About Your RAID Configuration, Segment, Hard drive | Dell XPS 400

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About Your RAID Configuration

This section provides an overview of the RAID configuration that you might have selected when you purchased your computer. Although several RAID configurations are available, Dell offers either a RAID level 0 configuration or a RAID level 1 configuration for its Dimension™ computers. A RAID level 0 configuration is recommended for high-performance gaming, and a RAID level 1 configuration is recommended for the data integrity requirements of digital photography and audio.

The Intel® RAID controller on your computer can only create a RAID level 0 configuration using two or three physical drives. If a third drive is present, then that drive can be made part of a RAID level 0 configuration using the Intel RAID configuration program, or it can be used as a spare drive in a RAID level 1 configuration (see "Creating a Spare Hard Drive" on page 35). The drives should be the same size in order to ensure that the larger drive does not contain unallocated (and therefore unusable) space.

NOTE: RAID levels do not represent a hierarchy. A RAID level 1 configuration is not inherently better or worse than a RAID level 0 configuration.

RAID Level 0 Configuration

A RAID level 0 configuration uses a storage technique known as "data striping" to provide a high data access rate. Data striping is a method of writing consecutive segments, or stripes, of data sequentially across the physical drives to create a large virtual drive. Data striping allows one of the drives to read data while the other drive is searching for and reading the next block.

serial ATA RAID configured for RAID level 0

segment 1		segment 2

segment 3		segment 4

segment 5		segment 6

hard drive 1		hard drive 2

Another advantage of a RAID level 0 configuration is that it utilizes the full capacities of the drives. For example, if you have two 120-GB drives installed, you have 240 GB on which to store data.

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Setting Up and Using Your Computer

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Dell XPS 400 owner manual About Your RAID Configuration, RAID Level 0 Configuration, Segment, Hard drive

