Hi all.

I would like to add a second HD to my Rio. I've already read the FAQ but I still have some small questions.

The FAQ states that if you also want to change your first drive you'll have to put in the new drive and use the developers image on the drive.
The way I see it, the only reason this developers image is needed instead of the consumer one is because of it's possibility to boot to a linux prompt and then having the ability to copy the files from drive to drive.

Now, if I wanted to upgrade my Rio with two entirely NEW drives, and I don't care for copying the old files over, then can I just add the first drive, format it, add second drive, format it put consumer image on first HD, then put consumer image on second HD and be done with it? Or is there any other specific reason to use the developer image instead of the consumer one?

Riocar 10gig (for now) S/N : 10101747 amber

Or is there any other specific reason to use the developer image instead of the consumer one?

Developer image is only needed if you have to copy files, true. But if something goes wrong during the process, it sometimes helps (depending on the situation) to have the developer version there so you can get to a shell quickly if necesssary.

Remember that the player software goes onto a fixed-size partition, so you're not losing any extra disk space to the developer build, if that's what you're worried about.

You can always install the consumer build atop the developer build, too. The upgrade files completely replace the software partition.

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Tony Fabris

So if I get this right you're advising me to format my drives and install the developer images on BOTH the drives?

(otherwise one drive would contain the developer build and the other the consumer build. Would this be ok to mix the two?)

Riocar 10gig (for now) S/N : 10101747 amber

Whatever you install on the second drive won't actually get used unless the first drive goes south. It doesn't matter which version is installed on it. I recommend installing developer on both drives and making sure it all runs OK for a while.

When things seem to have settled in and both drives are purring along OK, then you can install consumer on the first drive if you have a burning desire to do so.

All that the Consumer install will gain you is a tad more cache memory (as it takes up a little less RAM).

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Tony Fabris

Thanks! I guess I'll put the consumer builds on it then. I don't really have a preference towards the consumer build. If the developper build has nothing but advantages (except for the small loss in cache - which I doubt very much to be noticable) then that's what I'll use.

Riocar 10gig (for now) S/N : 10101747 amber