Delete a RAID 1 Mirror Without Data Loss

Documentation

Maintenance & Performance

000006188

09/13/2023

RAID 1 (Mirror) volumes can be deleted without losing data if the RAID 1 volume is:

  • The only volume on the drives
Or
  • The first volume in a matrix RAID configuration

 

Note
  • A RAID volume is when multiple disks are combined together to look like 1 drive to the operating system.  RAID 1 means that the content of one drive is copied to another drive, so the drives are duplicates of each other.
  • More then one RAID volume can be created on two drives, for instance, but using only a portion of the capacity of each drive to build the volume.  This is called a Matrix RAID configuration. Read more in Section 4.10.2
  • Data loss can occur if the RAID 1 volume is the second volume in a matrix RAID configuration.
  • Matrix Raid cannot be deleted in absence of other available volumes or partitions in addition to the ones used for the RAID configuration. Otherwise, the Delete option will not be available in the Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management tool.

How to delete a RAID 1 volume?

Delete in this case means to separate the disks so that the operating system can detect them as individual drives.

  1. In the OS
    1. Open the Intel Optane Memory and Storage Management application.
    2. Under Manage click the volume that is needed to be deleted.
    3. Click Delete.
    4. Review the Warning message and click Yes to delete the volume.
  2. In the BIOS
    1. Enter the BIOS (Typically done by pressing F2 or Delete keys).
    2. Locate the Intel Rapid Storage Technology menu
    3. Click RAID Volumes.
    4. Highlight the volume to be deleted.
    5. Press Enter.
    6. Select Delete and press Enter.

 

How do I access the data after I delete a RAID 1 volume?

After you delete a RAID 1 volume or reset the drive members of the RAID 1 volume to non-RAID, you can access your data with one of the following options:

  • If the RAID 1 volume has an operating system, boot to either of the drives.
  • If the RAID 1 volume does not have an operating system, access your files on either of the drives from Windows*.
Related topic
User Guide for Intel® Rapid Storage Technology with Intel® Optane™ Memory