Setting up RAID 1 without losing data

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Buffalo Linkstation Pro Duo (1.62) LS-WVL/E running on Windows 7

 

Initially I installed and have been using this NAS for a few month now.  Recently, I bought a new HD and want to setup a RAID 1 with this NAS.  My question is can I setup a new RAID 1 without needing to back up my 1st HD?  I have close to 2TB of information and backing it up will take forever.

 

I've been researching and people are saying that only when you delete a RAID setup will it delete all your data.  BUT what about just setting up a new RAID 1?

 

Thank you in advance.

 

[davo]

You cannot create a raid 1 without erasing the data in the disk.

[usafa92]

I have a LS Pro DUO LS-WVL/R1 with v1.64 firmware.  Not sure if setup is the same as yours, but I was able to add a 2nd Drive and enable Raid 1 while retaining all my data on drive 1.

 

Like you, I initially setup my LS Pro Duo with 1 drive, then later added a 2nd drive.  To enable Raid 1 without erasing my 1st drive, I went logged into the NAS menu.  Then went to "System"===>"Storage".   Under storage there's a section that says "Disks".  It showed drive 1 and drive 2.  I needed to Format drive 2. 

 

After drive 2 was formatted, I then went to "System"===> "Storage"===>"Raid Array".  In the "Raid Array" section, under the "Raid Mode" column, I click the link (i don't recall what it said becuse it only showed when I didn't have Raid enabled) which brought up another menu.  This allowed me to setup RAID 1 and select which drive to preserve (Disk 1).  After saving my settings, the NAS restarted and RAID 1 was enabled with my old data retained and both drives mirrored.

 

Hope this helps.  Maybe someone more familiar with this NAS can better explain.

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Thank you for your reply.  That's what I thought.

 

I have alot of important information on the first drive so loosing it is not an option.

I think i'll just play it safe and back it up first.