Partitioning two drives to enable OSX and XP software raid.

Hi Guys,
I have found out that XP support software raid 0 so I am wondering if I can do this.
I have 4 disks in the bays.
Disk 1 - OSX System disk
Disk 2 - XP System disk.
Now I want to partition Disks 3 and 4 into 4 partitions and use OSX software raid on 2 of the partitions and XP software raid on the other two.
I am pretty sure that this is ok with XP, is it ok with osx as well?
Cheers
Andy

Hi AndrewCapon;
Could you please tell me exactly what you expect to gain with RAID? I notice that you have never told us what form of RAID you expect to implement here. Different versions of RAID provide different benefits.
I think this is the much larger questions. So often I find that users have totally unrealistic expectations of what RAID will do for them.
Also please be aware that RAID is in no way a replacement for backup. In fact if you use RAID for storage of your data a good backup plan is crucial.
Allan

Similar Messages

Partition Table Looks Different Between OSX and Windows 7

Hey all,
I recently replaced the hard drive on my 2007 iMac, going from the 320GB drive to a 1 TB drive. It actually worked! The previous drive was failing in very odd ways, though booting into the Windows side (more on dual boot later) always seemed to work, and S.M.A.R.T. always reported that the physical drive seemed OK.
The previous drive (320 GB) had around 200GB devoted to OSX and 100GB partitioned off for a working Windows 7 installation (custom installed x64 Win7 Ultimate). I had the Windows system image backed up to my NAS, and had a Windows system bootable disc to restore that image.
After replacing the drive (and almost crying that I had actually done it right), I first restored OSX from a Time Machine backup, and let it take the full 1TB of space as Journalled HFS+. Then, I used Disk Utility to shrink OSX down to 500GB, and created a second partition (formatted to NTFS) with the remaining 500GB.
Now, restoring a Windows system image is an odd thing, as it tries to do a lot of partition work as opposed to simply restoring the Windows install to a partition. I tried Macrium Reflect first (made a backup in that, too), and it looked like it was going to let me restore to the second partition. It completed the restore...and the entire hard drive was hosed. Partitions had been moved, renamed, resized, and nothing was bootable. I had to use Recovery from an external USB thumb drive to go back to the single, full-drive install of OSX.
Then I tried again. Made the second NTFS partition and used the basic Windows System Restore disk to restore from the standard system image I had on the NAS. I was not expecting this to work. But it did. Windows started showing up in Startup Manager when "option" was pressed on bootup, and both OSX and Windows booted properly and ran fine. This is where I (finally) get to the supreme oddities:
OSX Disk Utility still reports two 500GB partitions, one for OSX and one for Windows.
In OSX the Windows partition shows as having NO DATA on it. Not sure what would happen if I tried to write a file to it when mounted, but there is no data on it when viewed from OSX (I was always able to see the Windows files when I mounted that partition on the previous drive).
The Windows partition does not show up as a valid bootable system in System Prefs --> Startup Disk (naturally, I suppose, since OSX doesn't think there is anything there).
From the WINDOWS side, Windows still sees the old partition table: 200GB for the "unknown" HFS partition, and then the rest of the space can be devoted to Windows (started as 100GB, but I was ablt to expand it to use the remaining ~750GB!). Windows thinks it can have 750GB of space even though I know its partition is only 500GB in size!
Windows cannot see the OSX HFS partition data using HFSExplorer. It CAN see the HFS partition on the attached backup drive (the drive I use for Time Machine).
GParted (a partition program on a Linux bootabld CD-ROM) shows the same partitions as OSX Disk Utility (2x500GB), and also thinks the Windows NTFS partition is empty (all space reports as "unused").
Did I mention both OSX and Windows work fine???
There are, of course, two other partitions on the drive: the first partition is the 200MB one I always see (EFI/GUID portion?), and then between the HFS and NTFS partitions is the 600MB recovery partition (which also shows at option-pressed boot time). OSX, GParted, and Windows see all four partitions, and in the same order. It is just that Windows sees the wrong sizes, and OSX cannot see any data in the Windows partition.
Surely this is all going to break spectacularly at some point, isn't it? What if I ever did write a file to the Windows side from OSX, or what if OSX starts taking more space than the 200GB Windows thinks is the max for that partition? What if I try to make Windows use more than 500GB because it thinks it has almost 800GB to use? What if I defrag the Windows drive?
I had no idea a partition table could look this goofy and yet still have everything be bootable and workable. Is there something I can do to get everything in sync? Basically, I am assuming I need to get Windows to do some low-level kung fu in Disk Manager in order to properly get everything lined up with the "right" partitions as reported by both GParted and OSX Disk Utility. But how do I do that?
By the way, any ideas that totally nuke the drive and start from scratch are completely fine (if it seems like they are doing something different enough that I'd give it a try). I have good backups of both OSX and Windows and have restored them about a half dozen times already as I dealt with the previous failing hard drive and with trying to get dual-boot working again. Not to mention, this iMac is now my secondary machine to the new Mac Mini I got a couple weeks back when I wasn't sure how much more life I was going to get from this 6+ year old iMac.
Thanks for listening to me ramble about this very odd issue, and a huge THANK YOU in advance to anyone who has ideas to help.
Thanks,
sutekh138

