Need help with corrupted RAID array

[Billy]

My system (XP Home SP 2) froze during a system restore and my file system
was damaged and I cannot boot to Windows or safe mode. I have two SATA
drives in a RAID 0 array. Is there any way to repair the file system? Any
third party tools, or anything else I can try?? I really need to recover
some of the files.

 

[Heirloom]

Do a Google search on "repair MBR"......IIRC, there is a means of repairing
the Master Boot Record. Also, are you able to boot using the EBD (Emergency
Boot Disc)?......if you don't have one, you can download one from
www.bootdisk.com . Not sure if a <scanreg \restore> would be helpful in
this case or not......best to wait on one of the gurus to confirm that.

For future issues, consider putting in another HD. I have a 300G, using
Acronis True Image, to completely backup my RAID 0 array. System Restore is
good, but, you can't beat a full disk backup.
Heirloom, old and backup, backup, backup

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

How do you know it is the file system that is damaged and not the raid
array?
Have you run a chkdsk yet from the Recovery Console?

One of the biggest dangers with a raid 0 array is that if something goes
wrong with a drive, recovery of data is hampered by the striping and is
often unrecoverable.

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Billy]

I don't know for sure which is damaged, this is my first system using a RAID
array. I have no experience troublshooting a RAID setup, I want to make
sure I take the right steps and not make things worse.

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

So what happens when you try to load Windows? Do you get past the POST? Is
the installation recognized (non-system disk error)? Does it start to load
WinXP then flunk out? Is there an error message? Have you tried a drive
diagnostic tool?

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Billy]

Rick
It get's past te POST, then right at the point Windows would start to load
it goes to the screen with 'Last Known Good Configuration', 'safe mode' ect.
with the suggestion to try the 'Last Known Good Configuration' which reboots
the system and brings me back to the same screen. As does selecting 'safe
mode'. The only difference is when selecting 'Safe Mode with Command
Prompt' where the screen fills up with repeating text for a split second.
All I could catch was disk0.

I tried using a 'live CD' from Knoppix which booted and ran from the CD
drive fine, but my RAID shows up as two seperate drives on the desktop. I
haven't tried any drive diagnostic tools or anything else yet. What do you
suggest I try first?

TIA
Billy

 

[Rick \Nutcase\ Rogers]

Hi,

It doesn't sound like the raid array is damaged (or you wouldn't get that
far). Boot the WinXP CD and load the Recovery Console. From the prompt, run
chkdsk c: /r

--
Best of Luck,

Rick Rogers, aka "Nutcase" - Microsoft MVP

Associate Expert - WindowsXP Expert Zone

Windows help - www.rickrogers.org

 

[Billy]

Thanks. I'll give it a shot when I get back tonight.