[Ham-Computers] RE: SATA HD failures on Promise RAID 1 controller
johngadd at comcast.net
johngadd at comcast.net
Tue Nov 14 00:27:10 EST 2006
A good battery backup is the solution
-------------- Original message --------------
From: "Duane Fischer, W8DBF" <dfischer at usol.com>
> Additionally, going finger in socket with Aaron's keen observations, also
> check the current at the wall outlet. This can vary considerably during high
> customer use periods throughout the day and evening. It is less costly for
> the utility company to generate more current than less current. So guess
> which way they lean?
>
> While there is no sure thing in life, except Fischer's Law: the only sure
> thing, is that there is no sure thing! It sure does no harm to have adequate
> voltage surge protection. I have a plug into the wall outlet surge
> suppressor that allows you to plug one device into it. I plug a six outlet
> power strip in there, which also has both surge protection and a circuit
> breaker with reset switch. The UPC filtered and regulated power
> supply/battery backup is plugged into the power strip. There have been four
> times I remember that this has saved my bacon, or at least prevented a
> crispy rump roast here in the Ham Shack! (chuckle)
>
> As usual, Aaron's advice is good food for thought. But I would also cover
> all the bases and be sure that the wall current is:
>
> A. Adequate and not running on the low side during peak use hours or at
> 'any' time.
> B. That the wall current is not dangerously high and causing instability, as
> well as possible failure and/or damage, to the computer's power supply
> C. If you have a VOM, or have a friend with one that knows how to use it,
> check the current/voltage and how much the computer's PS is drawing.
> Sometimes the hardware you have added may excede the safe maximum power
> output of the internal computer PS. Strain can = failure!
>
>
> Duane Fischer, W8DBF
> dfischer at usol.com
> HHI web site: http://www.w9wze.net
> Historic Halligan Radio Project:
> http://www.hhrp/w9wze.net/
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Hsu, Aaron (NBC Universal)"
> To: "I>Ham-Computers"
> Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 8:04 PM
> Subject: [Ham-Computers] RE: SATA HD failures on Promise RAID 1 controller
>
>
> > Mike,
> >
> > I would seriously look into a possible power supply problem. You didn't
> > mention what the specific drive failures were. One drive failing in a
> > RAID 1 set is probable (not uncommon). Both at the same time is
> > suspicious. Now that one of the replacement drives has failed (with no
> > other equipment changes), start looking for a root cause to the failures.
> > The power supply is a likely culprit. It's extremely rare that a drive
> > controller would cause a physical drive failure, but if the signaling
> > voltages are wrong, that could be a cause.
> >
> > How old is the system? Don't forget that a few years ago, industrial
> > espionage "gone wrong" caused a *LOT* of electrolytic capacitor failures
> > (a electrolyte formula was stolen, but it was missing a stabilizing
> > ingredient...in short, the caps would vent hydrogen and blow). Many
> > vendors unknowingly purchased caps with the unstable electrolyte which
> > caused equipment failure within two years. The electrolyte was used
> > primarily in larger capacitors (>1000uF) typically found in power supply
> > circuits.
> >
> > Ironically, this past weekend, I worked on a system that had a power
> > supply failure 1 year ago; but this time, the hard drive failed. I
> > replaced the HD and everything seemed to work fine until I dropped the
> > system off with the client...the system refused to boot. After 15 minutes
> > of "tinkering", I took the system back to my workbench and spent 30
> > minutes checking all the cable connections and bench testing the power
> > supply (including checking ripple on a 'scope) - still no go. So, out
> > comes the motherboard from the case - BINGO! Of 19 "larger" electrolytic
> > caps, 9 were bulging and 4 had burst and were leaking from the top. These
> > caps were part of the voltage regulator circuitry for the CPU. A brief
> > search on the net and I discovered that these 1500uF and 3300uF caps can
> > drop to as low as 75uF after they burst and leak. This would cause power
> > instability that could blow the main power supply (which previously
> > happened). For reference, the motherboard was from a high-tier vendor
> > (Gigabyte). Asus, Abit, and other motherboard manufacturers (as well as
> > many cell phone manufacturers) were also affected by this industrial
> > espionage gone wrong.
> >
> > So, before you replace the drive(s) again, do a more thorough check into
> > why the drives are failing. The caps I mentioned are also found (in
> > larger sizes) in power supplies and if the power supply caps have vented
> > (or burst), you could be seeing abnormal voltages or high-voltage spikes
> > on the power leads which could be causing your drive failures.
> >
> > As for re-installing the OS, it depends on the "format" the drive is in.
> > I remember the older Promise controllers used different drive parameters
> > to access the drive (as opposed to the parameters set by the BIOS). This
> > difference prevented you from moving the drive from the Promise controller
> > to the on-board IDE controller. One way around this is to use a drive
> > imaging utility (such as GHOST) to do a drive to drive transfer. Install
> > the new drive on the on-board IDE controller and keep the "working" RAID
> > drive on the Promise. Then use the utility to "image" the drives.
> > Another option is to continue to use the Promise controller in a
> > single-drive configuration - I believe you just turn "off" the RAID 1
> > function and let it run the drive as a single drive.
> >
> >
> > 73 and good luck!
> >
> > - Aaron Hsu, NN6O
> >
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > Sent: Monday, November 13, 2006 4:29 PM
> > Subject: [Ham-Computers] SATA HD failures on Promise RAID 1 controller
> >
> > ASUS A7V Deluxe MB
> > Windows XP Pro
> >
> > About a year ago I had two Maxtor 250 GB SATA drives fail in RAID 1 on the
> > Promise PDC20378 controller of an ASUS A7V Deluxe MB. I replaced both
> > failed drives with Seagate 250 GB SATA drives. Now, it appears one of the
> > Seagate drives failed--upon reboot I'm getting the disk failure error
> > message (one drive failed). I don't understand why hard drives on this
> > motherboard are experiencing such a high failure rate. However, I suspect
> > the Promise RAID controller is to blame. I installed the most recent
> > driver when I replaced both drives.
> >
> > Should I abandon RAID and just use one hard drive? My system is working
> > okay otherwise, even with the failed hard drive message. If I decide to
> > remove the failed drive and just use the one good drive, how do I go about
> > doing this? I assume I can do this without having to reload the operating
> > system, applications and data?
> >
> > If I purchase a new Seagate 250 GB SATA drive, can I replace the failed
> > drive without having to reload the operating system, applications and
> > data?
> > The instructions don't go into detail on this, but indicates it's
> > possible.
> >
> > Thank you.
> >
> > 73 de Mike, N9BOR
> > A-1, FISTS, JARL A-1, SMC
> > http://www.n9bor.us
> > http://www.k9ya.org
> >
> > di dah dit - The only Roger Beep you'll ever need.
> > Let your fingers do the talking - Morse code.
> > My designated driver is a 12BY7A.
> >
> > ______________________________________________________________
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> >
> >
> >
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>
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