Server Standard 2008 Clone Hard Drive or Re-build new hard drive

[MASolutions]

Hello,

Here is the scenario:

We have a Dell Power Edge T110 running Server Std 2008 with a 500GB hard drive. When navigating folders/applications, the server "locks up" or hangs for a few seconds [sometimes longer] at random and will resume operation with no errors etc. Sometimes folders/files can be accessed without fail and at other times it freezes. I think the hard drive may be corrupted or contain bad blocks in some way. I have de-fragmented it several times to no avail, checked the eventvwr for clues; nothing.

The issue seemed to appear from the start (deployment), but thought it was "correct" itself over time.

My dilemma is, if I run a true-image clone from existing hard drive over to the new hard drive; will the issue be carried over?

If so, what is the best/easiest/fastest etc... way to "re-build" a new hard drive. (saving the existing AD, DC, etc...)

I look forward to your responses experts!

 

[kmcferrin]

Have you done a checkdisk/scandisk on the drive to see if there are issues? Is there anything else going on at the same time, perhaps related to resource contention, that could be causing the stalling? A T110 isn't that beefy of a server to start with, and if you have the OS and apps/fileshares on the same physical disk they're bound to start fighting at some point. Especially if what you have is a single SATA disk.

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[technome]

Masolutions....
The instances where the drive could be an issue is bad sectors or intermittent problems with the drive or controller electronics (with intermittant electronics issues, it is almost always the drive electronics). Sounds worthwhile cloning to see if it remedies the issue, may or may not fix the issue. Definitely run chkdsk /f before cloning.

A "rebuild" of a DC..
If you do not have another machine to introduce as another DC, with transferring over the DC roles to that machine, you might as well count on completely rebuilding the domain.

........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm

 

[itsp1965]

For those folders that you have noticed are giving you trouble, is it possible that it's the root of a long directory tree with a great number of files underneath? It could be possible that it's taking time enumerating the files/directories.
Also do you have any power management schemes enabled that might be turning off the drives when idle. Although you mentioned you have a 500GB drive, is it internal (SAS/SATA) or are you connecting to a USB drive

 

[MASolutions]

Thank you for the valuable responses. The directory trees are NOT "deep" per se. The power management scheme is always on, and the HD is an internal SATA.

This issue is very weird, as I have never encountered it before. It will hang/lock up randomly, when accessing virtually any file or program. I would prefer to clone the drive using Acronis, but again, am afraid the issues will migrate to the new drive.

 

[technome]

but again, am afraid the issues will migrate to the new drive."
A new SATA drive is inexpensive, may take a couple hours to clone, not a big expenditure in time/money. I would be afraid to rebuild, I would be expecting the same result; if you just rebuild, you have not ruled out the drive or anything else.

........................................
Chernobyl disaster..a must see pictorial

http://www.kiddofspeed.com/default.htm