Home Forums Crashed Server

OK, our server crashed last Friday during a power outage. We could not get it up and running so took it to Big Box which is one of two places in my area that does computer consulting. They could not get it up and running either. They said they need to send it off to see if someone can save our data.

Two problems with this-
1. We learned that our server is only equiped for 4 drives, and actually only has three. The really sad part is, the operating system and all the data are on one drive and nothing is on the other two drives according to Big Box.

2. We had been asking them for information about purchasing servers.

Should we believe them that there really is the problem they say? Could it be that they only want to speed up the sale of a server?

When you say can't run, do you mean that it doesn't power on or that Windows doesn't load up?

If it doesn't power on at all. Likely the power supply or motherboard. The easiest way to see if you can recover the data is to put it another computer and read the data. If that basic step fails, leave it to the pros. Professional data recovery is likely over $1000. If someone is saying they can do it for 200 is probably going to use the method I told you above. Professional data recovery specialists have clean rooms (filtered air, etc.) for disassembling and repairing the hard drive. It's unlikely that a power outage should damage a drive bad enough that you would need to use this service.

This is one reason why I recommend installing things are different partitions and drives. If your OS drive gets corrupt (C:), then you lose everything. But if you distribute it, you're likely to still have your data. It's weird though that you had 2 empty drives in there...

Also, for the future, get a UPS Battery Backup.

Vicki, some of the replies at my post http://tinyurl.com/7x69hz9 got me to thinking... can you borrow your kid's laptop, install AC, use your backup, and have an emergency P2P server going while you figure this out?

David, that's a scathingly brilliant idea.
We'll try that tomorrow.
In the meantime we'll try to figure out how to use the other data on the Rev drive.

Hi Sandeep,
The server powers up but says the System File on Drive C is corrupt. It says to press R to put in the software disk and press R at the next screen. The problem is that when you press R it merely goes back through the startup process again and comes up with the same message over and over.

They tried using the software CD rom but it's just not coming up. They got the same message.

We do have a tape back-up Rev drive and a power pack, but we've used the data off it, should be interesting tomorrow.

Thanks

From what you're saying. It sounds like your hard drive is corrupt. This happens if there's a sudden loss of power especially if the system is processing data. I don't think you need a new server. I don't think your hard drive is broken. Probably the Operating system just got corrupted. Not uncommon when the power goes out.

Which software disc are you putting in? It could be that you are using a driver disc. It wants you to put in the Operating System disc. (e.g. Windows 7 disc) HOWEVER, before you attempt a repair. Plug the hard drive into a different computer and copy the data if you don't have it backed up already. You won't be able to backup programs. If you already have the data backed up, go ahead with the repair.

If you are unable to repair, you can do a fresh install. Maybe use those extra hard drives in a RAID array this time.

It would help to know:
-What Operating system you have (e.g. Windows 7, SBS)
-What the disc says
-The exact error message

How are things today, Vicki?

I am confused. What do you mean when you say you used the info off the Rev? Do you have complete bare metal backups? If so, you could pop in an extra drive or, in this case, one of the drives that are empty, and be in business in about an hour.

I hate to say it, but you have to have an AVR/UPS on your main computer. One of the nice things about servers is they tend to have dual PSUs. Sorry, I know this isn't helping. But, with a .enc backup you can just restore to any of your clients and redirect the paths.

Again, as Sandeep says, we don't know if this is WIN 7, a client or a server. Then again, I think you were looking at servers.

This is where purchasing a server from say Dell, with ProSupport with NBD support 5 days or 7 days or mission critical 2, 4, 6 hour support. You really can't expect these Big Box stores to have the type of technical know how. I feel bad for you. A RAID would have been great here.

Why not install to one of the other two drives, then load AC on it or use your backup software to restore once you are up and running. All of your data will be back.

But, can you imagine having a Dell tech there in two hours with all parts needed? Sorry, I am probably not helping.

Bert, can you really count on that sort of Dell support in most areas of the country? Sikeston looks to be about 100 miles away from St. Louis.

They say, warning: There may be some areas of the country where two hours are not feasible. They don't send Dell techs from Texas. They have contractors all over the U.S. Brewer is 150 miles away from Portland, Maine; and Portland ain't no St. Louis.

This is where IPMI is useful too. Even if your OS is corrupted they can remotely log in to the server to service it.

Dell makes a card for PCIx for that as well. Very cool.

Vicki,

What server are you using. I once was able to purchase an extended service contract even though my computer was down. They then came out and fixed it. This was Dell.

We should probably wait for her to respond. That power pack you have is an inverter and doesn't have the fast switching circuit like a UPS. That's probably why your server unexpectedly shut off. Use a UPS in the future. I think the delay for a inverter is 500 ms. That's too long for your server to stay on.

Can you just boot from the DVD and then go into repair? It sounds like you are in the BIOS.

