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Restore WHS Raid 0 Image to Non-Raid single disk RRS feed

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    Is it possible to restore a WHS Raid 0 Image to a Non-Raid disk? Actually...I shouldn't ask that...because I know it is. Problem is that the new disk won't boot because it's looking for a raid array I believe. I don't know how to modify the restored image so that it goes back to some sort of default Sata driver set and just boots. It feels like I'm so close because I've got the whole image back...I just can't get it to boot off of the single drive.

    If anyone has ANY information on this...I'd love to know. I've been searching the web for two hours and hacking the WHS image's registry trying to fake it out. Vista Startup Repair basically says, you're hardware has changed...so we're not going to fix the problem.

    It is probably going to be a week before Wester Digital sends my replacement drive...so I need to get this WHS image running!

    Any help is appreciated!
    Monday, December 29, 2008 1:26 AM

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    Yes, it's possible to restore an array to a non-RAID disk, as long as it's at least the same size as the array that was backed up. Unfortunately, as you've learned getting it to boot is next to impossible. To have even a chance of booting, you will probably have to replace the hardware abstraction layer (HAL.DLL). In XP, this is relatively simple: you replace HAL.DLL with the appropriate DLL from your installation media (usually ACPI.DLL) . Then you have to hope that hardware discovery will complete successfully. I've never done this with Vista, however; Vista insulates the end user from the hardware a bit more so this solution may not be possible.

    I would Google for "Vista HAL.DLL" and see if I could find something.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    • Proposed as answer by kariya21Moderator Monday, December 29, 2008 3:59 AM
    • Marked as answer by Jonas Svensson -FST- Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:21 PM
    • Unmarked as answer by Farina Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:23 AM
    • Marked as answer by Farina Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:23 AM
    Monday, December 29, 2008 2:32 AM
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    Yes, it's possible to restore an array to a non-RAID disk, as long as it's at least the same size as the array that was backed up. Unfortunately, as you've learned getting it to boot is next to impossible. To have even a chance of booting, you will probably have to replace the hardware abstraction layer (HAL.DLL). In XP, this is relatively simple: you replace HAL.DLL with the appropriate DLL from your installation media (usually ACPI.DLL) . Then you have to hope that hardware discovery will complete successfully. I've never done this with Vista, however; Vista insulates the end user from the hardware a bit more so this solution may not be possible.

    I would Google for "Vista HAL.DLL" and see if I could find something.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    • Proposed as answer by kariya21Moderator Monday, December 29, 2008 3:59 AM
    • Marked as answer by Jonas Svensson -FST- Saturday, January 17, 2009 9:21 PM
    • Unmarked as answer by Farina Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:23 AM
    • Marked as answer by Farina Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:23 AM
    Monday, December 29, 2008 2:32 AM
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    I haven't been able to locate any information about the HAL.DLL in Windows Vista...but I did come up with another idea. I finally remembered the name of the application I used to use to deploy Windows XP...Sysprep.exe. I'm thinking that I may be able to copy the WHS image down to the new hard, then run a Sysprep.exe /generalize on it? I haven't tried it yet because I'm at my office...but I intend to test this as soon as I get home. If that works...I'll be sure to let everyone know.

    Cross your fingers!!

    • Marked as answer by Farina Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:23 AM
    • Unmarked as answer by Farina Sunday, January 18, 2009 12:23 AM
    Monday, December 29, 2008 5:32 PM
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    sysprep.exe is/was part of the XP deployment kit. There is an equivalent procedure you can go through for Vista, but I don't have details. Try searching on Technet for "vista sysprep". :)

    Regarding searching for HAL.DLL, try this Google search, in which I searched for exactly what I recommended above.
    I'm not on the WHS team, I just post a lot. :)
    Monday, December 29, 2008 5:44 PM
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    OK, well I've tried EVERYTHING. I can't figure out how to bring this image back to a single hard drive to save my life :(. If anyone knows...please speak up. I'm out of options.

    Thanks for the help!
    Saturday, January 3, 2009 10:53 PM