My raid controller failed

You SHOULD be safe putting the drives online.  I would.  Then I would make sure you go buy a good UPS for the devices.

If prompted, I would read the configuration from the drives.

does it matter wich drive I put online first?

I'd be concerned that two of the drives are being reported as FAIL.  However, your only choice really is to try and bring them back online to see if the array comes back.  Shouldn't matter which one first - one should bring the array up (as it is RAID 5), but once one is up bring the other up too.

Then, as leew says, go and buy a UPS!

ok , I thought I knew how to bring the drive online but I guess not. I haven't saved any configuration or modify anything when I go under management , objects, then physical drive . I see FAILL on the 3 physical drive

but when I go to management >view/add configuration>view disk configuration I see disc 0 and 1 fail and 2 online.
how do I put those drive online?
sorry for my ignorance.

I can't give step by step on that as I've not done it in years.  But there should be an array within the RAID Controller's BIOS that allows you to change their status to online.

Here - quoting jamietoner (slightly edited) from this ee question: https://www.experts-exchange.com/questions/23446953/Recover-a-Raid-5.html

From the management menu select object then physical drive, this should show all 3 drives. Assuming the drive id's are 0,1,2 highlight drive 0 and press enter then chose force online do the same for drive 2.

ok I found  where to put online. when I click force online: this is the message that I get :
!!!WARNINNG!!! MAking a FAILED drive ONLINE will result in changing the logical drive state. this physical drive will immidiately start participating in data read/writes and this may lead to corrupted data
are you sure .......

should I still continue?\
Thank you so much for your help

Assuming you are doing this in the RAID controller BIOS, there should be little danger.  Things SHOULD work well assuming that the drives didn't truly fail and just went offline (as I've seen happen often enough with dell RAID controllers).  

HOWEVER, while *I* would do this, I also CANNOT with 100% certainty say that you won't lose data.  You SHOULDN'T, but you could.  Your only alternative is to spend $100 on RAID Reconstructor, install the drives in another system and rebuild the data to another drive.  (Assuming you also don't have backups of the server....).

Hi Lees
I just put online the 3 drives and rebooted the server.it past the RAID configuration . now I get the message :
WIndows could not start because the following file is missing or corrupt:
\WINDOWS\SYSTEM32\CONFIG\SYSTEM
you can attenpt to repair this file by starting window setup using the original CD-ROM
select 'r'' at the first screen to start repair.


does it mean that the HARDRIVEs ONLINE failed or should I just put the CD in?

It means that the array is essentially back, but the power failure did cause some corruption on the drive.  The file it is referring to is in fact a registry hive, so you may want to recover that from a backup.

I only have backup for the file and database that I use, it's a small business with 6 workstation.
I guess I will have to try with the CD , what do you think. do you have a better Idea?
it is a window 2003 server with file sharing , that's it no exchange.

You could boot to command prompt (recovery console) and restore the default SYSTEM hive, as that is what you'd do from CD anyway.  Having said that, there may then be more corruption elsewhere, so it would be worth running repair from the CD - especially as you are only using the server for filesharing (shouldn't be any complications).

I would not run a repair install from the CD right now... Registry corruption due to a power failure is not unlikely.  Get the system back up, run the CHKDSK commands recommended, then do a system state restore.

well it doesn't look good:

I renamed the file and then copy the one from the repair folder. then rebooted it . the server did a check disk and then went into the windows logo after awhile it rebooted again , I dont see the loggin screen, I weent back into the console and try to do a check disck from there but now it doesn't accept my admin password.
what should I do?

I'd recommend you do what I suggested and make a BartPE/Ultimate Boot CD for Windows boot disk.  That will let you boot the system and run chkdsk on it.  You can also try the Windows Automated Installation Kit (WAIK) which includes Windows PE (but I haven't used Windows PE yet so I can't help specifically with that).

ok I am gonna download the file right now. Thank you again. I am really desperate to have this system up and running again.
when I boot with the disk would it ask me for a password, because my administrator password doesn't work anymore in the recovery mode?

No, using a BartPE/Ultimate Boot CD for Windows boot disk, you don't need any passwords.  You may have a bunch of things to do at this point to get the system running, but this CD will boot the system and allow you to run a CHKDSK on the drives (I did just remember - the boot CD has to have the drivers for your disk controller - it PROBABLY does, but if it doesn't, don't panic...

ok , If this all thing is working I serioulsy have to give you more than just points.
I am gonna bring this server home, since I don'thave a burner here.
I also realize I have another server that is acting as a webserver and I just check it is also setup as a domain controller would it help?
David

Depends... was this a domain controller?  Also, are there any backups for it?

I'll say this, if this WAS a domain controller, then its a good thing the other is one as well, ESPECIALLY if you have no good backups.  That will help you get things running a LOT faster if, in the WORST CASE SCENARIO, the server needs to be rebuilt.

ok I am going home and bring the 2 server home.
I keep you posted when I plug everything in.
Thanks again...

I finally got home and I am currently downloading the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows .

Wow... where is your home and where is the client?

the client is about 35 min away but with traffic it took almost 1 hour
where are you located? I am in Chicago

ok I downloaded the file UBCD4win.exe , I have to install it on my machine in order to burn into CD ?

