www.ultimatehandyman.co.uk

All I want is the best use of what I have, I don't do gaming etc so video, imaging etc.

I shall be transferring old vhs videos to disc for example

chat_to_rich wrote:As Billy says, you could put the 2x 2TB in RAID 1 and remove the third 2TB disk from your system and put it in an external enclosure e.g. eSATA for backups.

In my personal system I run 1x SSD for apps etc., 2x disks in RAID 1 for data, music photos etc. and 1 disk in an external enclosure for backups.

I'd do as above John.

Stand alone SSD, 2x disks in Raid 1 (if one fails, all data still in tact) and the third as a backup (I'd leave it in the PC though - just means you CAN move it out easily if needs be).

When the RAID array is setup, make sure your documents points to the RAID or you'll run out of space on that SSD.

B G

Either option would work and provide protection and either option will be fast enough for what you need. It's either:

1x 4TB drive - The RAID 5 option using all three disks
2x 2TB drives - RAID 1 using two disks and a standalone 2TB disk inside the PC for internal backups or anything else
1x 2TB drive - RAID 1 using two disks and remove the third disk from the computer and install into an external enclosure for removable backups etc.

BillyGoat wrote:

chat_to_rich wrote:As Billy says, you could put the 2x 2TB in RAID 1 and remove the third 2TB disk from your system and put it in an external enclosure e.g. eSATA for backups.

In my personal system I run 1x SSD for apps etc., 2x disks in RAID 1 for data, music photos etc. and 1 disk in an external enclosure for backups.

I'd do as above John.

Stand alone SSD, 2x disks in Raid 1 (if one fails, all data still in tact) and the third as a backup (I'd leave it in the PC though - just means you CAN move it out easily if needs be).

When the RAID array is setup, make sure your documents points to the RAID or you'll run out of space on that SSD.

B G

This looks the simplest solution

I assume he would point to the RAID when he sets it up.

Which ever raid option you choose, the drive will appear in Windows as a normal drive. So when you save files etc. you just need to save them on the new drive. It's possible to move the builtin Documents folders to save to the new drive. In my setup I've created folders for music, pictures etc. and save everything there.

So Save as and select the raid 1 drive.

Yes. It'll probably appear as drive D or E. In Windows it just looks like a normal drive.

Local Disc C
New volume D
New volume E
New volume F

D&F have no data.

E has VC red something to do with Visual studio C++ 2008. don't know where it came from

D, E and F are the three individual 2TB disks.
When the RAID array is created one or two of the drives will go depending on whether you choose RAID 1 or 5. If you choose RAID 1 and the spare internal disk option disconnect 1 drive temporarily so that you can take a note of the raid array drive letter. Then plug the third drive backin and it'll pick up a drive letter.

If you go with RAID5 you don't need to worry as you'll only see c and d.

Hope this makes sense. I'm not around now till later to answer more questions. I'm sure Billy can assist.

Thanks Rich, just a question of deciding what to go for before the guy turns up with his kit.

How long should it take him ish.

Most certain to go for the raid 1 and storage drive.

Not long at all.......I was just going to try it for you but can't find a couple of empty disks.

Good choice, I think.

How long is not long keeping in mind it's costing an arm and a leg (£60.00 for the first hour)

thescruff wrote:How long is not long keeping in mind it's costing an arm and a leg (£60.00 for the first hour)

Christ on a bike!!!!

Who you got coming out, the Queen?!

I couldn't find disks to check, so I don't want to guess. How come you arn't doing it yourself? You strike me as someone who will have a go.....the process really is not hard. Have a look at this: http://www.dynamic-disk.com/resource/ra ... ows-7.html

or this is quite a good article, I find: http://buildegg.com/bewp/?p=44 - also tells you what happens when the disk has failed!!!

Shame I'm not near, or I'd happily do it for a cuppa and a biscuit!

BG

I would under normal circumstances.

I thought he was expensive, perhaps I should tell him to go away and find another.

Perhaps its good? I don't know.......if the Guy does the job, who am I to comment.on price....mans gotta eat!