Larger drives for my NT 2000 server

[donzz]

I have two 18Gb mirrored hard drives in my server. I would like to upgrade to 36 Gb drives. I broke the mirror, installed a 36 in place of an 18 and re-mirrored.

How can I get to boot from the new 36?

How can I expand into the the unused space on the new 36?

 

[Geizzer]

First, to boot from the new HD do the following:
1. Locate the boot.ini file on your C: drive (Bear in mind the file is "hidden" so you'll have to change your folder options to view all files).
2. The file is read only so right click it and select properties, untick the read only attribute and click OK.
3. Double click the file, it will open up in Notepad and look something like this:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect

4. Copy the line under [operating systems] and paste it on the next line down, then change the disk(0) setting to disk(1) thus:

[boot loader]
timeout=30
default=multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS
[operating systems]
multi(0)disk(0)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect
multi(0)disk(1)rdisk(0)partition(1)\WINDOWS="Microsoft Windows 2000 Server" /fastdetect

5. Ensure your timeout is not set to zero, save the file and restart your server. A menu will appear asking you to choose yous OS, choose the second option for your OS and the server should now boot from the second disk allowing you to break the mirror and replace the first drive.

The easiest way to use the other 18Gb would be simply to create a new partition and drive rather than expand your C: drive. You can then set up a mirror for the extended partition too.

If your boot.ini is dramatically different post it and I will show you what to do. You should keep the changes to the boot.ini, giving you the option to boot to either drive should you wish to upgrade again, or in case of failure!

Good Luck

 

[donzz]

Thanks Geizzer.

Donzz

 

[yizhar]

HI.

I would instead keep the 2 18gb drives for system and programs, and add the 2*36gb drives for data.
(Using 4 drives instead of 2 only).
Better performance, easier management, better fault tolerance.

Bye
Yizhar Hurwitz

http://come.to/yizhar

http://teachers.sivan.co.il/yizhar