You'll need a Windows CD (XP or Server 2003) to make the UBCD - it's pretty easy though.  Run the setup and follow the instructions.

New York... wow... traffic at 10:30 at night for you... horrid... I thought only New York was that bad...  :-)

no, it's really ridiculous here it's traffic all day long.
I got the tutorial on created the disk I am copying the file right now.
Do you think it will work? I really need to have this server running for tomorrow. It's a server for a hair salon and they can't see the appointments, they have a custom software that is awfull to install but I do have the backup of their "database"( a bunch of file on one folder)

ok I just boot the server with the disk and I tried the option launch "the ultimate cood cd for windows" and I get the NTLVR corrupt.

Ok... I have to wonder than if it's something corrupt with the UBCD (my recent attempts at creating it resulted in the same error but I've recommended it recently here and no one else has had (or at least posted) issues).  I would recommend using the basic BartPE disk than - that's worked flawlessly for me lately.

Also, how exactly did you try to make the UBCD4WIN?  I just read over the FAQ and he recommends copying the source of the XP/2003 CD to the hard disk... (He doesn't mention this particular error, but he suggests copying the CD to the hard drive has fixed several odd issues).

-Lee

Lee,

I did copy the Win2003 CD to the local drive : c:\win2003 and followed instruction about the hidden files.

ok , it is building the cd again.

ok I booted with the CD and I have a go button on the bottom , what exactly do I do now?

Ok, here's my recommendations because, and I hate to do this to you, but I have to get going.

1.  When you get the system booted using the Ultimate Boot CD for Windows or Bart PE (UBCD4WIN uses BartPE - UBCD4WIN just has a LOT more tools you can potentially use).  Open a command prompt and run CHKDSK C: /F (confirm that C: is the system's hard drive).  Once done, do as I posted earlier and copy the C:\WINDOWS\REPAIR\SYSTEM file into the CONFIG folder.  Then reboot and see what happens.

2.  If it comes back up, restore a System State backup (if you have one).  If not, There's a GOOD (but not 100%) chance the system will still boot into windows but you may have to reinstall drivers and various software - let the goal be to get the event log to NOT have any red x's on a reboot.

3.  If the system does NOT come back up, you may well have to reinstall.  I would suggest, if the C: drive is large enough, you follow my directions for a fresh install with NO FORMAT (preserving all files on the drive).  See http://www.lwcomputing.com/tips/static/freshnoformat.asp

4.  If you have to do a fresh install, check with the other server - see if this server was a DC (check the Domain Controllers OU in active directory - was this server listed?  If so, MAKE A SYSTEM STATE BACKUP of the other server, THEN ONLY IF you are intending to rebuild this system, follow the directions here - http://www.petri.co.il/delete_failed_dcs_from_ad.htm - to remove this failed server from the domain (note: you may have to seize roles - see this link for details on that: http://www.petri.co.il/seizing_fsmo_roles.htm

I'm sure I'm leaving something out... there are many good experts on here... some in far away places like Australia... I'd suggest if you intend to work through the night and need further assistance, look up Jay_Jay70  - https://www.experts-exchange.com/M_3052984.html - he can probably pick up where I left off... and be awake to do it...

ok I found the menu >system > storage > check disk , then I type leter c: and fix error also.
but it run in less than a second and said done.
what should I do?

Note - There's a substitute "explorer" utility, I believe A43 - that will allow you to easily, through the GUI, make changes.  Otherwise, you can also open a command prompt and if you're familiar with command line commands, you can do everything there.

ok Lee,

Thank you very much for your help . I really appreciate all what you did. I am gonna try to follow your instruction and hoppefully tomorrow it will be a bad dream.

Thank you again.
I will keep you posted on the progress.
David

When running chkdsk you want to do it from a command prompt.  Start a command prompt (Run "cmd") and then type CHKDSK C: /F and let it run

ok I will do that , thank you so much. have a good night.

lee,
you probably when to bed , but the server just restarted. I tried to copy the system.bad back to system and reboot the server and it worked!!!!!!

Actually, I was leaving a client's office... home now... but have to sleep... have to move the car by 11:30am... I hate alt. side parking... anyway, Not entirely sure what steps you took, but as long as it's working, GREAT!... now make a system state backup NOW.  

Lee,
I just did a system state backup. and copy all the files that I needed in case ift fails again.
now I am gonna reboot again the server and do check disk

thanks lee, I guess we are in the same boat. I have to move my car by 9:00
and I have to drive back tonight to my client

Hi guys,
Lee thank you so much for your support. you have done a great job on having me back on line in no time. I really appreciate your concern.
 Akirhol,
thank you for your response; I didin't know about the support of Dell , I will make sure next time that I call them as well. you seem to know a lot about Dell array as well.
I will be asking 2 more questions in the forum. which I know you have the answers. ( how to create a good backup of windows 2003 , and how to monitor and be alerted when a raid controller fail or when one of the hard drive fail. )
I will link those questions to this post , like that you will be alerted when I create them. I will try to write them this evening.

thank you so much again!!!!!!

Thank you guys. you really deserve the title "Experts"