Update:
I am pretty sure the issue is a simple GPT/MBR discrepancy.
I installed rEFIt and used it's partitioning tool (gptsync built in) upon bootup. It was able to show the GPT table and the MBR table, but it thinks the second partition of the drive (the Mac OSX bootable partition) is "extended" in the MBR table and says "will not touch this disk."
However, it does look like an MBR sync should be straightforward, as there four partitions in the GPT table and four in the MBR (and MBR allows a max of four, AFAIK). I just need gptsync to relax some rules. I found a link to a supposedly newer version of gptsync compiled for OSX, so I will try that later.
First, I will try Partition Wizard, a free tool I found for the Windows side. It has a "Repair MBR" option that I would have tried last night if I weren't running a new Windows Image Backup in case all of this goes haywire. *smile* The PW tool also has an option to change the MBR over to GPT entirely. That might work, but then I am not sure Windows 7 will boot (from what I read, x64 Win7 running on EFI-enabled hardware should work, but who knows).
Anyway, I will try the following things, in order, until something works, when I get home tonight:
From Windows, run Partition Wizard and try "Repair MBR".
From OSX, download recent gptsync and try to run it.
From Windows, use Partition Wizard to do a full MBR --> GPT conversion.
Nuke the Windows partition in OSX Disk Utility, expand the HFS partition to take up the whole drive, and then add a Windows-bootable partition via Boot Camp-ish command line commands (diskutil). Because if nothing else works, I have to assume I just created the partitions wrong in the first place such that a Windows restore miraculously works, but the partition weirdness is just a timebomb waiting to happen.
Finally, if none of the above work, I'll just get things back to the way they now work and wait for the timebomb to (possibly never) go off. *smile*
I'll update this thread if I get something figured out, in case anyone else stumbles upon it...
Thanks,
sutekh138

I want to partition an external device for OSX and Windows. Opened Disk utility but Partition is not an option

I want to partition an external drive for OSX and PC. Went to Disk Utility but Partition is not an available option.

Why not? does the partition tab not exist?

Problems with Grub, Dualbooting, and a software raid

Been searching through google and any forums i could find regarding a possible fix and can not find anything that works.
I have 2 Hard drives, First one is windows, second one is Archlinux. They are setup through a software raid and i can not get grub to see them.
The error i Get is
Step 1.5 complete
Loading Grub Please Wait..
Error 21
I've used the supergrub disk to no avail. (i had to load that onto a usb drive due to it not working on my usb cd drive)
my setup is SDA = windows drive
SDB = Archlinux
sdb1 = / (100gb)
sdb2 = /home (190gb)
sdb3 = swap (6gb)
I've checked (and will post when i get back on other computer to try again) the menu.lst,
last time i checked that it looked to me like the sdb0 and sdb1 were not in there
so i added them, pretty sure it at least needed sdb1
(found it was on sdb1 by loading a live linux and using grub>find /boot/grub/stage1 to verify)
i've tried changing the settings of my raid in the bios, i have 3 options, Disabled (at which point i don't get any grub error messages just a non system disk error)
Raid - not how i normally run but tried it, no change (still error 21)
and IDE - how it normally runs, unsuccessfully
I'd really appreciate some help on this and thank you.

