BSOD - Need to Access Files on RAID-0 Array

[EXCellR8]

So I ran into a problem with my system, or more specifically the OS drives. I have Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit installed on a pair of 80GB SSD drives, in a RAID-0 configuration. I can no longer boot from the drive array, not even in Safe Mode, but I need to somehow access the files. I may have one or two files that need to be replaced manually, but obviously I cannot simply slave 2 drives that are in a striped RAID array.

So my question is really how do I access these files where I can perhaps copy, paste, rename or delete from my OS drive(s)? Unfortunately, I don't have a OEM disc to use and my only BART CD is an older Avast disc. When I used the file explorer on that disc my RAID drives were not accessible due to not having the drivers loaded, and I don't know how to do that...

I would greatly appreciate any help with this, as I have no idea how to access files on my RAID hard drives.

 

[Cerb]

First, don't mess with any SATA/RAID BIOS settings!

The best bet will be to get another drive, install Windows on it, and then, with drivers for whatever you use for the RAID (Intel? AMD? Jmicron? SI?). Try to access the array from this new install.

If you don't have an OS disc, get one now, if you want a chance to get your data. Most OEMs will ship you one, though may charge a small fee.

 

[groberts101]

As Cerb already said, all you need to do is access the array as a secondary drive from another OS volume.

If you can't find a W7 ISO to use?.. then there's always W8 too. If you do find a W7 ISO?(which is very easy to do).. then you could always try to repair the volume first too.

 

[EXCellR8]

I haven't touched the BIOS settings because I know that data can be erased. I have a not-so-legitimate Windows ISO burned that I tried to use for startup repair but it said it was not compatible with the version installed etc etc. I stupidly tried to install Windows on my little USB hard drive, which you cannot do. I knew this but I think the frustration was starting to cloud my thought process.

Worst case scenario I did come across a fairly recent image of the disks, from December of last year. I'd rather not have to revert back to that seeing as it was months ago but there's always that option if need be. I have worked with this array in the past and Acronis TrueImage has always worked, but then I'd need to sort out the missing data since the last backup. A bummer, but it beats a complete reformat by a long shot.

So, Windows 7/8 ISO in hand, do i proceed to install the OS on another drive and see if I can access the SSD array? I can take one of the simple storage volumes out for now (also to isolate my personal files) and see if I can get access to the old OS files via the new OS installation. Hopefully it works because I'm out of ideas...

 

[Sephire]

Yikes

 

[Cerb]

I have a not-so-legitimate Windows ISO

Disregarding the obvious, here, if you made a Windows 7 software RAID 0, any version of 7 should read it (IIRC, RAID 1, 10, and 5 need more expensive Windows versions, but 0 can be seen by any). If you made it with the BIOS or chipset software, you'll need to install relevant drivers/software for it to see it.

Accessing your RAID should not require activating Windows or otherwise passing a Genuine Advantage check, and any Windows 7 gives you weeks before it even starts becoming annoying.

So, Windows 7/8 ISO in hand, do i proceed to install the OS on another drive and see if I can access the SSD array?

Yes. Get all relevant drivers installed, and see if you can access it. If you can, try pulling the data off, then once your newer data is safely off of them, disconnect the new drive, re-install, and then copy your data back. If that's an issue, but it can mount the volume, run a chkdsk and hope for the best.

Yikes

Yeah. RAID 0 should really be used by people that really need it, because of issues like this, IMO.

 

[EXCellR8]

I've been using the array for quite awhile I don't see how it could be considered unnecessary just because I'm having an issue. Sh** happens; the technology and options are there so I'm simply taking advantage of it... nothing is error-proof.

Anyway I'm planning to use TrueImage once again to make an image of the array and then mount it using another computer. I should be able to gain access to the files that way and then re-image it back to the RAID-0 array later on, although I may try it on a dummy drive first just in case. I've used TI to image this very OS install from single drive to RAID-0 array in the past (and not too long ago) so I should be able to get it to work. Just gotta find my notes...

