Ongoing Server Problem (1 Viewer)

[eetaylog]

I have an HTPC setup in my living room which is attached to a server hidden away under the stairs via a router. the server is running XP, and has 4x500Gb HD's running as RAID0 using a PCI raid card.

recently the server has been crashing a lot (particularly if left idle for longer than 10 minutes, or if i try to access certain files), and im worried that one of the disks in my RAID setup is starting to die. ive narrowed it down to the RAID section because the server runs fine when i unplug the PCI card, and ive already tried reinstalling the OS.

would these be typical symptoms of a bad disk in a RAID setup?

thanks

G

 

[bfraser]

Maybe, but the controller (and its software) should be able to handle a failing disk more gracefully that causing the system to crash. It might be the controller
itself. Is there anything in the Windows Event log?

 

[eetaylog]

where can i find the event log?

im hoping that it is something as simple as the controller, or possibly the PSU? im running the server off a 430W power supply, that should be enough shouldnt it?

 

[bfraser]

You can look at it with the Windows Event Viewer (Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Event Viewer), select "System". The event descriptions can be somewhat cryptic, but they may allow you to narrow the problem between the controller and disks (or some other component).

 

[eetaylog]

ok thanks ill take a look tonight. if it crashes, will it log the problem next time i boot up, or will the event viewer be cleared due to it crashing?

 

[bfraser]

It is not cleared (unless you explicitly clear it). While it will likely log disk errors, it might not log the reason for the crash (since the O/S crashed the software can't run to log the errors). If you find some events that might be the cause, try Googling the event ID.