Here is the Menu.lst in /boot/grub
# Config file for GRUB - The GNU GRand Unified Bootloader
# /boot/grub/menu.lst
# DEVICE NAME CONVERSIONS
# Linux Grub
# /dev/fd0 (fd0)
# /dev/sda (hd0)
# /dev/sda1 (hd0,0)
# /dev/sdb (hd1)
# /dev/sdb1 (hd1,0)
# /dev/sdb2 (hd1,1)
# /dev/sda3 (hd0,2)
# FRAMEBUFFER RESOLUTION SETTINGS
# +-------------------------------------------------+
# | 640x480 800x600 1024x768 1280x1024
# ----+--------------------------------------------
# 256 | 0x301=769 0x303=771 0x305=773 0x307=775
# 32K | 0x310=784 0x313=787 0x316=790 0x319=793
# 64K | 0x311=785 0x314=788 0x317=791 0x31A=794
# 16M | 0x312=786 0x315=789 0x318=792 0x31B=795
# +-------------------------------------------------+
# for more details and different resolutions see
# http://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GRUB#Framebuffer_Resolution
# general configuration:
timeout 5
default 0
color light-blue/black light-cyan/blue
# boot sections follow
# each is implicitly numbered from 0 in the order of appearance below
# TIP: If you want a 1024x768 framebuffer, add "vga=773" to your kernel line.
# (0) Arch Linux
title Arch Linux
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/0e70c4ce-e3b3-42f8-8c2b-6c6414e$
initrd /boot/kernel26.img
# (1) Arch Linux
title Arch Linux Fallback
root (hd1,0)
kernel /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/disk/by-uuid/0e70c4ce-e3b3-42f8-8c2b-6c6414e$
initrd /boot/kernel26-fallback.img
# (2) Windows
title Windows
rootnoverify (hd0,0)
makeactive
chainloader +1
and here is Device. map
(fd0) /dev/fd0
(hd0) /dev/sda
(hd1) /dev/sdb
some more info from grub
grub> find /boot/grub/stage1
(hd1,0)
Last edited by m3lkor (2009-03-15 19:14:07)

Can an external HD be partitioned into 2: one for OSX and the other for XP?

As the topic says, i got an external HD to backup all the stuff. But since I use a desktop PC as well as my macbook everyday, it would be nice to use the HD for both of them.
If the answer is yes, what program should i use? Thanks in advance.

A couple of things to be aware of for what you want to do:
1. File size: If you want to avoid the file size limitations of FAT32, then set one partition as NTFS and one as the OS X partition. Then, if you connect the external HDD to the Mac, you'll be able to read the NTFS partition but not write to it. The Windows PC will not be able to read or write to the OS X partition. Use FAT32 and both operating systems will be able to read and write to the FAT32 partition, but file size is limited to 4GB on the FAT32 partition.
2. Access the external HDD across a network, and the format is irrelevant--you can have an OS X (HFS) partition and an NTFS partition, and both operating systems can read and write to it. The reason is the SMB protocol, which does the translations for you, on the fly. For, example, I have several Mac and PC systems on a network, sharing is enabled on each computer, and two of the computers have an external HDD (one HFS, one NTFS) connected. From any computer on the network, I can access (read and write) any file on any other computer or external HDD.

Hard drive formatting for OSX and Windows 7 using GUID

Hey,
I am currently trying to format a 2TB WD Elements external hard drive so that I can use one half with Time Machine and the other half with Windows 7 (run using Boot Camp). From looking around online it appears that GPT is the best to use, and so using Disk Utility I formatted the hard hard drive into 2 partitions, one being Mac Os Extended (Journaled) and left the other as empty space. I then switched to Windows 7 (on the same machine) and formatted the empty space as NTFS. The problem is that now Windows 7 can see both partitions (and can see the contents of the HFS partition which I didn't think would be possible) but OSX can only see the NTFS partition (and has changed the label of the HFS partition from what I set to "disk0s2" when viewed in Disk Utility). I've probably done something very wrong, can anyone help?
Cam

you would have been fine had you set the free space to FAT instead.
You can read only from Windows to HFS unless you buy 3rd party HFS driver.
Same for NTFS only reverse.
You do not need or want to use BC Assistant for that external drive. At. All.

Network Storage Drive for Mac OSX and XP

Hi I am a new apple owner with a MBP 17 running OSX. I also have two other PC laptops in the house.
I have a Linksys G wireless router.
What I would like to do is to have a dual HD enclosure that I can plug into my wireless router so that I can share data between my MBP and my PC laptops via the network. I would like to use dual HDs so I can mirror them for back up purposes.
My question is how do I set this up so both my MBP and PCs can use the same HD to store/share data? Suggestions on specific hardware to buy would be welcome as well.
Thanks for you help,
Vik

You should simply get a network storage drive like this:
http://westerndigital.com/en/products/products.asp?driveid=152&language=en
you can attach to it a second USB hard drive for backup. If you shop around you'll get better price than directly from WD.
Or you can go for Mirra which in my opinion is a much better bet as it will automatically backup folders you want and sync them between computers:
http://www.seagate.com/products/retail/mirra/index.html

Use Firewire Drive with both OSX and XP

Hi,
I am in the process of migrating to a Mac from Windows XP. I have an external hard drive (WD MyBook Pro 250gb) which I have been using to backup data to from Windows. The device is currently formatted to 120gb using NTFS so that Windows can backup to it. The remaining space is currently unformatted.
I need to keep my Windows data for a period while I become comfortable using the Mac before decomissioning the PC. I had assumed that I could maintain the XP NTFS partition, and simply partition the remaining space as an HFS/HFS+ partition using the Disk Tool in the Utilities folder. However, when I attempt this, I don't get any option to format the remaining space - not even as FAT.
Previous experience with Linux led me to believe that this would be easy to accomplish on Mac OSX, but it appears not to be the case.
I have searched Google and other Apple Support forums. At this point I am unsure if it simply a lack of knowledge on my part, or if this just flat out cannot be done with OSX.
Once I am happy that the migration is successful, then I will trash all partitions on the Firewire drive and simply have one HFS/HFS+ partition, but I'd like to have the extra comfort of keeping my data in the interim.
Many thanks for your effort on providing guidance.
Mark

Why not format the remaining space in Windows as FAT32? That way both your XP and your Mac can read and write to the FAT32 space, XP can read and write the NTFS space, and the Mac can read and copy from the NTFS space. The reason I suggest doing the FAT32 format in Windows is because I have had number of cases where Windows (both XP and Vista) simply would not recognize a Mac formatted FAT32 partition, whereas the Mac has never had a problem recognizing and using Windows formatted FAT32 partitions/drives. Once you are quite done with the Windows XP machine and have transferred all the data off the drive, you can then select the whole drive and do a low level reformat. At that time you'll want to change it from the Master Boot Record partitioning scheme it undoubtedly currently has, to the GUID Partition Table that is preferred for Intel machines and Leopard.
Francine
Francine
Schwieder

Partitioned external drive for Time Machine and Daily storage

Now that I've partitioned my I Terabyte external drive to two partitions using the disk utility with one partition for Time Machine and one partition as my new "hard drive"...my internal drive on the MacBook almost filled....I wanted to move...pix, movies, music..etc to the new drive and have all future storage pointed to that drive not the internal drive....need to have space available on the original drive on the MacBook....How do I move existing stored data and point ongoining saved music..files...etc to the new drive...???
Thank you...Bob

Yogabob wrote:
Now that I've partitioned my I Terabyte external drive to two partitions using the disk utility with one partition for Time Machine and one partition as my new "hard drive"...my internal drive on the MacBook almost filled....I wanted to move...pix, movies, music..etc to the new drive
You could use an application like CarbonCopyCloner or SuperDuper to copy them to the new partition, but it's probably just as easy to drag the files/folders to the new partition, then delete the originals.
and have all future storage pointed to that drive not the internal drive
You probably don't really want to do that. Files you're using will be accessed much faster if they're on your internal HD.
Another consideration is, you really should have backups of the moved files somewhere, in case you have a problem with the new drive. Although TM will back them up unless you exclude that partition, if the drive fails, you'll lose both copies.

