Convert RAID 0 array to regular drives?

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  1. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
       #1

    Convert RAID 0 array to regular drives?


    After installing Win 10 Pro 64-bit, my internal HDD RAID 0 array began to show an error on one of the 2 drives at start up (Listed as "error occurred" in red text on the screen that usually has all white text on a black screen), and also it's been acting funny, intermittently not letting me open folders and other times acting normal. I don't know whether the drive showing an error is actually bad or if something happened to the RAID controlling software on installing Win 10, but I think I'd like to just convert them to two separate drives, find out if the one drive really is bad, and if so, just replace the bad drive as an individual drive. Could anyone point me in the right direction as to how to go about converting this pair of drives from RAID 0 to two completely separate drives? Also, is there any reason why this might not be the best way to go? Thank you for your help!
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  2. Posts : 9,790
    Mac OS Catalina
       #2

    Back up your install, then take the system out of RAID and then reinstall not as a RAID setup.
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  3. Posts : 6,306
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #3

    First thing to do is to Create a disk image using Macrium Software | Macrium Reflect Free.
    Down load a disk test from the disk manufacture (WD, Seagate has their own) and run on it.
    If your RAID 0 has less free space than a single disk, you will need a bigger disk.
    RAID is a very low level feature.
    Once in Windows it shows as one unique disk.
    Go into BIOS and un Mount the array.
    Set the SATA mode as AHCI.
    Boot from the Macrium rescue disk and restore the image to one of the disks.
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  4. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #4

    Thank you for your reply, Megahertz. I'm sorry, I didn't explain that this isn't a start up drive. My start up drive is an internal SSD, and the drives that are RAID 0 are internal HDDs that I use to work on. I have already backed up the data, so I'm not concerned about the data.
    I downloaded WD Data LifeGuard Diagnostics, and it shows the array as "Intel Raid 0 Volume (SCSI Int)" and SMART Status as Not Available, even though it currently appears to functioning normally. It doesn't show the two drives or any data about them, but I know they're WD drives. The Logical Drive list, the RAID array is listed by it's drive letter, correctly showing total space and free space.
    I think that brings me up to the part of your instructions about resetting the drive in BIOS, after which, I think I'll be able to just reformat them or use them? I don't know from looking at them which drive is the bad one, but at that point, I could use process of elimination by disconnecting one or the other. Is my thinking correct?
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  5. Posts : 6,306
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #5

    I had same problem on a RAID 0 array I had for data.
    I unmounted the array, formatted the drives and ran WD diagnostics. It said the disks were healthy.
    Mounted the array and restored data from a backup. Worked for a while and then same error, so I gave up on using RAID and bought a new disk (WD gold).
    My Windows disk is also a SSD.
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  6. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #6

    Thank you for sharing your experience. That really helps. Are you happy with the WD Gold? I'm deciding what disk to get to replace the bad one.
      My Computer


  7. Posts : 6,306
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #7

    So far so good.
    I always had fist class HDD (WD Black)
    Gold is a WD Enterprise Class with 128M cache.
    It does make some noise (moving arm) but I think is the best you can buy.
    Western Digital Ultrastar 1TB DC HA210 7200 RPM SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Data Center Internal Hard Drive - 1W10001 - Newegg.com
    The 9 Best SATA Hard Drives of 2019
    Last edited by Megahertz; 15 Jun 2019 at 13:38.
      My Computers


  8. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #8

    Thanks for the advice :)
    I went into the BIOS, and it wasn't obvious to me where to unmount the array. Might you be able to detail how to do this, or let me know what the menu item might be called in BIOS? Thank you!
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  9. Posts : 6,306
    Windows 11 Pro - Windows 7 HP - Lubuntu
       #9

    As it's an Intel MB it may be iRST (intel rapid storage)
    If you have the RST administration software you can also unmount with it.
      My Computers


  10. Posts : 76
    Windows 10 Pro 64-bit
    Thread Starter
       #10

    I found it in BIOS, but after changing to AHCI, my computer wouldn't start, so I set it back to RAID. Maybe because the start up SSD is in the SATA chain or something, because I see that drive listed at SATA 0, although it's not part of RAID. I guess I'll wait until the manufacturer tech support is open, since they'll know my exact build. But thank you very much for your help! Also, thank you bro67, I didn't notice your post at first. I appreciate both of you for helping out!
      My Computer


 

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