How do I troubleshoot a RAID5 volume?

Use this checklist if a RAID 5 (Parity) volume is reported as Degraded.

Typical Symptoms

  • During POST, the RAID BIOS (Configuration Utility) prompt is displayed for approximately 8 seconds, and indicates a Degraded status.

    • Note: RAID BIOS prompt is displayed approximately two seconds, when RAID volume status is Normal or 2 or more SATA drives are detected and a RAID Volume is not detected.
  • Windows VISTA briefly displays a RAID Volume Degraded message when restarted.

Notes

  • A RAID 5 volume is reported as Degraded when one of its member drives fails or has become disconnected
  • If a failed drive is replaced with an appropriate drive, or a disconnected RAID 5 member drive can be successfully reconnected, the Degraded RAID 5 volume can be returned to Normal status through an automatic rebuild process
  • During the rebuild process, POST continues to display the RAID BIOS prompt for approximately 8 seconds, and indicates Rebuild status

Enter RAID BIOS

Important: The RAID BIOS is not accessible unless RAID is enabled in System BIOS. There also must be at least one RAID drive member or more than one SATA drive detected. It is possible to have a single RAID member drive present if one or more other RAID drive members have failed, are not properly connected, or have been removed.

  1. Restart computer.

  2. Enter system BIOS Setup and verify RAID is enabled.

    1. At Gateway logo screen, press F2 key repeatedly.

    2. Select Advanced/Drive Configuration page.

    3. Check SATA Drive configuration to make sure RAID is set to Enabled or Configure SATA as is set to RAID. If setting is correct, exit BIOS Setup.

  3. Restart computer.

  4. When prompted, press CTRL+I keys repeatedly to enter RAID BIOS. If you miss the prompt, restart computer and start pressing CTRL+I keys repeatedly after Gateway logo screen.

    CTRL+I prompt

    5. Note: This illustration is only a representation of the RAID BIOS prompt screen. Values may or may not match your configuration.

    Note: When there is a RAID problem, the prompt is displayed for 8 seconds. When RAID status is normal, prompt is displayed for only a couple seconds.

    RAID BIOS screen

  5. If unable to enter RAID BIOS, refer to Desktop Hard Drive Not Detected checklist for Windows XP or Windows Vista and start troubleshooting at the Check BIOS settings step.

Check the status of the RAID volume

    RAID1 Degraded volume

    • If Status is Normal or Rebuild, RAID Volume is OK. To resolve non-RAID issues, refer to Discovery Questions then choose the corresponding checklist.
    • If more than one volume is listed, escalate issue.
    • If any RAID volume Member Disk is not listed in Physical Disks section of RAID BIOS, refer to Desktop Hard Drive Not Detected checklist for Windows XP or Windows Vista and start troubleshooting at Reseat cables step.

    Note: RAID 5 requires at least two RAID Member Disks and can support three.

Check to see if the RAID volume status is Automatic Rebuild

  1. Enter RAID BIOS.

  2. Check for displayed volume status of Rebuild. Rebuild starts automatically when procedures in Desktop Hard Drive Not Detected checklist for Windows XP or Windows Vista have reconnected a good volume member disk.

    Note: The Rebuild process continues until data on both drives is identical, which may take a few hours to complete. The computer can be used normally, but you may experience a slight performance decrease.

  3. If procedures from the Desktop Hard Drive Not Detected checklist for Windows XP or Windows Vista fail to reconnect missing RAID member drives, refer to the Replace failed drives step.

Until the Rebuild process completes:

  • POST displays RAID BIOS prompt for 8 seconds indicating Rebuild status.
  • Windows Vista displays a red flashing RAID icon in the system tray. A warning bubble is displayed in the lower-right corner of the desktop when VISTA starts.
  • In both Windows Vista and Windows XP, the Intel® Matrix Storage Console utility displays status of Rebuilding.

To enter the Intel® Matrix Storage Console utility:

  1. Click Start, then click All Programs.

  2. Click Intel Matrix Storage Manager, then click Intel Matrix Storage Console.

  3. In Windows Vista, if User Account Control dialog box appears, click Allow. The Intel Matrix Storage Console opens.

Replace the failed hard drives

  1. Make sure computer is turned off.

  2. Replace failed hard drives. Refer to Product pages for replacement procedure.

    3. Note: Gateway recommends replacing failed RAID volume drive members with new identical drives (same manufacturer and model). If different size drives are used, volume size is limited by size of smallest drive member.

  3. Restart computer.

Start rebuild process

  1. Enter RAID BIOS.

  2. If you see a Degraded Volume detected prompt, press the Enter key to select the rebuild target drive.

    • RAID BIOS indicates Rebuild status.

    • The volume is automatically rebuilt.

  3. If a Degraded Volume detected prompt was not displayed, or if the above step fails to change status to Rebuild, escalate the issue.

If following the above procedures did not resolve your problem, please contact Gateway through one of the following methods: