12 replies to this topic

[Swampscottian]

I had my system disk start to fail on my Acer Easystore H340. Luckily I have a backup of the server on a USB attached drive so I figured I would just buy a new disk and start from scratch using the Server Restore disk. I opted to do a "factory reset" which formats the drive in the server via a network connected PC. The problem is that the installation would continually get stuck with an "unknown error". I was able to get it started again a number of times so that I could actually get the OS back on the server. Unfortunately it reached its limit trying to configure the WHS computer backup and cannot make it past this during the installation.

I was able to get in to the server via remote desktop and poke around.The D partition was not formatted so I formatted it hoping that would solve the backup config problem. No luck. I also tried to manually start the WHS Backup Service but could not keep it running. The message saying that some services may not run if they have no job presently. This is a brand new bare disk and I am at a total loss for what the problem is. Anyone have any experience with this? I suspect that it has something to do with the WHS Backup service but don't know where to go from here.

[Drashna Jaelre (WGS)]

Hmmm... Odd. If this was a normal machine (not a preloaded system), I'd ask for setup logs, but I don't think they'll exist.

Specificially, at what point does it fail?

[Swampscottian]

The Acer Easystores are a bit of a challenge in that they are consumer grade by design and solving the issues is less straight forward than if it were a regular file server. This unit is headless and you need to be on the network to run the installation via a client computer, which in my mind, opens the door to other problems. At the very least it complicates the process when things go wrong. Here's a little more on the process I have gone through so far:

[/left]

I followed the directions posted here for the proper startup procedure which is similar to instructions I have seen elsewhere; removed connector software on client, held paper clip in reset, power up server, started recover program > chose factory reset. All goes well for a while and the disk is formatted and the server reboots. During the connector installation the problems begin and after I enter the server name and admin pw I click to go to the next window and the installation program gets hung up and I get an error on a blue screen with a big red X saying that "an error occurred in Windows Home Server Setup" I am asked to go back and try again or restart the wizard. It appears that if I go back the setup will pick up where it left off and continue but I had to do this at least 50 times while the system tried to join the WHS. This kept happening but eventually it makes it the "configuring computer backup" stage. Unfortunately I never make it past this stage and this is where I bail out. I have since tried to install the connector via http://<servername>:55000and this still fails to successfully configure the computer backup as well.

[/left]

Here's what I know.

[/left]

• I am able to get into the server via remote desktop. I see that I have a C & D partition but the D is not formatted. Is this normal and do I allows WHS to format it when prompted after opening the D?
• When I attempt to start the WHS console on the server it will ask for a password for the hardware & health monitor service and as soon I type a character it closes and the consoles flashes for a second and is gone. A message comes up stating that a component is missing.......
• I found in the WHS event viewer that there is an ID 275 stating that “no volume contains enough space to create the client backup database. At least 20GB is required.” Does this have anything to do with there not being a D drive formatted?

In the end, I am not sure if all these issues are related or if it’s a series of different issues. Either way, I am at a loss.

[/left]

[Swampscottian]

I have limited progress to report this evening. I figured I would try to troubleshoot the WHS Console connection problems and found thread out here that suggested renaming all of the Home Server Console Tab DLL files one at a time to find out which might be causing problems. It would appear that it's the HomeServerConsoleTab.Storage.dll that will not allow the console to open. Once I renamed it I was able to check things out. It's worth noting that I still received the same pop up warning I have been getting all week that said "The Windows Home Server Console experienced a problem with a feature during the previous attempt to open it. If the problem persists, please call Product Support." I am then prompted to click either retry or skip. I select retry which then brings up another window that reads "The Windows Home Server Backup Service is not running. Some WHS Console functions will not be available. Please restart Windows Home Server. If the problem persists contact Product Support." The difference is that the console will actually open which was not the case prior to renaming the storage dll.

Once I am in the console, the status is listed as critical and noted that A) the Backup Service was not running on the server and Server storage space is low and has less than 0Gb of free space. I can only assume that this has something to do with the storage tab not loading. Any recommendations on where to go from here?


A look at my WHS log file:


