SBS 2008 Recovery Help
Hi all,
I was having issues with the SBS C:\ running out of disk space and shutting the POP3 connector down.
So to alieviate the problem I used PArtition Master from Easeus to increase the size of the C:\ from the storage drive.
Now unfortunately it was left for 48hour and hung, so after tring everything else I have had to restart the machine and the partitions are obviously messed up.
So, the server is a DEll PowerEdge, with two SATAs running in a RAID configuration. Can any one suggest a the best steps to take trying to recover the server?
1. Is it possible (i know unlikely) for me to try and use the SBS server disc to repair itself?
2. As the drive is running 2x SATA in a RAID configuration is there anything I can do here to try and recover?
3. I have two more SATA drive slots in the machine, I am thinking of purchasing additional sata, installing and recovering to these and then recoviring what I can (if anyting was missed from the backup from the backup drives) from the original satas.
The server has been backed up to a external usb hd drive. So everything should be on here.
Any advice here would be gratefully accepted.
I was having issues with the SBS C:\ running out of disk space and shutting the POP3 connector down.
So to alieviate the problem I used PArtition Master from Easeus to increase the size of the C:\ from the storage drive.
Now unfortunately it was left for 48hour and hung, so after tring everything else I have had to restart the machine and the partitions are obviously messed up.
So, the server is a DEll PowerEdge, with two SATAs running in a RAID configuration. Can any one suggest a the best steps to take trying to recover the server?
1. Is it possible (i know unlikely) for me to try and use the SBS server disc to repair itself?
2. As the drive is running 2x SATA in a RAID configuration is there anything I can do here to try and recover?
3. I have two more SATA drive slots in the machine, I am thinking of purchasing additional sata, installing and recovering to these and then recoviring what I can (if anyting was missed from the backup from the backup drives) from the original satas.
The server has been backed up to a external usb hd drive. So everything should be on here.
Any advice here would be gratefully accepted.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Hello,
Are you able to boot into the server or not?
1) You would probably be able to recover the files but its not likely that you can resolve the problem. When you plugged it back into the server it would get over written by the other drive. If you have a backup of the server then that is your best chance of recovery without running into corrupted files etc.
2) In most situations you would insert the two drives into the server (whilst the server is on if they are hot swap) and then configure a new RAID 1 with the Dell Server Administrator software (if installed). Then you would create a new partition within windows onto the new drive.
You could try running chkdsk on the drive but if it fails then its wasted time - Your call really.
Do you use Windows Server Backup?
Are you able to boot into the server or not?
1) You would probably be able to recover the files but its not likely that you can resolve the problem. When you plugged it back into the server it would get over written by the other drive. If you have a backup of the server then that is your best chance of recovery without running into corrupted files etc.
2) In most situations you would insert the two drives into the server (whilst the server is on if they are hot swap) and then configure a new RAID 1 with the Dell Server Administrator software (if installed). Then you would create a new partition within windows onto the new drive.
You could try running chkdsk on the drive but if it fails then its wasted time - Your call really.
Do you use Windows Server Backup?
ASKER
David,
Yes I have use windows server backup.
All data should be backed up using the this.
I have checked the raid configuration and it raid 1.
I have tried disconnect each one of the drive and running singularly, but neither has booted.
After unplugging the primary and then reattaching it is not resyncing (currently) so hopefully this may resolve the issue.
Yes I have use windows server backup.
All data should be backed up using the this.
I have checked the raid configuration and it raid 1.
I have tried disconnect each one of the drive and running singularly, but neither has booted.
After unplugging the primary and then reattaching it is not resyncing (currently) so hopefully this may resolve the issue.
In all honesty I doubt it will resolve the issue. Because the RAID is a logical drive it will have damaged the partition on both disks. All the resync is doing is copying one drive to another really its not actually repairing anything.
If it is nearly done then allow it to continue but you'll probably find you will have to do a restore.
If it is nearly done then allow it to continue but you'll probably find you will have to do a restore.
ASKER
Phew,
FYI the Easeus Partition Master luckily only affected the boot sector of the HD before it hung.
I rebuilt this and its now working again.
Many thanks for posting the link on cleaning up space and for all you advice.
FYI the Easeus Partition Master luckily only affected the boot sector of the HD before it hung.
I rebuilt this and its now working again.
Many thanks for posting the link on cleaning up space and for all you advice.
Great news! Lucky really.
Good luck with getting some new drives. If you need any help with that, post another question (Y).
Dave
Good luck with getting some new drives. If you need any help with that, post another question (Y).
Dave
ASKER
Many thanks for your reply. I have found an article with the exact error I had here;
http://www.partition-tool.com/knowledge-base/hang-up-while-resizing-partition.htm
1. If I were to remove one of the HDs and connect this to a machine. Would it be potentially be possible to recover this? (the data ia all backed up to an external USB HD I am just paranoid something will be missed :) ). If so what should I do
2. Now if I were to purchase 2x SATA III 1Tb Hds, install them to the the empty ports, (I assume I would have to install RAID drivers to this?). I've not installed to a RAID configuration, so would I have to download specific RAID drivers for the HD or would the generic Dell one suffice?