IPOD seen as two drives(USB Mass Storage & and Dell USB )

My IPOD classic has not worked properly since I updated my OS to Windows XP. At first the IPOD was seen as two different USB controllers (Apple USB Driver, and a USB Mass Storage Device) I've gone through every troubleshooting article on the apple website. After downloading a hotfix, my computer recognizes the IPOD as an IPOD but it doesn't connect to itunes long enough for me to restore it. It automatically disconnects after being plugged into the computer. If anybody can help, please, please please let me know.
Thanks.

I just purchased an ipod classic 120GB and after downloading itunes to the computer I can no longer use my DVD/CD drive as the ipod is using that drive now, which is the E drive on my computer. I noticed that if I uninstall itunes I get to use my DVD/CD drive again. I do not know what next to try either. So my ipod is seen as a mass storage device, I need help too, can anyone help?
zndrsmith

Which one of these two drives would you recommend and why

Hello,
I am planning on adding an external HD to be used with Time Machine.
I was looking at a WD My Book Studio LX 2 TB FireWire 800, then I saw another WD - 2 TB My Book Studio II.
While the first look very nice and sleek with its aluminum case, and judging by WD website, offers more features, the second one seem to be faster (7200 rpm vs 5400 rpm) and it also offers 5 years of warranty compared with only 3.
I am not a computer geek, therefore I am throwing the question here: which one should I buy and why? Do I really need that RAID technology?
Thanks in advance for your answers.
Regards,
Loerincz

IMHO, you want neither. I've heard enough bad things about WD drives on these forums that I wouldn't touch them with a ten-foot pole. Try [Other World Computing|http://www.macsales.com>. They've got quality stuff.
As for RAID, you probably don't need that. RAID is a way to make multiple separate drives act like one larger drive, but that's major overkill for most home backup needs.

Whats the best external drive setup for FCP and accompanying software?

With all the external Hard Drives out there I am hoping that other users could suggest the best options when setting up FCP to work with an external drive. I am working with both SD and HD and am planning to use DVD Studio, Soundtrack Pro along with Motion and AE.
With all the info out there claiming to be the 'best' it gets a little confusing. I bought a 2T WD HD with Firewire 400, 800 and eSATA connections. With the amount of footage I have to capture this wont last long. And the intention is to archive this footage and making it easy to access in a year or two.
Which is best type of connection? Firewire 800 or eSata? Any Suggestions as to a really good external hard drive set up that I can add to as finances allow?

Not quite sure what this question has to do with Qmaster, but what the heck.
The simple response is get the fastest and biggest external you can. If you are getting a drive mechanism without swappable disks, purchase 2 mechanisms - 1 for use when editing and the second for backing up. Purchase a 3rd drive to back up your system drive.
If you go the swapable drive bay route, you'll pay more for the mechanism but you'll recoup the cost as you can purchase additional bare drives for a fraction of the cost of another whole mechanism.
The fastest connection speed is esata then FW800 then FW400. USB is not appropriate to editing video (but can be used for simple backups).
If you have the resources, something like a Caldigit HDOne is a high performer. If that's out of your range, look into their VR line or something from MacBurley. Granite Digitial also makes good basic devices.
Have fun.
x

