The hard drive remains the weak link in your computer, affecting data security and system performance. Creating a RAID array can either boost speed (RAID 0) or ensure data protection (RAID 1). In this guide, we’ll explain how to create a RAID array using Windows’ built-in tools.
What is RAID?
RAID (Redundant Array of Independent Disks) is a technology that combines multiple physical drives into one logical drive to improve performance or reliability.
– RAID 0: Speeds up performance by striping data across drives.
– RAID 1: Creates a mirrored copy of data for redundancy.
Method 1: Creating RAID via Storage Spaces
Windows 8 and 10 include a built-in feature called Storage Spaces, which allows you to create a software RAID without additional hardware.
1) Open the Control Panel:
– Right-click on the Start menu and select Control Panel.
2) Navigate to Storage Spaces and select Create a new pool and storage space.
3) Select the drives for the RAID array and click Create pool.
Note: All data on the selected drives will be erased. Back up important files beforehand.
4) Name your array and assign a drive letter.
5) Choose the Resiliency type:
– Simple: RAID 0 (striping).
– Two-way mirror: RAID 1 (mirroring).
– Three-way mirror: RAID 1 (with three copies).
– Parity: RAID 5.
Depending on the selected RAID type, the wizard will automatically set the maximum available capacity for the array.
6) Click Create storage space.
The array will appear in the system as a regular drive, ready for use. You can perform any operations on it, including encrypting it with BitLocker.
Method 2: Creating RAID via Disk Management
1) Right-click on the Start menu and select Disk Management.
2) Locate unallocated space on the drives. Right-click and select:
– New Striped Volume for RAID 0.
– New Mirrored Volume for RAID 1.
3) Follow the wizard’s instructions:
– Add drives to the array.
– Assign a drive letter.
– Select the NTFS file system.
– Complete the process. Click Finish. The system will warn that the selected drives will be converted to dynamic disks, and all data will be erased. Click Yes.
The RAID array will appear in This PC.
RAID 1 is created similarly, but instead of Striped Volume, select Mirrored Volume.
Method 3: Using the Command Prompt
1) Launch Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell as an administrator.
2) Type diskpart and press Enter.
3) Use the list disk command to display connected drives.
4) Convert drives to dynamic:
select disk 1
convert dynamic
5) Create RAID 0 or RAID 1:
– For RAID 0:
create volume stripe disk=1,2
– For RAID 1:
add disk=2
Note: If you see a message saying, “You should restart your computer to complete this operation,” restart your PC.
6) Format the array and assign a drive letter:
format fs=ntfs label=MyRAID
assign letter=F
Software RAID Creation in Windows 7
In Windows 7, you can use the built-in Disk Management utility to create a software RAID. However, the system boot drive cannot be included in the RAID, as it will be converted to dynamic. Use any other drives for the array.
1) Open Start, right-click on Computer, and select Manage.
2) In the wizard, click Next.
3) Select the drives you want to include in the RAID and click Next.
4) Assign a drive letter for the RAID array.
– S (Striping): For RAID 0.
– M (Mirroring): For RAID 1.
5) Specify the file system (recommended: NTFS), set the block size, and name the volume. Click Next.
6) Click Finish.
After setup, Windows will warn about converting basic disks to dynamic and the inability to boot the OS from them. Click OK.
The RAID array will appear in My Computer as a regular drive, ready for use.
How to Fix the “Can’t Add New Drive, Error 0x00000032” Issue
Error 0x00000032 occurs due to residual metadata on the drive, even after cleaning and formatting. To resolve this issue, follow these steps:
1) Launch Windows PowerShell as an administrator:
– Right-click on Start and select Windows PowerShell (Admin).
2) Identify the disk’s unique ID:
Enter the command:
Get-PhysicalDisk | ft FriendlyName, SerialNumber, UniqueId –auto
Locate the desired drive and copy its UniqueId.
3) Reset the disk:
Enter the command:
Reset-PhysicalDisk -UniqueId "your-unique-id"
Replace your-unique-id with your drive’s identifier.
After executing the command, the drive will be reset and ready to be added to the RAID.
How to Add a Drive to RAID
To expand the array, use Storage Spaces:
1) Select the existing array.
2) Click Add drives, choose the new drive, and confirm.
How to Remove a Drive from RAID
If you’re running out of space on your RAID array:
1) Open the array in Storage Spaces.
2) Select the drive and click Prepare for removal.
3) After data migration, click Remove.
What to Do If You Lose Data on a RAID Array?
Data loss can occur due to accidental deletion, formatting, or array failures. In such cases:
– Consult data recovery specialists.
– Use software like RS RAID Retrieve, which supports all RAID types and modern file systems.
Creating RAID 0 and RAID 1 in Windows helps improve performance or protect data. Use one of the methods described above to configure an array tailored to your needs.
