# Computer Question: Changing OS with pre-existing RAID 5 as storage **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [March 21, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-changing-os-with-pre-existing-raid-5-as-storage/616431 "2012-03-21T18:10:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Odaran09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Odaran09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odaran09)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 6:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-changing-os-with-pre-existing-raid-5-as-storage/616431/1 "2012-03-21T18:10:37Z")
Ok I’m stumped, so I plead for any insight on this problem. I just got a new computer and am planning to re-purpose my old one. Due to MS Server 2011 being $40, I plan to replace the Windows 7 with it. My old PC is a Dell 530 with the Intel Core 2 Quad processor. Specs can be found here [Support | Dell US](http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd530/en/OM/HTML/appendix.htm) It has the G33/ICH9 chipset. Although Dell only supported RAID 0 and 1, there was a modded BIOS that enabled RAID 5. I set it up with one 500GB primary drive and three 1.5TB drives in a RAID 5. Because of the recent computer purchase, I am not really able to get enough additional storage space to back up the 3TB on the RAID nor have the DVD-Rs to start backing it up (also very time consuming). The RAID currently uses the Intel Matrix Stoage Manager. But from what I read the Server 2011 has its own RAID manager. So I was wondering if I can just install the Server 2011, replacing the Windows 7 currently on it and the RAID would remain intact or do I back up as much as I can (about 1TB of the 3TB) and throw a hail mary that the RAID does not get corrupted. I have already bought the Server 2011 and my Windows 7 License went to the new computer build. Any info is appreceiated. Thank you. ---
**Author:** ![lurcio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/b77776/32.png) [@lurcio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/lurcio)\ **Post date:** [March 21, 2012, 10:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-changing-os-with-pre-existing-raid-5-as-storage/616431/2 "2012-03-21T22:46:00Z")
Couple of assumptions here. Take it you are on about Home Server 2011, not Small Business Server 2011. Installing OS to the 500 GB drive? Have the RAID disconnected when you do. If really paranoid, replace the OS drive with another so you can at least go back to a known good configuration. Sounds like you have hardware RAID 5 so this might be of some help. [http://homeservershow.com/adding-raid-to-whs-2011.html](http://homeservershow.com/adding-raid-to-whs-2011.html) As far as i know HS2011 uses win 7 drivers so you should be OK. May even have drivers built in. If the Windows 7 Licence was a Dell OEM sticker on the box then you are in breach of Microsoft Ts & Cs using it on another PC. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-changing-os-with-pre-existing-raid-5-as-storage/616431/3 "2012-03-22T18:55:22Z")
**lurcio** makes many good comments, though this is likely a fake-raid, not a proper RAID 5. If you do disconnect the drives, be sure to reconnect them in exactly the same way as before. Until the drives are touched, the RAID will remain intact, but whether or not it will be usable or even visible to Windows Server is an entirely different matter. Can you not copy everything off onto your new PC? ---
**Author:** ![steronz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steronz/32/11765_2.png) [@steronz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/steronz)\ **Post date:** [March 22, 2012, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-changing-os-with-pre-existing-raid-5-as-storage/616431/4 "2012-03-22T19:09:36Z")
I’ve had limited dealings with Intel Matrix Storage Manager, and I believe it’s FakeRaid. Back up as much as you can, disconnect the raid drives, install windows, install the Intel Matrix driver, then reconnect the drives and hope for the best. ---
**Author:** ![Odaran09](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Odaran09](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Odaran09)\ **Post date:** [March 23, 2012, 11:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/computer-question-changing-os-with-pre-existing-raid-5-as-storage/616431/5 "2012-03-23T23:01:18Z")
Thanks for the info. I copied the non-replaceable stuff and then threw a hail mary and installed WHS 2011. So far so good, it works like a charm. Although, I am not really sure what I got myself into LOL. I now realize that what WHS 2011 is and what I thought it was are two different things. Guess I get to learn about server management. Yay!! As far as the RAID, I had to set it up in the BIOS which is why I had to use a modded BIOS. I had just heard that you needed the Matrix manager to do things like rebuilding. Maybe I don’t understand all the ins and outs about RAIDS but it worked. I heard that WHS 2011 supports RAID but I still have not seen any icon in the system tray or any program similar to the Matrix Manager. As far as the licensing comment, I purchased a full Win 7 license because the Dell originally had XP and I set it up to dual boot with Win 7 RC. After playing around with Win 7, I never looked back. Once again, thanks for the help. 🙂