I will be building a new computer this weekend and would like some help on how to configure a dual boot of Vista 64 and XP 32. I have 2 new identical SEAGATE HD 640G SATA2 drives that I wold like to set up as a RAID 0 and a separate WD 250G SATA2 that I would like to put the 2 OS on and dual boot as needed at start up. Should I install all 3 HD's from the start? Or do I install just the OS's WD 250G drive and then add the other 2 RAID drives later after both OS are installed and working. Do I need to set up the RAID 0 before installing an OS?

HELP!

What you are proposing with a RAID 0 array will likely lead to disastrous
loss of all the data on your RAID 0 array.
If you are going to create a RAID 0 array you should have a third hard drive
for storing data. RAID 0 arrays are easily corrupted and then they are
totally trashed, especially in the hands of inexperienced users, and many
experienced users as well.
The real world benefits of a RAID 0 array, as opposed to technical
read/write measurements, are probably imaginary but it is an interesting
experiment.
Next year solid state drives may be available at bargain prices anyway,
making that RAID 0 thing pointless.
IMHO if you want to dual boot in such a set-up it might be safer to install
another OS on a fourth hard drive and use the computer bios to select that
hard drive at boot time.

I will be using the Raid 0 drive(s) for video file processing and burning the content of those drives to to BD or DVD. All critical data will be on the main boot drive and backed up regularly.

My question is whether I will be able to configure the Raid 0 after installing a dual boot on main boot drive?

On Thu, 19 Feb 2009 15:55:06 -0600, logger1500
<guest@xxxxxx-email.com> wrote:

>
>I will be building a new computer this weekend and would like some help
>on how to configure a dual boot of Vista 64 and XP 32. I have 2 new
>identical SEAGATE HD 640G SATA2 drives that I wold like to set up as a
>RAID 0 and a separate WD 250G SATA2 that I would like to put the 2 OS on
>and dual boot as needed at start up. Should I install all 3 HD's from
>the start?

You don't have to, but it doesn't hurt to do so.

> Or do I install just the OS's WD 250G drive and then add the
>other 2 RAID drives later after both OS are installed and working. Do I
>need to set up the RAID 0 before installing an OS?

You don't need to, but you certainly may.

>
>HELP!