Need help troubleshooting Acer Aspire EasyStore H340

[GoodEnough]

This is the cube server device that has 4 hard drives in it.
I use it as a file server.

I just noticed that my EasyStore network server is dead.
The blue power light is on.
But, none of the blue hard drive bay lights are on.

The PC does not make the network connection,
so it is not recognized anymore.

I tried turning the server off and back on.
That didn't do anything.

Any ideas how I can get this thing back online?
At the least, I'd like to get some files off this thing before I toss it.

 

[Ketchup]

Some ideas in the service manual:

http://acersupport.com/acerpanam/ma...ls/SG_Aspire_easyStore_H340_BOOK_20080226.pdf

 

[GoodEnough]

I'll RTFM!! Thanks.

 

[GoodEnough]

That PDF didn't help much.

Next, I am going to try to run the restore disk the Acer.

 

[Steltek]

There is a debug board you can buy for those things that allows you to hook up a true PS2 keyboard and mouse (USB to PS2 adapters won't work) and VGA monitor cable to them which allows you to see the boot sequence for troubleshooting, get into the BIOS, and even facilitate installing alternate OSes. It was originally designed for HP MediaSmart servers, but it also is supposed to also work with the H340 hardware.

However, be aware it costs like $80-$100 (depending upon whether you buy the version with a serial port or not).

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/2015/03/25/generation-4-mediasmart-server-debug-board-now-available/

http://www.mediasmartserver.net/forums/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=14074

 

[GoodEnough]

Thanks cool idea, but whatever. Pretty sure the PS drive is clicking and dead.

I am just going to try to restore the OS onto a new HD. IF that works, I am copying everything off this Oddball server, and tossing it in the trash.
Easier to just load a 2nd $50 SATA into my desktop. NAS is way overkill, and I prefer KISS

 

[GoodEnough]

I have some old SATA drives ready to go.

I don't know how to run the restore disk ISO.
I unrar'ed it, and I don't see any kind of "setup.exe"

Do I really have to durn some DVD or CDR?
I haven't had those in a decade.

 

[GoodEnough]

I booted the ISO DVD (Home Server Restore Disk)
It can not see network drives, and I think it needs drivers.

Where can I find drivers so I can see the Acer HomeServer over the network?
Does it matter my desktop is running Win7 ?

 

[kplawe]

Have you been able to make any progress on this item? I am having the same issue I think. The fan us running but no other lights besides power. I cannot get to it since the network card is not working. I tried a USB to USB connection as well but nothing. I know it is getting power because I can see a blue light on my Seagate external USB back up if I plug it into the back of the box. This is a bummer. I need some help.

 

[GoodEnough]

Nope, never solved it. Gave up. I got some network drivers downloaded onto a USB drive, and the boot program found them, but it still can not find the Acer on the network.

I have a lot of data on those storage drives. I will NEVER again use any storage system that doesn't allow direct access to the file system by simply plugging in the drives to another PC. Idiotic.

 

[dbcooper1]

Your data is still on the drives; just put them in a system SATA port or even an external USB box and scroll through the directories. I've done it a couple times for an HP and once for an Acer server for a friend.

 

[GoodEnough]

No, for the ACER, the file system is unreadable when plugged directly into a SATA port on a different PC. Maybe yours is different.

 

[Ketchup]

No, for the ACER, the file system is unreadable when plugged directly into a SATA port on a different PC. Maybe yours is different.

See if this thread helps you folks:
http://superuser.com/questions/71889/how-to-get-data-from-a-borked-windows-home-server

Also, when hooking the drive to another computer, make sure you are looking in disk management, not just my computer.

 

[kplawe]

Disk Management wants to initialize the disk. Should I let it do that or will it wipe all my pictures/ videos/ music? It is asking for MBR or GPT. I have a 1 TB WD drive that was in my WHS.

 

[Ketchup]

lnitialize will wipe data and remove the partition. You may not able to get data off by nornal means if that is all you are being offered.

Google "lost partition recovery."

 

[kplawe]

I put the primary WHS driver into my computer. I can see the Documents folder successfully and I am in the process of copying every thing over to a hard drive that was in my computer already. I am wondering what might happen if I put both drives (not sure I have the power to do that) in my computer? I guess there is nothing for me to lose at this point. I will wait the hour it takes to copy the documents folder over and then try that next. Thanks for everyone's help. I wish we could find the right answer to make it easier.

 

[Ketchup]

These are tough because direct access is quite difficult, unless you want to invest in a riser card. Have you asked Acer how much they want for recovery software on these, or do you already have some?

 

[ArisVer]

No, for the ACER, the file system is unreadable when plugged directly into a SATA port on a different PC. Maybe yours is different.

Have you tried reading them with a Linux live disc? I wonder what file system the server used or if they were RAIDed.

 

[SERT Data Recov]

I wonder what file system the server used or if they were RAIDed.

This is my question as well: "Are these RAIDed." I'm assuming they are, and this point is crucial in knowing how to get the data off.

If you don't know for sure I can probably figure it out for you if you tell me the size of each disk, and how big the storage container was that you were saving files to.

I'm going to jump out there and guess it's a RAID 5, that's usually the case with a NAS with 4 drives in it, that isn't Drobo or Synology types.

DO NOT INITIALIZE ANYTHING - EVER!!!

 

[Ketchup]

This is my question as well: "Are these RAIDed." I'm assuming they are, and this point is crucial in knowing how to get the data off.

If you don't know for sure I can probably figure it out for you if you tell me the size of each disk, and how big the storage container was that you were saving files to.

I'm going to jump out there and guess it's a RAID 5, that's usually the case with a NAS with 4 drives in it, that isn't Drobo or Synology types.

DO NOT INITIALIZE ANYTHING - EVER!!!

Windows Home Server uses drive extender by default. At least it did last I looked at it. Read more here:
http://www.howtogeek.com/howto/36458/9-alternatives-for-windows-home-servers-drive-extender/

It is nice for adding drives and still see all your data on one big drive, at least from an overview perspective.