that the RAID controller is hardware and not software (i.e. OS-based arrays) and allows for such configuration. This allows a single drive to be added to a controller already containing another RAID configuration when the user does not wish to add the additional drive to the existing array. In this case, the controller would be set up as RAID only (as opposed to SCSI only (no RAID)), which requires that each individual drive be a part of some sort of RAID array.

# RAID 1 mirrors the contents of the disks, making a form of 1:1 ratio realtime backup. The contents of each disk in the array are identical to that of every other disk in the array. A RAID 1 array requires a minimum of two drives. RAID 1 mirrors, though during the writing process copy the data identically to both drives, would not be suitable as a permanent backup solution, as RAID technology by design allows for certain failures to take place.

So RAID 0 would give faster access but NO backup.

RAID 1 would give backup protecting against an individual disk failure, but not against fire, burglary or even (heaven forbid) someone deleting files. So I would still make a backup copy too.

Myself, I would get an external (FireWire or USB or eSATA) 1TB disk drive and back up to that drive, then keep it remotely (perhaps you can work out a reciprocal deal with a neighbour). Acronis True Image will back up a complete disk or individual partitions.

If you partition a physical disk then you will see several disks in Explorer - each is treated by Windows as a different disk, but they are all on the same physical disk. So again if you lose the physical disk then everything is gone.

I find that I use partitions for organising things - OS in one, "My Documents" in another, my WMP Music folders in a third etc. That way I can back up (and restore) each separately.

HTH

[PeteG@Scan]

I think GT's covered most the points here.

Back up wise we ship systems with Aconis which allows you to set up a hidden partition to back up your O.S. into. It can also be used for backing up other drives to other drives should you wish to, as you indicate.

The price of the extra drive if your already in build would just be to purchase the extra drive and we can fit it whilst working on the machine at no extra charge.

And as for thoughts on you purchasing a pair of Samsungs?

Err... could you buy me two as well!

We love Samsungs here. Great monitors for the price. I'm sure you will too