Thanks for the help

 

[Cerb]

I've been using the array for quite awhile I don't see how it could be considered unnecessary just because I'm having an issue. Sh** happens; the technology and options are there so I'm simply taking advantage of it... nothing is error-proof.

No, but a single 160GB drive would be much easier to work with.

Anyway I'm planning to use TrueImage once again to make an image of the array and then mount it using another computer.

If you can image the array as a single volume from within TrueImage, you should be good to go.

 

[Nothinman]

Booting from a Linux Live CD or USB stick should be able to assemble and mount the volume, assuming it's still ok.

And this is why you don't use RAID 0 for anything you actually care about...

 

[groberts101]

Anyway I'm planning to use TrueImage once again to make an image of the array and then mount it using another computer. I should be able to gain access to the files that way and then re-image it back to the RAID-0 array later on, although I may try it on a dummy drive first just in case.

Not sure which version you run?.. but most(if not all) PC's that have TI installed will be able to open the saved image and actually copy the data you need without the need to mount it or restore it to another drive. It can also utilize Windows backups as well. One of the nice things about TI.

But if your in need of the entire image as mentioned above?.. probably a moot point. Just be aware that whatever is wrong with that volume in the first place.. will obviously be carried through when the image is reused. Which will leave you right back where you started as a result. The last known good image is probably going to be your best bet when combined with the trick mentioned above. Will at least save you the time of having to juggle that image around to get any newer data saved since that last Dec backup.

 

[Cerb]

But if your in need of the entire image as mentioned above?.. probably a moot point. Just be aware that whatever is wrong with that volume in the first place.. will obviously be carried through when the image is reused. Which will leave you right back where you started as a result.

If the RIAD 0 is successfully copied as a volume to a single other device, or image on another device, would that not make the result one that can readily be checked for correctness by Windows' own chkdsk? If RAID-related metadata is permanently screwed up, then it's hopeless, but if some bad info can be discarded to get a good state back...

 

[groberts101]

If the RIAD 0 is successfully copied as a volume to a single other device, or image on another device, would that not make the result one that can readily be checked for correctness by Windows' own chkdsk? If RAID-related metadata is permanently screwed up, then it's hopeless, but if some bad info can be discarded to get a good state back...

yep.. it would. I was just pointing out that if the volume in not bootable now?.. then restoring it after the fact will do nothing to change that fact. I assume the ability, or lack of, to run chkdsk or see any potential benefit would remain the same as well.

If it were me?.. I would use that last known good image from Dec and then just copy/reinstall anything that's happened since then. So, in that sense it would just be easier to make a backup of the corrupted install and not worry about restoring it anywhere. Just access it from the HDD it was stored on after the newly imaged array is back in business.

 

[Cerb]

yep.. it would. I was just pointing out that if the volume in not bootable now?.. then restoring it after the fact will do nothing to change that fact. I assume the ability, or lack of, to run chkdsk or see any potential benefit would remain the same as well.

That I don't doubt. I've been assuming the OP was going to re-install once some set of newer files were either recovered or determined unrecoverable.

 

[taltamir]

I need to somehow access the files. I may have one or two files that need to be replaced manually

It sounds to me like the only reason you "need" to access the files individually is to repair the OS manually, a waste of time when you can just reinstall it (which does not even require a reformat if you do not want to lose data stored on the drive; it does make your users directory a bit messy but it keeps everything but OS files).

So why are you even doing this instead of just re-installing?

Or is it that you actually need to recover personal data files that are the array? (which are for some odd reason on a RAID0 array without backup, shame on you).

Oh, and as others said a single SSD at double the size would be better.

 

[EXCellR8]

So why are you even doing this instead of just re-installing?

I was using a beta set of graphics drivers which I believe uninstalled something it shouldn't have when I removed them. When I restarted the computer I got a blue screen and the OS would not boot, not even in safe mode.

