I have a server running W2K3 SBS, acting as domain controller, AD, Exchange server, and file server. I have three partitions on the RAID array, C: contains important OS functions, D: Contains important programs (exchange, system specific add ons, etc) E: is my file storage.
E is fully functioning in various location around the network right now, so it is no concern. E: is also the partition that is the reason for the failure of the Array. There is an unreadbale spot (believed to be physical damage from a sever overheat a while back) and all mfg tools will not restore the defective drive. Moreover, the RAID is in a precarious state, as the array will not rebuild itself in the case of a failed drive, since it wants to rebuild the current array to restore file structure and consistency first.
So here is my question, I need the simplest, pain free way to restore this server back to full functionality, complete with Domain, AD, Exchange mailboxes, etc. The server is up and operating at the moment, and I ususally have no problems accessing any data, as long as I stay out of certain parts of the E: partition. I have Norton Ghost 10, but it states it is for XP and 2000 only. Any experience with Ghost working on W2K3SBS? Any other similar image restore options?
Lastly, does anyone know of a good sector or bit copier that will work across semi-corrupted sectors of a HDD. I ran the MFG utility, and it read across the damaged sectors, but after 36 hours of running, it was finding a complete section of the corrupted disk (apparently) damaged (but still readable on surface scan), and we were aproaching 5000 bad sectors, so I cancelled the disk scan.
Oh, one last thing, there is nothing critical in any of these remaining partitions that would warrant spending much money on a solution. Just trying to save as much time and get back functioning as quickly as possible. Email storage would be the most critical - and I am going to archive most everyones emails locally on their machines. But I don't know much about Exchange, and want to make sure those mailboxes are retreivable once the restore is done. I began reading about ExMerge, and assume that will help me through most of what I need to do to synch these mailboxes up.
Interstingly while typing this up, the server crashed, so it must not be as stable as I thought (however, there was some disk activity going on).
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.
E is fully functioning in various location around the network right now, so it is no concern. E: is also the partition that is the reason for the failure of the Array. There is an unreadbale spot (believed to be physical damage from a sever overheat a while back) and all mfg tools will not restore the defective drive. Moreover, the RAID is in a precarious state, as the array will not rebuild itself in the case of a failed drive, since it wants to rebuild the current array to restore file structure and consistency first.
So here is my question, I need the simplest, pain free way to restore this server back to full functionality, complete with Domain, AD, Exchange mailboxes, etc. The server is up and operating at the moment, and I ususally have no problems accessing any data, as long as I stay out of certain parts of the E: partition. I have Norton Ghost 10, but it states it is for XP and 2000 only. Any experience with Ghost working on W2K3SBS? Any other similar image restore options?
Lastly, does anyone know of a good sector or bit copier that will work across semi-corrupted sectors of a HDD. I ran the MFG utility, and it read across the damaged sectors, but after 36 hours of running, it was finding a complete section of the corrupted disk (apparently) damaged (but still readable on surface scan), and we were aproaching 5000 bad sectors, so I cancelled the disk scan.
Oh, one last thing, there is nothing critical in any of these remaining partitions that would warrant spending much money on a solution. Just trying to save as much time and get back functioning as quickly as possible. Email storage would be the most critical - and I am going to archive most everyones emails locally on their machines. But I don't know much about Exchange, and want to make sure those mailboxes are retreivable once the restore is done. I began reading about ExMerge, and assume that will help me through most of what I need to do to synch these mailboxes up.
Interstingly while typing this up, the server crashed, so it must not be as stable as I thought (however, there was some disk activity going on).
Thanks in advance for any suggestions.