Mirroring

I have 2 drives on the same computer and would like the 2nd to act as a mirror. Can anyone tell me how to set up the 2nd drive so that it mirrors everything on the first?

I am running windows XP Professional.

thanks

 

Start with HOW TO: Use Disk Management to Configure Dynamic Disks in Windows XP.

Toward the bottom of that article there is a link to HOW TO: Create a Mirrored Volume in Windows XP but you'll be better off with the general information about Dynamic Disks from the first article before you get into this one.

 

Thanks Newt, I actually had come accross both of those articles in my research. The one aeems to describe creating a mirror in a remote Windows 2000 server. Can I apply the same process to a 2nd drive on the same computer?

Also I seem to have read that I may need seperate controllers for each drive?

thanks again

 

spud - my bad. I posted the link to the XP how-to without reading the thing. I just read it and find that XP won't allow mirror sets on the same PC but only to a drive on a 2K server.

I have to admit I've only done the thing on 2K servers and just sorta assumed XP would be happy with - especially considering the title of that how-to.

In fact, it appears that 2K-pro and XP-any won't allow RAID on the PC at all and both require a 2K server where you can create the RAID set to be used by the workstation.

It looks like you'll need some sort of 3rd party software-based RAID to do it at all.

 

I've found out the same thing myself. The solution I am leaning towards is to use the backup capabilities in XP Pro and backing up the whole drive. I have been told that if the first drive fails, all I would have to replace the drive and restore the whole drive.

What to you think of this option as opposed to getting a 3rd party software?

Thanks

spud

 

Spud,

check this out
http://www.karenware.com/powertools/powertools.asp

It is a freeware tool called 'Karen Replicator'
I run XP pro and copy my OS to a second HDD using this tool, I find it a better option than 'backup'
It is fast and can be used to synchronise files on backup servers, or just to replicate files on adjacent partitions.

Hope this helps

Dennis