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Replace Drive in a Windows 7 RAID 1

Anonymous
2011-02-15T19:18:51+00:00

I have two Samsung drives in a RAID 1, configured in Windows 7 (NOT hardware/BIOS). This Dynamic volume is not the boot drive, but it does hold a page file. Windows informed me of late that one of the drives is critical. Speedfan shows that the SMART read-out indicates the drive is about to die.

I have a large amount of data on this volume. Obviously the idea of RAID 1 is that this isn't lost. I know which drive it is, I have the serial. But what now? The disk manager indicates that the drives are synchronising, though this takes some time.

Can I just unplug the dying drive or should I wait for the sync to finish?

And then I just unplug?

And plug in the new (identical) drive?

Can I use the machine in the mean time? (at increased risk, I realise)

Will Windows walk me through the steps to add the new drive? What will I have to do then?

I'm surprised that despite quite some searching I've found nothing. Can anyone assist please?

Windows for home | Previous Windows versions | Devices and drivers

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  1. Anonymous
    2011-02-17T08:23:53+00:00

    Hi,

    You may check again if you have set up the RAID configuration in accordance to the instructions located here:  http://support.microsoft.com/kb/323432

    I would suggest you to wait for the synchronization to complete. Thereafter, turn off the computer and unplug the drive.

    You may also go into the disk management and recreate the RAID configuration and check if the issue persists.

    Hope the information helps. Please post back and let us know.

    Regards

    Debleena S

    Microsoft Answers Support Engineer

    Visit our Microsoft Answers Feedback Forum and let us know what you think.

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  2. Anonymous
    2011-02-16T02:33:31+00:00

    You say that you have "...a large amount of data on this volume and that idea of RAID 1 is that this isn't lost".  Please note that RAID-1 is a disk redundancy solution meant for mission critical servers and workstations and that it is a poor backup solution.

    To remove the failing disk use the Disk Management tool to break the mirror:

    1- Select (right-click) the failing disk and remove it from the mirror.

    2- Physically replace the failing disk.

    3- Use the Disk Management tool to Initialize the new disk and convert it to a Dynamic Disk.

    4- Add the new disk to the mirror.

    John

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  3. Anonymous
    2014-02-16T03:03:42+00:00

    " Please note that RAID-1 is a disk redundancy solution meant for mission critical servers and workstations and that it is a poor backup solution......"

    RAID 1 was never a backup solution, why do we need speak about it as "not good" if the goal is just to have data lossless box?

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  4. Anonymous
    2013-09-29T15:21:19+00:00

    Typically with hardware RAID you would see the details when the computer boots, just after the POST screen.  If it's a software RAID you will be able to get the RAID information with the built-in Disk Management tool, typically the disks will be dynamic and they will have the same drive letter and the Windows RAID tools will be available, if these are not there you definitely do not have software RAID.

    John

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  5. Anonymous
    2013-09-19T19:28:56+00:00

    John,

    You seem to know your stuff here.  I really don’t, but am trying to learn to deal with an issue I have had for a while.

    1.       I have a pair of 2TB Seagate drives in a RAID 1.  I am not sure if these are in a Windows 7 RAID or in a Hardware/BIOS RAID.  (I think we set it up through the BIOS, but I would like some help on how to confirm.)

    2.       I had a critical failure of one of the drives months ago, while it was still under warranty.  I could still see the drive through Windows Explorer and my device manager, but it was no longer showing as in the RAID.  The Primary drive is still listed as in the RAID.

    3.       I disconnected each of these drives, separately, and rebooted my machine.  Only one drive allowed it to Boot.  I removed the other (failed) drive.

    4.       Seagate sent me a replacement drive and I have installed it physically, but have done nothing to configure it yet (i.e., set the RAID 1 back up – as I don’t know what I need to do).

    5.       There is A LOT of data on the primary drive.  I bought a new 3TB drive to use as an internal backup drive and I am currently trying to perform a backup (trying different software as Win 7 backup failed multiple times with issues of free space even though this should NOT be an issue as the Source drive is 2TB and the Destination drive is 3TB) but this is taking a very long time (days) and I’m not sure if/when it will complete.  My 2TB drive is about 1.75TB full.  I would like to complete a successful backup before attempting to rebuild the RAID and I am open to any advice you have with the backup process.

    6.       Finally, I really need your help on how to rebuild the RAID without losing my data and programs on the Primary 2TB drive.  The steps in this post may be all I need to do, but I want to confirm what type of RAID 1 I have and then confirm the steps based on where my project currently is.  THANK YOU!!

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