Created at 2/21/2012 10:39:45 PM
***** Started at 2/21/2012 10:39:45 PM ***
***** Started at 2/21/2012 10:39:45 PM ***
[1]120221.223945.9062: UI: Error: Killing previous console instance: ID=4760
[1]120221.223948.3437: UI: Error: Unfinished DLL: HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.dll. User chose to retry.
[1]120221.223950.0625: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.223950.1875: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.223950.2031: Error: Client 3812cc8a-d2fc-4e2d-b777-b8ba10e4b2c6 not found by BackupHelpers.FindClient
[1]120221.223950.2031: Error: Client Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.ClientNotFoundException: 3812cc8a-d2fc-4e2d-b777-b8ba10e4b2c6
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.BackupHelpers.FindClient(ConfigurationRoot configurator, Guid pcGuid)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.BackupHelpers.FindClientNoThrow(ConfigurationRoot configurator, Guid pcGuid) not found by BackupHelpers.FindClient
[1]120221.223950.4062: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.223953.7500: Error: Error -2147023728 in SendMessage
[1]120221.223953.9687: Error: Exception thrown
System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.SharingSettingsControl.WMCFolder..ctor(Image i, UIExposedShare qsmShare, Int32 height, IConsoleServices services)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.SharingSettingsControl..ctor(Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices services)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.HomeServerSettingsExtender..ctor(Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices services)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.RuntimeMethodHandle._InvokeConstructor(Object[] args, SignatureStruct& signature, IntPtr declaringType)
at System.RuntimeMethodHandle.InvokeConstructor(Object[] args, SignatureStruct signature, RuntimeTypeHandle declaringType)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeConstructorInfo.Invoke(BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.TabFinder.GetExtenderByType(Type theType, Assembly a, String name, Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices consoleServices)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.TabFinder.GetExtender(Assembly a, String typeName, String prefixedDllName, Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices consoleServices)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.TabFinder.FindTabs(Int32 tabWidth, Int32 tabHeight, Int32 settingsWidth, Int32 settingsHeight)

[1]120221.223953.9843: Error: Problem with Home Server Console Tab DLL HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.dll while loading HomeServerSettingsExtender: System.Reflection.TargetInvocationException: Exception has been thrown by the target of an invocation. ---> System.NullReferenceException: Object reference not set to an instance of an object.
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.SharingSettingsControl.WMCFolder..ctor(Image i, UIExposedShare qsmShare, Int32 height, IConsoleServices services)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.SharingSettingsControl..ctor(Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices services)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.HomeServerSettingsExtender..ctor(Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices services)
--- End of inner exception stack trace ---
at System.RuntimeMethodHandle._InvokeConstructor(Object[] args, SignatureStruct& signature, IntPtr declaringType)
at System.RuntimeMethodHandle.InvokeConstructor(Object[] args, SignatureStruct signature, RuntimeTypeHandle declaringType)
at System.Reflection.RuntimeConstructorInfo.Invoke(BindingFlags invokeAttr, Binder binder, Object[] parameters, CultureInfo culture)
at System.RuntimeType.CreateInstanceImpl(BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
at System.Activator.CreateInstance(Type type, BindingFlags bindingAttr, Binder binder, Object[] args, CultureInfo culture, Object[] activationAttributes)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.TabFinder.GetExtenderByType(Type theType, Assembly a, String name, Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices consoleServices)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.TabFinder.GetExtender(Assembly a, String typeName, String prefixedDllName, Int32 width, Int32 height, IConsoleServices consoleServices)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.Controls.TabFinder.FindTabs(Int32 tabWidth, Int32 tabHeight, Int32 settingsWidth, Int32 settingsHeight)
[1]120221.224000.7187: Error: Cannot invoke RefreshData for HealthControl
[1]120221.224000.7343: Error: Error -2147023728 in SendMessage
[1]120221.224116.1093: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.224116.1093: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.224116.1093: Error: Client 3812cc8a-d2fc-4e2d-b777-b8ba10e4b2c6 not found by BackupHelpers.FindClient
[1]120221.224116.1093: Error: Client Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.ClientNotFoundException: 3812cc8a-d2fc-4e2d-b777-b8ba10e4b2c6
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.BackupHelpers.FindClient(ConfigurationRoot configurator, Guid pcGuid)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.BackupHelpers.FindClientNoThrow(ConfigurationRoot configurator, Guid pcGuid) not found by BackupHelpers.FindClient
[1]120221.224116.1093: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.224116.1093: BackupConfig: Error: Disconnected Backup Config
[1]120221.224116.1093: Error: Client 3812cc8a-d2fc-4e2d-b777-b8ba10e4b2c6 not found by BackupHelpers.FindClient
[1]120221.224116.1093: Error: Client Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.ClientNotFoundException: 3812cc8a-d2fc-4e2d-b777-b8ba10e4b2c6
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.BackupHelpers.FindClient(ConfigurationRoot configurator, Guid pcGuid)
at Microsoft.HomeServer.HomeServerConsoleTab.Health.BackupHelpers.FindClientNoThrow(ConfigurationRoot configurator, Guid pcGuid) not found by BackupHelpers.FindClient

It's mostly Greek to me but maybe it helps?

[Drashna Jaelre (WGS)]

its the "HomeServerConsoleTab.Sharing.dll" that's the problem here. Not sure why.

As for the restore not finishing... I've been having similar issues with my EX495. Not sure why. But I eventually had to break down and just use Virtual PC to restore to a VM and then cloned the VHD to the hard drive. Worked like a charm. (shut it down when the recovery disk wants to restart). But you'd need the server recovery "image" to do this.

