Configuration System Won't Allow RAID1 with SSD's on Z4 G4?

[Gwhite1]

A year ago, HP had a sale, and I bought a Z4 G4 tower system, with RAID 1 using a pair of SSD's.  I have a Z230 as well, but it can't run Windows 11 due to the processor being too old.

They were running another sale recently, and I tried to order an identical Z4 G4 system to the one I've been using.  The on-line configuration software wouldn't allow me to chose RAID 1 with any combination of SSD'd I tried.  I did a chat session, and they confirmed that it couldn't be done.

Is there some technical change to SSD's that now make this impossible, or is HP's ordering system messed up?  If it's just the ordering system, maybe I can convince someone to honor the sale price and I can move forward with this.

Thanks!

[itsmyname]

@Gwhite1 -- they confirmed that it couldn't be done

Did they mean that your desired configuration cannot be ordered through the web-site?

Or, did they mean that there is no support in the BIOS to create a "RAID-1 set" that combines the 2 SSDs?

If the former, then you might be able to:

1. take a "spare" disk-drive, and install Windows onto it
2. enter BIOS SETUP, and create and initialize your RAID-set, with the 2 SSDs
3. use free software like Macrium Reflect to "clone" that "spare" disk-drive onto the RAID set
4. remove the "spare"
5. boot from the RAID set.

If the latter, return the new computer, and purchase one that does support RAID-1.

[Gwhite1]

The impression I got is that the configuration software couldn't do it, but the chat person had no idea WHY.  RAID 1 is available for some configurations, but they all apparently require those antique spinning things...

I find it hard to believe that the BIOS won't do it, because my current Z4G4 has been happy in that configuration for most of a year.  The most likely reason is that the configuration software isn't flexible enough to allow it.  The second possibility is that SSD technology has changed in some fashion that makes it a problem for the RAID system.

If it's just the purchasing configuration software, one option would be to buy it with RAID using cheap hard drives, and then swap in SSD's.  What I don't know is if the RAID 1 system can restore to an SSD if the original drive was a hard disk.

[itsmyname]

@Gwhite1 -- isn't the whole point of marketing a SSD to design it to be 100% compatible with a "spinning" disk-drive?

I have added 120 GB SSDs to some very-old computers (from the days of XP and Vista), and have not seen any "compatibility" issues.

The point of the RAID-1 software in the BIOS is to perform input/output onto 2 (or more) disk-drives, and to monitor that both drives respond identically.  I find it difficult to believe that the RAID-software "cares" whether it is a HDD, or an SSD that is perfectly imitating a HDD.

[Gwhite1]

My thinking exactly, which is why I think they need to fix their configuration software.  I really don't have time to mess with extra swapping around of drives to fool the configuration tools problems.  I just want to buy a copy of what I have now & get on with life.

[itsmyname]

@Gwhite1 -- I just want to buy a copy of what I have now & get on with life.

If you make the assumption that the BIOS does support RAID-1, then purchase the computer with just one disk-drive, with Windows preloaded onto it. Independently, purchase two SSDs, connect them, enter BIOS SETUP, and create a RAID-1 set.  Then, use free software, such as Macrium Reflect, to "clone" from the original disk-drive onto the RAID-set. Disconnect the original disk-drive, and use BIOS SETUP to identify the RAID-set as the primary bootable device.

Boot from the set.

[Gwhite1]

I can certainly do that, but if the BIOS supports it, I shouldn't have to go through all those hoops when HP should be able to set up the machine for me.  I've checked, and Dell has no problem providing me with an SSD RAID 1 system.   

I don't need a new machine desperately enough to go through all those extra hoops just because HP's configuration software is very bright.  I have better things to do with my time than fight with them, so they just lost a sale.