...as for a backup I have a TI archive for December of last year, which I may end up using if I can't get this sorted out in the next few days. I think my idea with Acronis will work though, granted I can still pull an image from the two RAID disks.

Thanks for the further input; sorry for the delay in responding...

 

[El Norm]

People hype up raid-0 so much but rarely mention situations like this.

 

[exdeath]

I was using a beta set of graphics drivers which I believe uninstalled something it shouldn't have when I removed them. When I restarted the computer I got a blue screen and the OS would not boot, not even in safe mode.

...as for a backup I have a TI archive for December of last year, which I may end up using if I can't get this sorted out in the next few days. I think my idea with Acronis will work though, granted I can still pull an image from the two RAID disks.

Thanks for the further input; sorry for the delay in responding...

You need a boot disk with access to the array regardless (read: vendor drivers).

The blue screen would be easy to fix, just backup system, sam, software, security, default in c: \windows\system32\config and replaced with a copy from c: \windows\system32\config\RegBack.

 

[exdeath]

People hype up raid-0 so much but rarely mention situations like this.

Most of us with RAID 0 don't mess with situations like this, we reimage from last backup in less than 5 minutes and it's done. If you do RAID 0 without backups or a rapid recovery solution in place, you're doing it very wrong.

 

[groberts101]

Most of us with RAID 0 don't mess with situations like this, we reimage from last backup in less than 5 minutes and it's done. If you do RAID 0 without backups or a rapid recovery solution in place, you're doing it very wrong.

uhh.. yup. My 6 drive array is back to fresh in 10 minutes flat including the SE of all 6 SSD's.

because of that.. I don't even bother fixing anything that takes more than 5 minutes to look at these days.

 

[El Norm]

Most of us with RAID 0 don't mess with situations like this, we reimage from last backup in less than 5 minutes and it's done. If you do RAID 0 without backups or a rapid recovery solution in place, you're doing it very wrong.

Absolutely... but unfortunately there are plenty that do it wrong.

 

[EXCellR8]

Feel free to start a new thread where you can gloat all you want about how you guys are masters at data management... as it's not really of much help to me. I'm sure you've never broken anything before.

TI 2011 backed up the array just fine, and I was able to have a look at the files. Only problem is I think I may need to make an incremental archive instead. When I copied any new files to the mounted archive it made a second file and it won't let me consolidate the original with the edited version. Trying to find information on that but I think I missed something...

 

[Cerb]

TI 2011 backed up the array just fine, and I was able to have a look at the files. Only problem is I think I may need to make an incremental archive instead. When I copied any new files to the mounted archive it made a second file and it won't let me consolidate the original with the edited version. Trying to find information on that but I think I missed something...

If you got the data off, explode both images out to files on some drive. Do old first, then new second, so that newer replaces older, if you need newer files. Then, use the old image to get a bootable OS back. With a bootable OS, you can then get updates and software to catch up, and just make a whole new image. Since it is guaranteed to be <160GB, it won't take long enough to make that you should worry about merging the images. Get yourself back up and running well, then just do a fresh complete backup overnight.

 

[groberts101]

Feel free to start a new thread where you can gloat all you want about how you guys are masters at data management... as it's not really of much help to me. I'm sure you've never broken anything before

I believe you misinterpreted what was written above. It was purely a response to El Norm's small "raid bashing" comment.

I've been using raids for long enough that I've broken plenty of things by now. lol

As for the way forward there?.. I believe Cerb's advice is rather sound so far.

 

[taltamir]

I was using a beta set of graphics drivers which I believe uninstalled something it shouldn't have when I removed them. When I restarted the computer I got a blue screen and the OS would not boot, not even in safe mode.

...as for a backup I have a TI archive for December of last year, which I may end up using if I can't get this sorted out in the next few days. I think my idea with Acronis will work though, granted I can still pull an image from the two RAID disks.

Thanks for the further input; sorry for the delay in responding...

This doesn't answer my question.
Why don't you just reinstall windows? if you need data off the RAID0 array you can even choose to do so without reformating.