[Swampscottian]

Thanks for the info Drashna. After a break from this insanity, I am back at it. This time I am trying my friend's restore disk just to rule out whether it's my installation disk. Something tells me this is wishful thinking but it's worth a shot. I can't even begin to convey the level of frustration this exercise has created. I am guessing that the steps you mentioned above might be my next shot but I have to admit I am not that familiar with the process. Is this something you can post the steps to or is it too involved?

[Swampscottian]

Well after using a different installation disk I get a whole new problem. This time I get the old "Server initialization failed. Please contact support." So here I am....

[Drashna Jaelre (WGS)]

It's nothing really difficult. The hardest part is finding the right server recovery image.

Once you get that, create a VHD (virtual HDD). If you have Win7, do this outside of the virtual machine. Mount it in Disk Management, and initialize the disk and create a partition and format it. (this does make a difference, I had loads of issues when I didn't)

Once that's done, load the VM and boot from the server Recovery ISO. It should look very familiar. As in the WHS Client Restore disk. Just keep clicking Continue (or what not), till it gets to "Creating listener". At this, it's waiting for the client side recovery.

Run the recovery (preferably on the same computer). You should notice some "interesting" activity in the VM. Once this done, it will be "waiting for 4 byte" or some such. Go ahead and shut down the VM.

After it's shut down, you have a hard drive image of the system before it boots up and configures itself for the system. Use whatever disk cloning tool you want. (I uses EaseUS Partition Master), and I copied the 20GB "SYS" to the drive in addition to resizing it. Put the disk back into your system (preferable by itself) and let it boot. Give it 30 minutes or so, then use http://servername:55000/ to access the server. It *should* show up at this point.

[Swampscottian]

Pardon my ignorance but I have never gone down this road before. How do get the "right" server recovery image?

[Drashna Jaelre (WGS)]

usually, by getting the WHS OEM Preinstallation Kit disk, which is usually only available in the OEM version.

[Swampscottian]

It would appear that I have been able to resurrect my system disk! CHKDSK was able to clean things up to the point where I could reattach to WHS and get further to complete the job. I had to delete all my client backups but that was not an issue for me. The second disk, which was used for duplication had hundreds upon hundreds of errors and it seems to have taken out the whole system. While this would appear to be a huge step in the right direction after weeks of toiling to get this up and running, I am still interested in setting up a dedicated system disk in bay 1 and then use the other 3 bays for storage and duplication. All that being said, would you think I could make an image of my existing (and repaired) C partition and clone that using the method you describe to set up the new system drive?

[taichi]

The Acer Easystores are a bit of a challenge in that they are consumer grade by design and solving the issues is less straight forward than if it were a regular file server. This unit is headless and you need to be on the network to run the installation via a client computer, which in my mind, opens the door to other problems. At the very least it complicates the process when things go wrong. Here's a little more on the process I have gone through so far:

[/left]

I followed the directions posted here for the proper startup procedure which is similar to instructions I have seen elsewhere; removed connector software on client, held paper clip in reset, power up server, started recover program > chose factory reset. All goes well for a while and the disk is formatted and the server reboots. During the connector installation the problems begin and after I enter the server name and admin pw I click to go to the next window and the installation program gets hung up and I get an error on a blue screen with a big red X saying that "an error occurred in Windows Home Server Setup" I am asked to go back and try again or restart the wizard. It appears that if I go back the setup will pick up where it left off and continue but I had to do this at least 50 times while the system tried to join the WHS. This kept happening but eventually it makes it the "configuring computer backup" stage. Unfortunately I never make it past this stage and this is where I bail out. I have since tried to install the connector via http://<servername>:55000and this still fails to successfully configure the computer backup as well.

[/left]

Here's what I know.

[/left]

• I am able to get into the server via remote desktop. I see that I have a C & D partition but the D is not formatted. Is this normal and do I allows WHS to format it when prompted after opening the D?
• When I attempt to start the WHS console on the server it will ask for a password for the hardware & health monitor service and as soon I type a character it closes and the consoles flashes for a second and is gone. A message comes up stating that a component is missing.......
• I found in the WHS event viewer that there is an ID 275 stating that “no volume contains enough space to create the client backup database. At least 20GB is required.” Does this have anything to do with there not being a D drive formatted?

In the end, I am not sure if all these issues are related or if it’s a series of different issues. Either way, I am at a loss.

[/left]

I got the exact same problem after replacing my fail 1TB system drive with a new 2TB one and try to do a factory recovery. All the symptoms appear to be the same as yours, anyone has any suggestion before I have to junk this pos away? Thanks!

[subarunut]

same problem here on my HP ex485.  replaced my failed OS 750GB disk with a 1TB disk.  can't get past the computer backup.