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How to configure BIOS and setup RAID1?

Dell T3500 workstation, W7 Pro.
Need to install second SATA HDD and configure RAID1 without destroying the existing drive.
Familiar with RAID, and looking for help with BIOS setup, etc.
Thank you.
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Paul MacDonald
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If you want to do this at the hardware level (and it sounds like you do) there's likely no way to make the mirror without destroying the data you already have.  In that case, your best bet is to back up everything, make the mirror, then restore from backup.

An alternative, albeit somewhat less attractive, would be to use a software RAID in Windows 7.  In that case, you could set up a mirror without destroying the original.
Paulmacd is right, hardware raids are better than software raids in my opinion but if you want to setup a hardware raid most likley it is going to have to blast the drive unless it is a sofware raid where you can just set the disk as a mirror.
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cohhelp

ASKER

It was already mentioned that we’re familiar with RAID and are looking for a particular guru in
Dell T3500 with RAID1 experience. Thank you.
If your OS isn't already configured with the RAID driver you'll have to re-install the OS in order to take advantage of the hardware RAID.  Barring your having that piece of the puzzle in place, your guro won't tell you anything different from what I've already said.
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ASKER

The BIOS reads "RAID ON", but no additional drivers were installed with OS. What that means?
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Paul MacDonald
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Before posting the question to EE we tried all what you’re talking about with NO luck, and decided to look for T3500 guru.
Thank you very much!
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