Storage & RAID Troubleshooting 5.3

System Docs

A resource used to troubleshoot storage issues, along with knowledge bases, service manuals, and user forums.

SSD (Solid-State Drive)

No moving parts; wears out from read/write cycles over time.

Mean Time Between Failure (MTBF)

Estimated lifespan of a storage device.

Storage Maintenance

No physical maintenance; rely on backup plans and replacement timing.

Slow Performance – HDD

Maintain free space, defragment regularly, check disk speed and interface type.

Slow Performance – SSD

Optimize file system, update firmware, use manufacturer tools, upgrade SATA version, enable TRIM, and keep under 90% full.

Failure to Boot – "OS Not Found"

May occur if OS is missing, boot order is wrong, MBR is damaged, or wrong disk is selected in BIOS/UEFI.

Fix Boot Issue – Optical Disc

Remove disc from drive and reboot if BIOS is trying to boot from it.

Drive Not Recognized – BIOS/UEFI

Check power and SATA connections; suspect drive failure if those are fine.

Application Crash

May require reboot, debugging, and checking logs for error clues.

Crash Screens (BSOD/SPOD)

Can be caused by fatal system errors or app failure. Try reboot, system restore, virus scan, driver rollback, BIOS/OS update, permission repair, or clear cache.

Data Loss or Corruption

HDD/SSD issue indicating failure or damage to components.

IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second)

Measures performance; lower values may suggest drive issues. Use Windows Performance Monitor to track.

RAID Issue – OS Cannot Find Array (Hardware RAID)

Missing RAID controller driver or failed controller. Fix: Install driver or replace controller, rebuild array, restore data.

RAID Issue – OS Cannot Find Array (Software RAID)

May be caused by corrupted OS files or faulty storage devices in the array.

RAID Stops Working with Driver Installed

Caused by failed RAID controller or failed drive(s) in array.

RAID 0 – Drive Failure

Loss of one disk causes total data loss. Fix: Replace disk, rebuild, restore from backup.

RAID with Redundancy (1, 5, 1+0, 0+1)

Can tolerate some drive failures. Replace failed disk and let RAID restore data via mirroring or parity.

HDDs Are Sealed

No internal repairs possible—if it's failing, replace the whole drive.

Storage Interfaces

Older interfaces like PATA are slower; upgrade to newer SATA for better performance.

Simple Boot Failures

Wrong boot order or higher-number SATA ports can cause "OS Not Found" errors.

Removable Media Boot

Error occurs if USB or optical disc is left in and BIOS tries to boot from it.

Disconnected Boot Drive

A loose or unplugged drive can trigger boot failure.

MBR Corruption Details

MBR is on the first sector; BIOS relies on it to find OS—/fixmbr, /fixboot, /rebuildbcd can fix it.

Startup Repair Tool

Can restore corrupted, missing, or damaged OS files via recovery media.

S.M.A.R.T. Errors

Drive monitoring system that warns of imminent failure—back up and replace immediately.

RAID Stops Working Expanded

Covers controller failure and multiple drive failures in RAID 0 vs RAID with redundancy.