Upgrading Motherboard BIOS, RAID Controller Driver, etc.

Steve Mavronis

Steve Mavronis

New Member
If I were to upgrade my motherboard BIOS or motherboard RAID controller
driver, would I loose my current RAID drive array data?

I have a Gateway FX530 with the following specs:

- Specifications:

Intel Core 2 Quad Processor Q6600 2.40GHZ 8M Cache
Intel 975X w/10/100/1000 Intel Integrated LAN
700W Power Supply
2GB Memory
Microsoft Windows Vista Ultimate 32-bit
Microsoft Office 2007 Home and Student *
500GB SATA II/300 7200RPM 8MB Cache RAID 0 (2x250GB Hard Drives)
48x/32x/48x CD-RW/DVD Combo Drive
16x Double-Layer Multi-Format DVD Writer DVD+-/R+-RW/CD-R/RW
768MB Nvidia 8800GTX Graphics (Factory Overclocked)
Gateway 22" Widescreen High Definition LCD Display
TV Tuner Asus/ViXS Combo-210E NTSC/ATSC
Sound Blaster X-FI PCI Card
Logitech X-230 2.1 32 watt Speakers w/Subwoofer
3 Year Warranty

- Peripherals:

Lacie 500GB External Hard Drive Backup Storage *
Microsoft Wireless Laser Keyboard 6000 v2.0 *
Logitech MX518 Gaming Grade Optical Mouse *
Logitech Premium Stereo Headset *
Epson Stylus Ultra Hi-Definition RX580 Photo All-In-One *

(* not included in Gateway purchase)
 
Updating the bios itself won't have any effect on the data stored on hard drives. You are simply applying programming there to the bios chip on the board itself. Since Windows is what loads drivers unless you install the wrong one you shouldn't see a problem updating drivers since those go to the OS drive in use if the array is a pair of separate drives. The only problem there would be a lack of recognition as a logical drive if the update sees a bad install. Once sorrected Windows would then redetect the array.
 
It depends primarily where the boot information along with the OS. When a drive is removed or fails in an array is where you could face actual loss of data. Otherwise a reinstalled OS on a host drive should redetect the array if you have to go that far.

On the system there you would have to set up a host drive separately to retrieve data if anything goes wrong since Windows is preinstalled to the array. An alternate method in case of mishap is to simply install a drive already partitioned and formatted on another system in and use a live for cd Linux distro like Knoppix for copying files from the array. With Vista now seeing automatic tools for correcting startup problems found on the installation disk getting Windows running again is easier lessening a need for 3rd party data recovery.
 
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