Title says it all, really. I'm considering going to a SSD RAID 0 array for my next build, and I'd rather not go on win8... I heard the OEM version of win7 was tied to the mobo, so as long as I keep it, I should be able to reinstall it on different drives and use the same key, right ?
(Also, how does one go about installing windows on a RAID ?)
OEMs are not "tied" to the mobo, at least not strictly.
If you are using the same mobo the OEM install should work fine. If not call MS and explain that you upgraded the drive and it won't activate.
I would avoid RAID, personally. Why RAID the OS anyways? Boots won't be much shorter at all, and it won't improve overall performance with day-to-day programs.
SSD Raid is like using a 500Kilo ton nuke to kill a ant hill.
As for OEM, as if anyone obeys those "rules" to it anyway. Could try it, if as said above does not activate, call MS and use a excuse that you replaced the HDD or so, or motherboard replacement and it wont activate but is the same machine.
I'm pretty sure Windows keys are simply just a 'one-computer at a time' thing, so as long as you are only using Windows on one computer at a time you should always be able to activate it, either by regular install or by calling Microsoft support.
.... Someone else who might know Microsoft better could confirm this, I guess.
But since the others said you can just call Microsoft if it doesn't work, I assume this is still their policy.
As for SSDs and RAID, there is no point to doing that on a PC, unless you were going for an overall safety net for crucial information (like crucial documents associated with your work or whatever) with RAID 1 and regular backups and such.
RAID 0 with SSDs is pretty pointless, you won't see much, if any, of a speed boost because the SSDs are already fast enough to load practically anything and everything, as well as move files and such... There will be bottlenecks will be elsewhere on your system.
As well, RAID 0 is a notoriously unreliable because a single drive failure or a mobo failure/replacement could mean you lose ALL of your data, rather than just SOME. RAID depends on the mobo (or buy an independent 'RAID controller' card) for its drivers. It's also somewhat annoying to set up sometimes.
(A RAID Controller will mean if something fails or you upgrade your motherboard you can just put it the RAID card and your drives in any PC to get your RAID drives back up and running... However, this will NOT prevent drive failures, obviously.)
.... But if you don't care about losing ALL of your data in case of a SINGLE failure or motherboard upgrade, then go ahead and RAID them babies up...
I guess it couldn't hurt... What is the worst that could happen? You might lose your data...? Oh yeah, that's right... You don't care about your data. Just don't forget to make EXTERNAL BACKUPS if you do care about something you want to keep.... And if you do RAID 0, don't say no one warned you about this.
The only time you'd want to do RAID 0 is if speed was more important than your data on regular HDDs.
And the only time you'd want to do the other RAIDs on a regular PC is if you had very important data on your computer (like crucial work docs or something), to prevent against drive failure as a second means of safety (after external backups, of course).
(Also, how does one go about installing windows on a RAID ?)
If you are using the same mobo the OEM install should work fine. If not call MS and explain that you upgraded the drive and it won't activate.
I would avoid RAID, personally. Why RAID the OS anyways? Boots won't be much shorter at all, and it won't improve overall performance with day-to-day programs.Please report posts if you spot something wrong instead of replying to them.
As for OEM, as if anyone obeys those "rules" to it anyway. Could try it, if as said above does not activate, call MS and use a excuse that you replaced the HDD or so, or motherboard replacement and it wont activate but is the same machine.
.... Someone else who might know Microsoft better could confirm this, I guess.
But since the others said you can just call Microsoft if it doesn't work, I assume this is still their policy.
As for SSDs and RAID, there is no point to doing that on a PC, unless you were going for an overall safety net for crucial information (like crucial documents associated with your work or whatever) with RAID 1 and regular backups and such.
RAID 0 with SSDs is pretty pointless, you won't see much, if any, of a speed boost because the SSDs are already fast enough to load practically anything and everything, as well as move files and such... There will be bottlenecks will be elsewhere on your system.
As well, RAID 0 is a notoriously unreliable because a single drive failure or a mobo failure/replacement could mean you lose ALL of your data, rather than just SOME. RAID depends on the mobo (or buy an independent 'RAID controller' card) for its drivers. It's also somewhat annoying to set up sometimes.
(A RAID Controller will mean if something fails or you upgrade your motherboard you can just put it the RAID card and your drives in any PC to get your RAID drives back up and running... However, this will NOT prevent drive failures, obviously.)
.... But if you don't care about losing ALL of your data in case of a SINGLE failure or motherboard upgrade, then go ahead and RAID them babies up...
I guess it couldn't hurt... What is the worst that could happen? You might lose your data...? Oh yeah, that's right... You don't care about your data. Just don't forget to make EXTERNAL BACKUPS if you do care about something you want to keep.... And if you do RAID 0, don't say no one warned you about this.
The only time you'd want to do RAID 0 is if speed was more important than your data on regular HDDs.
And the only time you'd want to do the other RAIDs on a regular PC is if you had very important data on your computer (like crucial work docs or something), to prevent against drive failure as a second means of safety (after external backups, of course).
^ Little bit of a lecture about correct RAID use.
Just to clarify, the RAID would not be for performance (SSD already have plenty), but rather to have more space in a single volume.