Problem Creating Logical Drive - Windows 2003 Server
Server Configuration
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2
AMD Sempron 3200+ 1.8GHz 1GB of RAM
I have installed a new 320GB Maxtor hard drive in the computer copying the image of the existing 80GB Maxtor hard drive. After the copy the computer started up fine but I have a section of the hard drive (221.76 GB) that is not partitioned and doesn't have a logical drive. I can create the partition fine but when I try to create the logical drive I get error messages which you will see in the attached error.jpg.
I have found a article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base - Article ID: 840781
New Diskpart.exe commands to reset volume attribute flags on failed snapshot volumes in Windows Server 2003
The problem is that I tried to run this fix but it says that I have a Service Pack that already has this fix.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
error.jpg
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 SP2
AMD Sempron 3200+ 1.8GHz 1GB of RAM
I have installed a new 320GB Maxtor hard drive in the computer copying the image of the existing 80GB Maxtor hard drive. After the copy the computer started up fine but I have a section of the hard drive (221.76 GB) that is not partitioned and doesn't have a logical drive. I can create the partition fine but when I try to create the logical drive I get error messages which you will see in the attached error.jpg.
I have found a article in the Microsoft Knowledge Base - Article ID: 840781
New Diskpart.exe commands to reset volume attribute flags on failed snapshot volumes in Windows Server 2003
The problem is that I tried to run this fix but it says that I have a Service Pack that already has this fix.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
error.jpg
This may be way below the 'fix' but what if you change the basic volume to dynamic first?
ASKER
What does this actually do? Can I do this on the main partition (windows volume)?
You cannot make the primary sys volume dynamic. Once you make a volume dynamic, quick format NTFS then you can extend it to say a JBOD, NAS, or SAN down the road. I don't know what your scenario is - a SMB that is growing or a home server or enterprise - based on what you have posted I assume it's a small operation.
ASKER
This computer is used as a file server for my business. I am a software developer and have alot of files on this computer so it is very important information.
Right now there is no info on the D: Vol as I understand it. Go ahead and make it dynamic. Personally, it is mission-critical I would then use another drive to RAID 1 it (create another vol the EXACT same size on another disk) - - or if you have a SAN, NAS or JBOD RAID 1+5 it (RAID 15).
For example I RAID 1 (mirror) ever blade serve (2 VM's per blade) then parity (RAID 5) the mirror. Raid 15 is EXTREMELY fault tolerent (for the paranoid). ie. in a 15 drive array you can lose 3 drives and be fine.
If I have any misinformation here (any experts) on the RAID 15 please correct me. A lot of poeple use RAID 1 + 0 (RAID 10). Hope this helps.
For example I RAID 1 (mirror) ever blade serve (2 VM's per blade) then parity (RAID 5) the mirror. Raid 15 is EXTREMELY fault tolerent (for the paranoid). ie. in a 15 drive array you can lose 3 drives and be fine.
If I have any misinformation here (any experts) on the RAID 15 please correct me. A lot of poeple use RAID 1 + 0 (RAID 10). Hope this helps.
I see you only have 1 physical drive - and it looks like AD and SQL are on the box. You'd HATE to lose AD, much less your data - if you don't have another box to promo it as a DC (or replicate) why don't you grab another 320Gb drive (slave) and mirror the info? It's not the best option, but at least there some redundancy.
I see and backup icon on your screen shot too --- hopefully it backs up system state - it it does, you'll be fine if you use it.
I see and backup icon on your screen shot too --- hopefully it backs up system state - it it does, you'll be fine if you use it.
ASKER
Ok I guess I really didn't explain that I don't have raid on this server. It just has a Maxtor 320 IDE drive installed now. I do have SQL and some other programs that are setup that I wouldn't want to have to go back and reinstall unless I absolutely have to. I am not backing up the entire system currently but I can I suppose before trying anything to drastic. What I would like to happen is to be able to just get the used partition formatted and assigned a logical drive without doing all of that extra stuff.
Understandably. Did you assign the primary partition a drive letter? Did you try making the unused part. dynamic? Did you try to use diskpart to unset the attributes per the KB article?
I wish I could replicate the problem - but obviously it would be costly. What about just fdisking it?
I wish I could replicate the problem - but obviously it would be costly. What about just fdisking it?
ASKER
Ok first question is can I do this safely without destroying any data?
If so how do I make the unused part dynamic. I only see this option when I right click on the DIsk 0 (entire drive) and not the unallocated section.
I have tried the fix that was in this article.
If so how do I make the unused part dynamic. I only see this option when I right click on the DIsk 0 (entire drive) and not the unallocated section.
I have tried the fix that was in this article.
Ah, you may be correct in the whole disk has to be made dynamic...when you get to that point does it say it will delete data? Regardless make sure you have a working backup before doing anything to either partition.
It just occurred to me that maybe the partition is not initialized? or perhaps the most recent drivers for that disk are not installed?
It just occurred to me that maybe the partition is not initialized? or perhaps the most recent drivers for that disk are not installed?
ASKER
I haven't tried that as of yet. I thought that I would test the drive with the Seagate Tools first. I will also check for a later driver for the drive. How can you tell if that partition is initialized.
I keep thinking hardware RAID - I'm sorry - you don't have to initialize a single drive. When you initially put the drive in did you manually create the partitions or did the ghosting software? Or I should ask - how did you go about installing and creating the volumes?
ASKER
No Raid just 1 IDE drive.
Regarding installing the drive I used the MaxBlast software to copy from a 80GB hard drive to the 320GB hard drive.
Regarding installing the drive I used the MaxBlast software to copy from a 80GB hard drive to the 320GB hard drive.
ASKER
Any other ideas for this one?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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