Hello. I've set up Software mirroring of one of my partitions, using standard Windows 7 features. Later I formatted the other partition that I had Windows on and installed it once again. In Disk Manager it looks like the mirror still exists after reinstall. Is it working properly or I should remove it and set up anew?

Are you talking about RAID 1? You should set it up again, because is software. If you had hardware, then the re installation would have been mirrored automatically.Please do not forget to select the best answer if it helps you! The Ultimate computer newbie guide since the discovery of spoon feeding! The Computer Manual dot Com

On Fri, 11 Feb 2011 14:00:50 +0000, pokrishka wrote: Hello. I've set up Software mirroring of one of my partitions, using standard Windows 7 features. Later I formatted the other partition that I had Windows on and installed it once again. In Disk Manager it looks like the mirror still exists after reinstall. Is it working properly or I should remove it and set up anew? Why do you want mirroring at all? RAID 1 (mirroring) is not a backup solution. RAID 1 uses two or more drives, each a duplicate of the others, to provide redundancy, not backup. It's used in situations (almost always within corporations, not in homes) where any downtown can't be tolerated, because the way it works is that if one drive fails the other takes over seamlessly. Although some people thing of RAID 1 as a backup technique, that is not what it is, since it's subject to simultaneous loss of the original and the mirror to many of the most common dangers threatening your data--severe power glitches, nearby lightning strikes, virus attacks, theft of the computer, etc. Most companies that use RAID 1 also have a strong external backup plan in place. "Why RAID is (usually) a Terrible Idea" http://www.pugetsystems.com/articles?&id=29 Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

My motherboard doesn't support hardware RAID 1 so I used Disk Manager for a software mirror solution. And what's up with that offense on RAID? I don't have any problems with: Accidental deletion or user error (I ain't dumb) Viruses or malware (I have never lost anything due to viruses in 15 years I use PC) Theft or catastrophic damage (I have never had anything like this in 15 years I use PC) Data corruption due to other failed hardware or power loss (I got a good UPS set up) I have 2 HDDs and what I need is to work with one and keep everything simultaneously copied to another so if one fails (which they actually do sometimes, maybe after a long time of usage, no matter how low chances are) - I'll have all my data safe. Isn't that what RAID 1 does? I can't go with scheduled back ups for I have this important date change like every hour and from that article you gave I absolutely don't see why he says that RAID 1 is a bad solution. He doesn't give any reason not to use RAID except he thinks that HDDs most probably won't fail. I know they most probably won't. But if that happens - I need to be safe, because as opposite to what you gave as possible threats - this DID happen to me (and not once), and thank god it was possible to restore most of the important files. Neither I don't see you providing any reason to back up your "RAID 1 (mirroring) is not a backup solution" statement. So anybody qualified will answer my question? I suppose I must set it up again, I just don't understand why after reinstall it is shown like it works in Disk Manager.

On Sat, 12 Feb 2011 08:21:15 +0000, pokrishka wrote: My motherboard doesn't support hardware RAID 1 so I used Disk Manager for a software mirror solution. And what's up with that offense on RAID? Offense? I gave you my opinion and my recommendation. If you don't like my opinions, feel free to ignore them. Ken Blake, Microsoft MVP

Hi, You may replace a failed mirror with a new mirror on another disk. Please refer to the following link. http://technet.microsoft.com/en-us/library/cc758037(WS.10).aspxPlease remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.