About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only | Dell 531S

About RAID Configurations (For Windows Vista® only)

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration you may have selected when you purchased your computer. Your computer supports RAID level 1. A RAID level 1 is recommended for users that desire a high level of data integrity.

The drives in a RAID configuration should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

RAID Level 1 Configuration

RAID level 1 uses a data-redundancy storage technique known as mirroring to enhance data integrity. When data is written to the primary drive, the data is also duplicated, or mirrored, on the second drive in the configuration. A RAID level 1 configuration sacrifices high data-access rates for its data redundancy advantages.

serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 1

segment 1

segment 2

segment 3

segment 4

segment 5

segment 6

hard drive 1

segment 1 duplicated

segment 2 duplicated

segment 3 duplicated

segment 4 duplicated

segment 5 duplicated

segment 6 duplicated

hard drive 2

If a drive failure occurs, subsequent read and write operations are directed to the surviving drive. A replacement drive can then be rebuilt using the data from the surviving drive.

NOTE: In a RAID level 1 configuration, the size of the configuration is equal to the size of the smallest drive in the configuration.

Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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Dell 531S owner manual About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only, RAID Level 1 Configuration

Contents

W . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m Abbreviations and Acronyms Contents Power Management Options Connecting Two Monitors With VGAOne Monitor With a DVI Connector Changing the Display Settings Keyboard Problems Setting Up Your Internet ConnectionCD and DVD drive problems Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems Reinstalling Drivers and Utilities Contents Sound and Speaker ProblemsNo sound from headphones Video and Monitor Problems Dell Diagnostics Main Menu 101 Using the Operating System CDMemory Installation Guidelines 112 Resolving Software and Hardware Replacing the Power Supply Drive Interface ConnectorsConnecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables Installing a Second Hard Drive Optional 172 Changing Boot Sequence forClearing Forgotten Passwords 176 167 Automated Order-Status Service Technical Support and Customer Service May vary What Are You Looking For? Find it Here Warranty informationFinding Information Your system Code Use the Service Tag to identify yourYour call when contacting support What Are You Looking For? What Are You Looking For? Find it Here Reinstall the DSS utility. DSSProvides critical updates for your Your computer and operating System and installs the updates Files Problem and press EnterFollow the instructions on the screen Front View of the Computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer FlexBay open/close Service Tag Located on top of the chassis towards the rearPower button Power light Back View of the Computer Padlock rings Power supply LEDPower connector Card slots Connector Back Panel ConnectorsLight VGA video ConnectorsMicrophone USB Installing Your Computer in an Enclosure Setting Up and Using Your Computer Connecting a USB Printer Setting Up a PrinterPrinter Cable USB connector on USB printer Computer Printer Cable Playing CDs and DVDs CD player includes the following basic buttons Adjusting the Picture Adjusting the Volume Copying CDs and DVDs How to Copy a CD or DVD To copy the CD or DVD Using Blank CDs and DVDs Media Type Read Write Rewritable Helpful Tips Using a Media Card Reader Optional To use the Media Card Reader Connecting Two Monitors With VGA Connectors Connecting Two Monitors May not be present on your computer Connecting a TV Standby Mode Power ManagementChanging the Display Settings Power Management Options in Microsoft Windows XP Hibernate Mode Power Schemes Tab Power Options Properties Advanced Tab Power Management Options in Windows VistaHibernate Tab Balanced Power Saver High Performance Standby Mode Power Plan Properties Hibernate Mode Balanced Power Saver High Performance Advanced Tab Enabling Cool ’n’ Quiet Technology RAID Level 1 Configuration About RAID Configurations For Windows Vista only Configuring Your Hard Drives for RAID Using the Nvidia MediaShield ROM Utility Rebuilding a RAID Configuration Using Nvidia MediaShield Transferring Information to a New Computer To transfer data to the new computer Connecting to a Network Adapter Setting Up a Home and Office Network Network Setup Wizard Setting Up Your Internet Connection Connecting to the Internet Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up and Using Your Computer Battery Problems Troubleshooting TipsSolving Problems Windows XP Click Start and click My Computer Windows Vista Drive Problems Problems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems Mail, Modem, and Internet Problems N T H E M O D E M H E L P E R D I