Contents

Microphone connector Service Tag CD or DVD eject button CD or DVD activity lightW . d e l l . c o m s u p p o r t . d e l l . c o m July WD741 Contents Solving Problems Using Microsoft Windows XP System Restore Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities 101 102103 104 109 113114 116 Contents Finding Information What Are You Looking For? Find It Here Warranty informationFinding Information Service Tag and Microsoft Windows License Order status, warranty, and repair information UpdatesWhat Are You Looking For? Find It Here At premier.support.dell.com. The website may not be Click the arrow icon Click the topic that describes your problemFollow the instructions on the screen Setting Up and Using Your Computer Setting Up a PrinterPrinter Cable Connecting a USB Printer Connecting to the InternetUSB connector on computer USB printer cable Setting Up Your Internet Connection Playing CDs and DVDs Adjusting the Volume DVD player includes the following basic buttons How to Copy a CD or DVD Adjusting the PictureCopying CDs and DVDs Using Blank CDs and DVDs Media Type Read Write Rewritable Using a Media Card Reader Optional Helpful Tips Connecting Two Monitors TV-OUT connector VGA blue connector Connecting Two Monitors With VGA ConnectorsOptional DVI adapter Setting Up a Home and Office Network Connecting a TVChanging the Display Settings Connecting to a Network Adapter Power Management Network Setup Wizard Hibernate Mode Standby ModePower Options Properties Power Schemes Tab Advanced Tab Hyper-Threading IeeeHibernate Tab About Your RAID Configuration RAID Level 0 ConfigurationSegment Hard drive RAID Level 1 Configuration Configuring Your Computer for RAID Setting Your Computer to RAID-Enabled Mode Creating a RAID Level 0 Configuration Creating a RAID Level 1 Configuration Deleting a RAID Volume Configuring for RAID Using the Intel Application Accelerator Migrating to a RAID Level 0 Configuration Migrating to a RAID Level 1 Configuration Rebuilding a Degraded RAID Level 1 Configuration Understanding Intel Viiv Technology OptionalCreating a Spare Hard Drive To Mark a Drive as a Spare Hard Drive Enabling the QRT Feature in System Setup Using Intel Viiv Quick Resume Technology OptionalEnabling the QRT feature in the Operating system Battery Problems Troubleshooting TipsSolving Problems Drive Problems CD and DVD drive problems Hard drive problems Mail, Modem, and Internet ProblemsProblems writing to a CD/DVD-RW drive Solving Problems Error Messages Use these characters in filenames Media Card Reader Problems Keyboard Problems Lockups and Software Problems Computer does not start upComputer stops responding Program stops responding Program is designed for an earlier Windows operating system Other software problemsSolid blue screen appears Memory Problems Mouse Problems Network Problems Power Problems Product Information Guide Printer Problems Scanner Problems Sound and Speaker Problems No sound from speakers No sound from headphones Video and Monitor ProblemsIf the screen is blank If the screen is difficult to read Solving Problems Diagnostic Lights Light Pattern Problem Description Light Pattern Problem Description Suggested Resolution If the problem still exists, install aIf the problem persists, contact Dell Modules installed, remove If there is an error message on your Screen identifying a problem with aInstalled on your computer Ensure that the cables are properly Dell Diagnostics Main Menu Dell DiagnosticsOption Function Drivers What Is a Driver?Tab Function Reinstalling Drivers Using Windows XP Device Driver RollbackIdentifying Drivers Windows XP Resolving Software and Hardware Incompatibilities Manually Reinstalling DriversRestoring Your Operating System Creating a Restore Point Using Microsoft Windows XP System RestoreRestoring the Computer to an Earlier Operating State Undoing the Last System Restore Using Dell PC Restore by SymantecEnabling System Restore Removing Dell PC Restore Removing and Installing Parts Before You BeginRecommended Tools Turn Off Your Computer Before Working Inside Your Computer Front View of the Computer System System shutdown Back View of the Computer Removing the Computer Cover Removing and Installing Parts Power supply Inside View of Your Computer System Board Components Memory Memory Overview Addressing Memory With 4-GB Configurations Securing clips Connector Removing and Installing Parts Installing MemoryTo processor Memory module Cutouts Crossbar NotchNotches Memory module Cutouts Crossbars Cards Removing Memory Installing a PCI Card PCI Cards Release tab Release tabs Removing and Installing Parts Not fully seated card Fully seated card Bracket within slot Removing a PCI Card PCI Express Cards Installing a PCI Express Card Release tabs Card retention Removing and Installing Parts PCI Express Not fully seated card Bracket within slot Fully seated card Release tab Removing a PCI Express Card Release tabs Lever on chassis wall Release tab Card retention mechanism Door Piano bracket May not be present on all computers Removing and Installing Parts Removing the Drive Panel Drive PanelsSliding plate lever Drive panel Replacing the Drive-Panel Insert Removing the Drive-Panel InsertDrive-panel Insert tab Drive panel Drive-panel insert Replacing the Drive Panel Drives General Installation GuidelinesHard Drive Power cable Hard drive cable Removing a Hard Drive Installing a Hard Drive Hard drive Hard drive bracket Adding a Second Hard Drive Floppy Drive Removing a Floppy Drive Power cable Floppy drive cable Installing a Floppy Drive Media Card Reader Removing a Media Card Reader 100 Media Card Reader Not present on all computers 101 Installing a Media Card ReaderMedia Card Reader Screws 102 CD/DVD DriveUSB cable Media Card Reader Not present on all computers Removing a CD/DVD Drive 103 104 Installing a CD/DVD DriveCD/DVD drive Shoulder screws 105 System board Replacing the Battery Battery106 Replacing the Computer Cover Battery Battery socket Tab107 Removing and Installing Parts Specifications 109 110 111 112 System Setup Overview113 50.8 cm/sec System Setup Screens Entering System Setup114 115 116 System Setup OptionsRAID On 117 118 Monday through FridayUp from Hibernate or Off Remotely from Suspend Boot Sequence Option SettingsChanging Boot Sequence for the Current Boot 119 Changing Boot Sequence for Future Boots 120 Clearing Forgotten Passwords 121 Clearing Cmos Settings Cleaning Your ComputerComputer, Keyboard, and Monitor 122 Dell Technical Support Policy U.S. Only MouseFloppy Drive CDs and DVDs Definition of Dell-Installed Software and Peripherals FCC Notices U.S. OnlyDefinition of Third-Party Software and Peripherals 124 Class a Class B 125 FCC Identification Information Contacting Dell126 127 ArubaAustralia Sydney Austria Vienna Website support.euro.dell.com 128 Cayman Islands 129Chile Santiago Colombia 130Costa Rica 131 132 Home and Small BusinessCorporate Germany Langen Website support.euro.dell.com 133 134 Italy Milan Website support.euro.dell.comJamaica Area Codes Local Numbers, Toll-Free Numbers 135 Korea Seoul 136 Luxembourg Website support.euro.dell.comMacao Malaysia Penang Website support.ap.dell.com 137 MontserratNetherlands Antilles Netherlands Amsterdam Website support.euro.dell.com 138 139 Sweden Upplands Vasby Website support.euro.dell.com 140Switzerland Geneva Website support.euro.dell.com 141 Thailand Website support.ap.dell.comTrinidad/Tobago Turks and Caicos Islands 142 Uruguay 143 BusinessVirgin Islands Venezuela Appendix Index Index 145 Hard drive activity Playing146 Index Index 147 Device Driver Rollback, 58 Files and Settings Transfer 148 Index