RAID errors

[Duke{CLR}]

I am having an issue with my desktop PC. I have three HDDS in a RAID 5 and at boot up I gate two red warnings and in windows I get an error that windows is looking for a spare drive. When I get into the Nvidia storage monitor I get this. I am using the on board RAID controller on my 780i MB.

[Savage_Hobo]

Hey,

Do you have any error logs?
Maybe take a look at this: NVIDIA Forums Degraded Raid 5 Array

[mapes]

Hey,

Do you have any error logs?
Maybe take a look at this: NVIDIA Forums Degraded Raid 5 Array

Good post dude especially the part I quoted below. Remove the errored drive from the array and rebuild. Way Raid 5 works is when I write data to the drives I write it like this (Warning over simplified explanation to follow)

Drive1
A half of data
Drive2
B half of data
Drive3
the result of A+B data

As long as you only lose one drive you can rebuild. So if you lose Drive2 you slap in a new drive and the controller will auto rebuild it by taking the data on Drive3 and subtracting the data value of Drive1 and writing the result to the new Drive2.

So remove the errored drive from the array and re add it and you should be good to go. Note you might want to backup import stuff before doing this.

FTJoe
Dec 6 2006, 11:18 AM
Resolved - I knew I didn't know what I was doing. After reading around I realized that the rebuild will never take place until I deleted the drive from the new array that was created with just the error drive. The Nvidia MediaShield was showing two arrays, one in error with the one drive and one degraded with the healthy drives. Still took some nerve as the delete was confirming I was deleting the array of 1.09T. I confirmed and within 30 seconds of the drive being freed, the rebuild started automagically. Looks good now, love Raid 5!!! So what I didn't realize was that when the disk goes in error it ends up showing two arrays one in error, one degraded. The delete only deletes the one in error and frees the one disk for the rebuild.

[Duke{CLR}]

I am reading this in a bit of a rush but it looks like I can delete the array and it will rebuild itself. Does this mean that in that I don't have a failed drive and the problem is with the array itself or do I figure out which drive is failed before performing these tasks.

[Savage_Hobo]

I am reading this in a bit of a rush but it looks like I can delete the array and it will rebuild itself. Does this mean that in that I don't have a failed drive and the problem is with the array itself or do I figure out which drive is failed before performing these tasks.

What you can do is delete the failed drive from the array. You can see from your screenshot that the drive marked with "Error" is the failed drive, degraded means that there is a problem with the array.

Hopefully, there is nothing physically wrong with the drive and it will just get reformatted and re-built..... hopefully.....

Like Mapes said... backing up might be a good idea before you do this.

[Duke{CLR}]

I have done a complete backup on an external drive so I'm good there I will just need to figure out how to delete the drive. At this point all I could find was an option to delete the array.

[mapes]

I have done a complete backup on an external drive so I'm good there I will just need to figure out how to delete the drive. At this point all I could find was an option to delete the array.

Do not delete the array....

[mapes]

Reading that nvidia post sheds some light. Delete the array with the bad drive in it.

QUOTE(FTJoe @ Dec 6 2006, 06:18 AM)
Resolved - I knew I didn't know what I was doing. After reading around I realized that the rebuild will never take place until I deleted the drive from the new array that was created with just the error drive. The Nvidia MediaShield was showing two arrays, one in error with the one drive and one degraded with the healthy drives. Still took some nerve as the delete was confirming I was deleting the array of 1.09T. I confirmed and within 30 seconds of the drive being freed, the rebuild started automagically. Looks good now, love Raid 5!!! So what I didn't realize was that when the disk goes in error it ends up showing two arrays one in error, one degraded. The delete only deletes the one in error and frees the one disk for the rebuild.

[snapback]133853[/snapback]

[Duke{CLR}]

Later tonight when the wife get off the PC I willl try the whole delete thing and see where it takes me.

[Duke{CLR}]

Yikes! I am just like this guy in the linked thread but i haven't yet pulled the trigger.

Man am I glad I found this thread. I have the same problem. I suspected the procedure was the one you tried was the way to go. But when it came time to hit that key to delete the array, my finger wavered until I ended up a quivering mass of snot and tears. I just didn't have the cajones to do it.

Now I can bodly go where one has gone before!

This beer is dedicated to you, FTJoe!

[mapes]

Yikes! I am just like this guy in the linked thread but i haven't yet pulled the trigger.

If the error-ed drive is not in the array then delete it and your fine. As it is if you lose another drive your array is toast.

[Duke{CLR}]

Well the software only gave me one choice to delete so I went for it. It deleted the array with the error and the one that was degraded was left. When that happened a choice to rebuild popped up in the menue I hit rebuild and it has started.

Thanks for the linkage and the help guys.

[mapes]

Happy endings are my favorite

[Duke{CLR}]

I'm glad this one was happy, I had visions of reloading windows going through my head.