a G N O S T I C S Error Messages Do not use these characters in filenames Lockups and Software Problems Keyboard ProblemsComputer does not start up Program stops responding Computer stops respondingProgram crashes repeatedly Windows XP Solid blue screen appearsWindows Follow the instructions on the screen C K U P Y O U R F I L E S I M M E D I a T E L Y Other software problems Media Card Reader Problems Memory Problems Mouse Problems Network Problems Power Problems Printer Problems E C K T H E P R I N T E R C a B L E C O N N E C T I O N S Scanner Problems No sound from speakers Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from headphones If the screen is blank Video and Monitor Problems If the screen is difficult to read Solving Problems Troubleshooting Tools Power Lights Code Description Suggested Remedy Repetitive short Beeps Beep Codes Repetitive short Beeps Code Description System Messages Troubleshooting Tools When to Use the Dell Diagnostics Dell DiagnosticsStarting the Dell Diagnostics From Your Hard Drive Option Function Dell Diagnostics Main Menu OptionFunction Drivers What Is a Driver?Identifying Drivers Using Windows Device Driver Rollback Reinstalling Drivers and UtilitiesWindows Vista Click Start and right-click Computer Using the Drivers and Utilities media Manually Reinstalling Drivers Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Restoring Your Operating System Tasks list, click System Protection Click Create Using Microsoft Windows System RestoreCreating a Restore Point Windows XP Click Next and follow the remaining on-screen prompts Restoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Using Dell PC Restore Select a keyboard layout and click Next Click Finish to reboot the system Removing Dell PC Restore Before You Begin Using the Operating System CD Reinstalling Windows XP or Windows Vista 100 101 Removing and Installing PartsBefore You Begin Recommended Tools Before Working Inside Your Computer Turning Off Your Computer102 103 Removing the Computer Cover Removing the Support Bracket 105 106 Inside View of Your Computer System Board Components 22 21 20 19 Removing and Installing Parts107 Clear Cmos Fpanel 108 109 Power Supply DC Connector Pin Assignments 110 Pin Number Signal name Wire Color Wire Size DC Power Connectors P4 Removing and Installing Parts DC Power Connector P2 Pin Number Signal Name AWG Wire111 112 Memory Installation GuidelinesPin Number Signal Name AWG Wire Memory 113 Installing Memory 114 115 Removing Memory PCI and PCI Express Cards Cards 117 118 119 Removing and Installing Parts 121 If you installed a sound card 122 If you removed an add-in network connector Removing the Bezel Bezel123 Replacing the Bezel Drives Recommended Drive Cable Connections Connecting Drive Cables125 Hard Drives Drive Interface ConnectorsConnecting and Disconnecting Drive Cables Serial ATA Connector 127 Disconnect the power and data cables from the drive 128 129 Installing a Second Hard Drive Optional Removing and Installing Parts 131 Floppy Drive 123 Not present on all computers 132 133 Removing and Installing Parts 135 Attach the power and data cables to the floppy drive Bezel Insert lever FlexBay drive insert 137 Media Card Reader 138 139 Removing and Installing Parts 141 CD or DVD Drive Lever CD or DVD drive 143 Replacing the Battery Battery144 145 Replacing the Power Supply Power Supply 147 Removing the Processor Processor 149 Installing the Processor 151 Removing and Installing Parts Removing the I/O Panel Panel153 Installing the I/O Panel Removing the Processor Fan Processor Fan155 156 157 158 Installing the Processor Fan 159 Removing the Chassis Fan Chassis Fan160 161 Replacing the Chassis Fan Removing the System Board System Board 163 System Board Screws Replacing the Support Bracket Installing the System Board 165 Replacing the Computer Cover Move the computer to the upright position 166 167 Specifications Audio 168Expansion Bus Drives 169 Controls and Lights 170 Environmental Power171 Physical Entering System Setup System SetupOverview 173 System Setup OptionsSystem Setup Screen Displays Bios Info and the Service Tag 174 Changing Boot Sequence for the Current Boot Boot Sequence175 Clearing Forgotten Passwords 177 Clearing Cmos Settings File Download window appears Flashing the Bios 179 Cleaning Your ComputerComputer, Keyboard, and Monitor Mouse CDs and DVDs Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only180 FCC Class B Definition of Dell-Installed Software and PeripheralsFCC Notice U.S. Only Definition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals Dcsla 182 183 Technical Support and Customer ServiceGetting Help Obtaining Assistance DellConnect Online Services Product Information Problems With Your OrderAutoTech Service Automated Order-Status Service Before You Call Returning Items for Warranty Repair or Credit186 187 Diagnostics Checklist Contacting Dell Glossary 189 190 Product ID 191 Device driver See driver 192 193 194 195 196 Module bay See media bay 197 NIC See network adapter 198 199 200 201 202 203 Video resolution See resolution 204 Index 205 206 207 208 209 210 211 212