I think she's on a POST Screen since it says something like Operating System Missing or Corrupt. My guess is that it says something along the lines of "C:\windows\system32\config\system missing or corrupt"

Either going into the BIOS and changing the boot order to the CD will let you repair it. Or insert the disc and press R. You have to insert the original SBS 2003 Operating System disc. Someone with a Technet Subscription could send you the discs. I believe there are 4 CDs for SBS 2003.

True on the POST. But, needs to go into the BIOS to change the boot order as you stated. I think there may be five, not sure, doesn't matter.

5 is with the Premium. 4 with Standard. On Technet they have just the premium version because the first 4 discs are identical to standard. The 5th disc is the addon.

You all are so awesome! I am so appreciative of your help and pushing me foward.

I am sorry that I wasn't able to respond yesterday. We had to run a laptop off my phone yesterday because we couldn't get the computers that are hardwired figured out. We discovered our "main computer" does still have internet late yesterday afternoon. We still can't get our medisoft to work on just a regular computer because it is still looking for a server path and we can't convice it not to look for a server. Anyway, we got takeout on the way home and went to bed about 7:30.

We trying to decide what to do about our network. Maybe insurance would help set it up again before we jump into another server. We think our server only has 4 gigf RAM. The person on the phone at Dell said that we need to start with 2 gig of ram and add min of 1 per user. We have 8 users at 15 stations.

Oh do I have a lot to learn from your posts:
1. What is a complete bare metal backup?
2. What is AVR/UPS on your main computer
3. What are dual PSUs?
4. Does enc.backup stand for encrypted backup?
5. What is PCIx?
6. What does 5 is with the Premium. 4 with Standard mean?
7. what is an inverter and a fast switching circuit like a UPS



Right now our server is still at Big Box, but I can look on the REV backup for enc.backup.

We tried running it from the SB2003 disks before we took it to Big Box.

We have been running sbs 2003 on a 32 bit server
The Rev drive is a tape drive that was on a scheduled backup every night.
Our AC backup hasn't worked on a consistent basis.
There were three total drives in our server. Unfortunately, they were not RAIDed and all the data was on the same drive as the OS.

The Guardian Angels helped us get AC up on one of our laptops for now. It is painfully slow, but it looks like we may have all our data except one because one of the REV tapes were bad.

Thanks again so much. Will be checking in between patients
Vicki

Oh do I have a lot to learn from your posts:
1. What is a complete bare metal backup?

A bare metal backup is one that contains system files and all other files to back up directly to an unformatted drive with nothing on it. Otherwise, you have to install the OS and then install the backup software to restore.

2. What is AVR/UPS on your main computer

UPS is an uninterruptible power supply to allow you to keep the server running and shut it down properly. An AVR is an Automated Voltage Regulator which keeps your voltage somewhere between 90 and 110 watts. This gives you "clean" power especially during brownouts. You should definitely have an AVR component to your UPS.

3. What are dual PSUs?

Dual Power Supply Units come on most server hardware if you add them. If one fries, the other kicks in immediately. PSU are notorious for failing.

4. Does enc.backup stand for encrypted backup?

Yes, but we generally refer to the AmazingCharts.enc backup as the .enc backup. Hopefully, it is set to back up to an external drive or your Rev. It will be a lifesaver.

5. What is PCIx?

On your motherboard, you have many slots to allow added cards like video cards, NIC cards, etc. There are PCIe cards and others that do different things. Not important for the moment.

6. What does 5 is with the Premium. 4 with Standard mean?

The number of discs needed to install SBS 2003. Not that important.

7. what is an inverter and a fast switching circuit like a UPS

UPS gives you instant failover in the event of a power outage. An inverter doesn't. Not important for the moment.

8. Right now our server is still at Big Box, but I can look on the REV backup for enc.backup.

I would send your biller to Best Buy to get your server as soon as possible. If your RAID is broken, they may not see info on the other two drives. Sandeep will disagree.

We tried running it from the SB2003 disks before we took it to Big Box.

OK.

We have been running sbs 2003 on a 32 bit server

Thanks. Not helpful though.

The Rev drive is a tape drive that was on a scheduled backup every night.

Again not that helpful unless an .enc backup is on it.

Our AC backup hasn't worked on a consistent basis.

Not good. I hate to say this, but I have said at least 500 times back up your entire server, then worry about .enc. You MUST have a backup every night. This is your whole practice.

There were three total drives in our server. Unfortunately, they were not RAIDed and all the data was on the same drive as the OS.

It is OK that all the data was on the same drive. If your data was on a different drive and it fried, you would have lost all your data, unless .enc files went to backup.

The Guardian Angels helped us get AC up on one of our laptops for now. It is painfully slow, but it looks like we may have all our data except one because one of the REV tapes were bad.

If they did that, then you have a recent backup. Buy, a hard drive and put it in your server. Then install AC there. You can do a RAID, but you are getting a new server.