[GUIDE] RAID-0 Dual-Boot WIndows 7 and Linux

[Quasimodem]

I have achieved a RAID-0 Dual-Boot, and break 1GB/Sec in both Windows and Linux.

REQUIREMENTS:

2 HDs or 2 SSDs of the same exact size
Original Windows 7 NON-SP1 DVD or an SP1 DVD that YOU KNOW installs as MBR, because having MBR is the MOST important part, and it WILL NOT work using UEFI
Linux DIstro DVD of your choice

I determined my OS sizes like this:

(Total size * .8) / 2

This allowed for 20% Over provisioning, and equal sized partitions for Windows and Linux
For regular HDs, don't worry about the OP, and choose your own sizes.

SETUP:

Ctrl-I enters the RAID configuration

For SSD, un-RAID-0 them if already RAIDED by deleting them in the RAID configuration, change the BIOS SATA Configuration to AHCI and Secure Erase them, change the BIOS back to RAID, and Re-RAID-0 them.

For HD, change the BIOS SATA Configuration to RAID, and reboot. RAID-0 them in the RAID configuration. They will be erased.

Windows Installation:

Begin to install Windows 7. Make sure it sees your RAID partition. When it says that it will create multiple partitions, allow it to do so. Delete the MSR Reserved partition, and extend the 100MB System Partition to your desired size for Windows. Create the other partition for Linux now, and format it. Install Windows to the System partition you extended.

Linux Installation:

Boot to your LiveCD, and open GParted. DO NOT manage each drive separately. Using the drop down list, Choose the Large RAID partition. You will see your Windows partition and another one as NTFS. Format the partition you made for Linux during the Windows setup as EXT4

Start the Linux Installation. Because it is RAID-0 it will list your partitions twice. You will be using the first set of partitions. Click on your EXT4 partition and click Change. Give it EXT4 File System and Mount Point / and choose NOT to format it, you already did so with GParted.

On the dropdown for where GRUB will be installed, choose the partition you will be installing Linux on. Mine was Brian2, yours may be similar. It will also warn you that you don't have a SWAP partition, click continue, you don't need a SWAP partition, we have enough RAM. It will also warn you that you chose not to format, click continue. Once the installation is complete, it will give you a message stating that the bootloader installation failed. It will ask you if there is somewhere else you'd like to install it. Attempt to install it to EVERY partition with the same name as the one you installed Linux to. It will fail EVERYTIME. Choose continue without a bootloader, and reboot.

GRUB2 will be there.

PROFIT WITH RAID-0 DUALBOOT!!!!

Benchmarks:

Linux:



Windows:

[Highlander]

I can only hit 920mb/s with this combination. If I change from UEFI to MBR will the performance increase?

I've seen that everyone with twin 840 pros hit 1040mb/s on all benches.

[Quasimodem]

Highlander wrote:
I can only hit 920mb/s with this combination. If I change from UEFI to MBR will the performance increase?

I've seen that everyone with twin 840 pros hit 1040mb/s on all benches.

Nope... that's just how it boots...

[Erik765]

Thanks for the guide.

I'm looking to do this, but I'm wondering why I have to break the existing raid first, just to re-build it? I don't really want to have to reinstall windows if I don't have to.

Thanks for the input.

[Quasimodem]

Erik765 wrote:
Thanks for the guide.

I'm looking to do this, but I'm wondering why I have to break the existing raid first, just to re-build it? I don't really want to have to reinstall windows if I don't have to.

Thanks for the input.

If you are already RAIDed, just allocate some space for Linux, and install it.

[Bittornado]

Hi!
I have a question regarding the dual boot optimization.

Let's say I want to install Win7 + Win10 on a RAID-0 array.
Of course I want to create separate partitions for each and one of the Win7 and Win10 resp.
Both of these operating systems will be installed in MBR (don't have a UEFI motherboard, only a BIOS compatible mobo).

Should I plan for any special partitioning scheme regarding the over provisioning consideration so that BOTH Windows partitions will allow to have their own over provisioning space, when I create my partitions? I'll try and explain what I mean here:

1. Win7 gets its own 100MB System Partition + Windows partition in MBR.
2. Win10 gets its own 100MB System Partition + Windows partition in MBR.

Now, on a SSD volume, RAID or non-RAID set up, should every created Windows partition, have its own free over provisioning space right adjacent to that partition? Or can the over provisioning space be just one big total free space of the SSD volume anywhere on the SSD?

What I'm trying to ask is, should the partitioning scheme on a SSD be something like this:
Windows 7 -- Over Provisioning Free Space -- Windows 10 -- Over Provisioning Free Space

Or, doesn't it matter where the over provisioning space is placed on the SSD, so it can just as well be like this:
Windows 7 -- Windows 10 -- Over Provisioning Free Space

Does it matter where I leave the free space on SSD for over provisioning?

Sorry if my question sounds somewhat confusing...!

- Best Regards

[Quasimodem]

Bittornado wrote:
Hi!
I have a question regarding the dual boot optimization.

Let's say I want to install Win7 + Win10 on a RAID-0 array.
Of course I want to create separate partitions for each and one of the Win7 and Win10 resp.
Both of these operating systems will be installed in MBR (don't have a UEFI motherboard, only a BIOS compatible mobo).

Should I plan for any special partitioning scheme regarding the over provisioning consideration so that BOTH Windows partitions will allow to have their own over provisioning space, when I create my partitions? I'll try and explain what I mean here:

1. Win7 gets its own 100MB System Partition + Windows partition in MBR.
2. Win10 gets its own 100MB System Partition + Windows partition in MBR.

Now, on a SSD volume, RAID or non-RAID set up, should every created Windows partition, have its own free over provisioning space right adjacent to that partition? Or can the over provisioning space be just one big total free space of the SSD volume anywhere on the SSD?

What I'm trying to ask is, should the partitioning scheme on a SSD be something like this:
Windows 7 -- Over Provisioning Free Space -- Windows 10 -- Over Provisioning Free Space

Or, doesn't it matter where the over provisioning space is placed on the SSD, so it can just as well be like this:
Windows 7 -- Windows 10 -- Over Provisioning Free Space

Does it matter where I leave the free space on SSD for over provisioning?

Sorry if my question sounds somewhat confusing...!

- Best Regards

No confusion. Since it is RAID-0 though, it is emulating one drive, instead of two. You don't have to leave unallocated on each partition, I only did that because I had two different file systems, and it was easier for me. So all you need to do is have some space for 7, space for 10, and a chunk unallocated, either 10%, 15%, or 25%

Also, keep in mind that it has been said in different places that RAID on a laptop shouldn't be done since it doesnt have a dedicated controller. I actually had a drive fail (replaced by Samsung). I now just use each drive separately for 7 and Mint