5.2 - CompTIA A+ Core 1

Read/write failure

Occurs when the storage device cannot properly read data from or write data to a disk or storage medium.

Light-emitting diode (LED) status indicators

Indicators that show the status of power or activity in a storage device.

Grinding noises

Sounds due to failures of mechanical components in hard disk drives, such as actuator arms.

Clicking sounds

Symptoms indicating potential hard disk drive failure.

Bootable device not found

An error message indicating that the system cannot find a proper boot device.

BIOS

Basic Input/Output System; firmware that initializes and tests hardware during the booting process.

Data loss/corruption

Occurs when data becomes inaccessible or altered, often due to hard drive failures.

Operating system not recognized

Error that indicates a storage drive is present, but there is no operating system (e.g., Windows).

Troubleshooting storage device failures

Check data and power connections, check the interfaces (e.g., SATA), check if the boot sequence is correct in BIOS (i.e., if the booting is from the internal drive).

RAID 0

RAID configuration requiring two or more functional disks; one disk failure breaks the data array.

RAID 1

RAID configuration requiring two or more disks; the array works as long as one drive is functional.

RAID 5

RAID configuration requiring three disks; one disk is needed for parity.

RAID 6

RAID configuration requiring four disks; two disks are needed for parity.

RAID 10

RAID configuration requiring four disks; consists of a stripe of mirrors.

Self-monitoring and Reporting Technology (SMART)

Diagnostic tool that monitors the reliability of hard drives and SSDs for potential failures.

Input/output operations per second (IOPS)

Metric that measures the performance or read/write times of a storage device.

Lower IOPS

Often a sign of hard drive failure, indicating reduced performance.

Missing drives in OS

Situation where shared drives do not appear on a computer.

RAID controller

A hardware component that manages the disks and ensures proper operation of a RAID array.

Audible alarm

Sound indicating an issue or failure in a storage device.

Hard drive diagnostics

Tests run to assess the health and functionality of a hard drive.

Troubleshooting storage disk failures

Backup data if possible, check for loose/damaged cables, check for overheating, check if the hard drive receives enough power, and check storage device diagnostics