Two Problems: iTunes 7 Installation and Ipod Software Update 1.2

1. The first problem is the installation process. After executing the installation file, the process simply freezes at "Registering Modules". Here's a screenshot(courtesy of allanpat): http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v282/allanpat/itunes_freeze.gif
After numerous uninstallations and reinstallations...same problem occurs. However, i decided to press "Ctrlaltdelete" one time when the freeze occured and I ended the installation process at the freeze. Strangely, I found that most of itunes installed. So I tried opening itunes. A startup error pops up: http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n82/p0llux/error2.gif
After pressing "OK", itunes then starts up normally and runs normally. o.O Then i plugged in my 30gb video ipod, which brings us to my second problem.
2. I'm told to download and install the Ipod software 1.2, which i did. When it attempted to install this error pops up: http://i110.photobucket.com/albums/n82/p0llux/error.gif
Although iTunes runs fine...i want to be rid of Startup error and get the ipod update to work. i've never had this many problems with iTunes before. what's going on?
Solutions, anyone?

Same problem here. It may have to do with conflicting software that we have running at start up. Now I'm not sure whether it is, but I'm willing to try anything to update my iPod with the new songs I downloaded.

Should I combine two 1Tb drives into one logical 2Tb drive or use one 1Tb drive for system/apps and move /users to the other 1Tb drive? (I'd like ease of b/u too.)

Hello,
I have two 1Tb drives in my Mini, the first is full and the second one empty. (I've been using the 2nd for Time Machine but the full source from dirve 1 soon has Time Machine complaining.) I am contemplating whether to form one 2Tb logical drive from the two 1Tb drives or segregate their use, i.e. use the first 1Tb drive to hold the system and applications while moving the /users directory tree to the second 1Tb drive?
I'm assuming both are straight forward to do accomplish but have nagging doubts about segregating drive usage, will moving the /users directory tree to the second 1Tb drive:
impact apps which might otherwise expect to see particulat fies and directories in specific user related locations on the system drive;
hinder backing up (by having to setup two separate Time Machine activities)?
Finally, is there a better 3rt option?
Thanks,

Thanks and sorry Allan,
The supplementary questions would arise should I NOT chose to combine the separate drives into a larger logical one but to keep one of the two drives for system/apps and the other for users data... I assumed that segregating drive usagel like this might reult in issues with apps which might expect to see some user directories/files on the same drive as the system/apps. similarly, with two physical drives, I'd be looking to managing separate Time Mchines. (I have a few 2Tb pocket drives for backups.)
Final question - if I do combine into a single logical drive (for system, apps, /users ... the whole lot), would I have any problem getting this logical one working from a Time Machine backup? I ask that this backup was taken from the 1Tb physical drive and now I'd be looking to put it back onto a 2Tb logicl drive.
Thanks,

Installing OSX and XP on new Mac Pro

Hi,
Just buying a new Mac Pro. I will getting it with one 750GB HD supplied direct from Apple on purchase, plus a 150GB WD Raptor, purchased seperately as a boot drive.
Question... when the hardware arrives, what is the procedure for setting up a new boot drive with Mac OSX and Windows XP (under boot camp). Do I put OSX and Windows XP both on the WD Raptor...? Any suggestions for how I should partition that drive...?
What is the physical procedure...? How do I change the boot drive from the 750GB drive on arrival to the 150GB WD Raptor that I fit....? How do I 'uninstall' Mac OSX from the Apple supplied 750GB HD...?
And any other releveant advice.
Much appreciated.

Hi Robbie_DB,
You can install OS X first on your 150GB wd raptor.
restart your mac pro with the installer disk inside the optical and press C to force to start up using installer disk.
Choose language > go to utilities > disk utilities > format the WD drive, and after you finish, go back to installer by quiting disk utility and install your mac os x and select WD drive as destination.
Sometimes it require another restart before mac os can be installed to a new formatted HD.
After you fnished install OS X, go to boot camp page, and follow instruction there.
http://www.apple.com/macosx/bootcamp/
It is a good thing if you update your os x software and hardware firmware to the latest and repair permission after that before going to install boot camp.
And to select which HD you want to start from, open system preference from the Docks, click start up disk, and choose your WD drive, and restart.
As soon as everything run smoothly, you can start from WD drive, open application > utilities > disk utility, and erase / format the original HD supplied by apple f you really want to.
ps: back up any important data first, if any.
Good Luck.

Partitioning two drives to enable OSX and XP software raid.

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