Transitioning to Windows 11 while maintaining RAID configuration
Transitioning to Windows 11 while maintaining RAID configuration
I am currently running Win10 and I did not install my mobo RAID drivers during install. RAID was not on the books then. Ideally I would just upgrade to Win11, but I'm looking to run two HHDs in RAID 0 for a games library. I'm cool with doing a fresh install, but I'm concerned that it will not pick up my license if I do this. Can anybody confirm that Win11 installer will grab my current license? Also, out of curiosity, is there any way to install the RAID drivers after the OS is installed? There is another factor as well. I'm running on an ASRock B660 Pro RS and I think there is something odd going on. In BIOS there is an "Easy RAID Installer" tool that basically just copies the RAID drivers from the included CD to a USB stick. I've done that bit. The next step outlined in the manual (and in the instructions inside the BIOS) is to set the SATA controller from AHCI to RAID. The problem is that there is no RAID option available. There is only one option to select and that is AHCI. I considered that there may be no RAID option because I haven't installed the drivers on my OS, but that doesn't really make sense to me. Can the BIOS snoop my boot drive to detect drivers and either hide or show settings based on that? Basically I am worried that even when I install fresh Win11 with the RAID driver, the option to set SATA controller to RAID will still be missing. Here's a summary: 1) Will Win11 somehow grab my existing licence on a clean install? 2) If it won't, I'd want to upgrade my Win10 install to Win11. Can I install my RAID driver at some point during that process (or even after)? 3) Does anybody have any experience with this mobo that can point me in the right direction to get the RAID option to show up under the SATA controller options? Thanks!
1) If not, you can open a Microsoft support ticket and they'll handle it.
2) Having two separate drives for games is better than using RAID 0.
3) Motherboard RAID isn't ideal; consider software-based RAID instead.
Sure, I understand you're interested in RAID setup. It's true that some software-based RAID solutions can impact performance, but many modern options offer good speed and reliability without significant lag. Would you like recommendations on specific RAID configurations?
Windows runs on an SSD, and you're only concerned about the RAID drives for backup purposes. You're open to using RAID 0 since nothing critical will be lost.
1.) Yes, this shouldn't be a problem. Ensure you're using the same version of Windows. Source: Microsoft article by a Microsoft MVP (midway down the page)
3.) Try turning on Intel VMD in the BIOS first. You can follow the steps in the manual starting on page 11, though it seems ASRock didn't tailor those instructions for their board. Gigabyte provides clearer guidance, but you'll need to adapt them to your specific model. You're right that the BIOS RAID and Windows RAID drivers aren't related. The motherboard won't check your boot drive to disable RAID. Now, consider these key points:
- Important fact: Making a RAID array in the way you want differs from creating one through Windows' tools using Intel RST. Both yield similar performance.
- You must turn on RAID >> Create an Array >> Initialize disks for a Motherboard RAID. This erases the drive!
- Your motherboard only supports SATA drives for RAID.
- If you lack two physical SATA drives, the board may block RAID setup (uncertain, but likely).
- Pay attention to which SATA ports connect to your drives.
- On M.2 devices, certain ports won't work if they're installed in specific slots (see page #3 of the PDF).
- Remind readers that M.2 is just a form factor; NVMe and SATA are separate standards. You can buy drives in either form.
- Ensure you use the correct port type for your board.
In short, consult your motherboard manual. Activating RAID may disable SSD tools, firmware updates, and S.M.A.R.T. features. Check drive health stats via external bays if needed. CPU usage rises slightly with RAID, but latency increases for disk access in the array. For mechanical drives, latency is already high compared to modern flash.
RAID 0 can cause total data loss if a drive fails, so it's risky unless you're certain about your needs. For SATA-based drives, you might see better game loads, but without system specs or drive types, it's hard to judge. If you use SATA SSDs, RAID 0 may not be beneficial, though testing with software RAID could help.
Also, watch CPU usage and disk latency—especially with SATA NVMe or M.2 devices.
If you're using the drives mainly for gaming, it might improve load times, but it depends on your hardware and usage patterns.
OR
If you decide to proceed, double-check that your motherboard supports the required ports and RAID type. If not, consider alternatives like single drive or a different storage solution.
I’m assuming this is a move because the HDDs are already in hand. Even raid 0 HDDs are much much slower than a single cheapass SSD. If what is needed is speed rather than size get a cheap SATA SSD and use it as cache. Faster than the RAID most of the time. Small SSDs are super cheap. Use one as cache and have two hard drives. Yo’ don neeeed no steeenkin raid… Edited February 24, 2023 by Bombastinator
Thanks for the detailed update. Here are your specs summarized:
- Processor: i5-12600K
- Graphics: RTX 3060 512GB KC3000
- Storage: Two 6TB HDDs via SATA ports 2 & 3
- Backup plan: 8TB server in RAID 5, with a spare drive ready
- Current NAS: Ironwolf NAS (used for years) and a new Toshiba X300
- No SATA port 0 used due to M.2 SSD compatibility
- No changes from enabling VMD or adjusting RAID settings
- Gaming focus: racing sims and non-competitive games
- Concern: Redundancy and reliability, especially with RAID configurations
I’m hoping this helps clarify how your setup works and what options you have if things go wrong.