My Home Server has died

Ray · Jan 09, 2009, 09:04:07

The reason that I wasn't around much was that my Home server decided to fail, when I booted up my main PC in the morning I found my Home Server wasn't connected to the network. On investigating the server I find it has hung on the BIOS screen with the hard disc controller complaining about being unable to initialise the device and that the BIOS wasn't installed and was therefore unable to boot the operating system.

After much investigation such as resetting the BIOS, restoring it and removing and checking hard disks I came to the conclusion that the HD controller on the MB has died.

As the board is around 5 years old now and is an AMD socket 939 board with an AGP graphics slot a replacement board, cpu, memory and graphics card is now on order.

I am using the following as replacement components: -

Asus M2N68 AM2 board

AMD64 X2 5200+ low energy cpu

2Gb Crucial ram

256Mb GeForce PCI-E graphics card, total cost £145, lesson learned don't use old second components to build a Server.

Rik · Jan 09, 2009, 09:07:57

Tough luck, Ray.

Ray · Jan 09, 2009, 09:14:54

Quote from: Rik on Jan 09, 2009, 09:07:57
Tough luck, Ray.

Thanks, Rik, at least I haven't lost any of my data that's all backed up to separate external USB drives as well, though I have almost certainly lost all my computer backups, so I've had to reinstall Ghost 14 onto my main PC to back up to a USB drive until the server is up and running again.

Rik · Jan 09, 2009, 09:15:34

Computers am a pain.

Ray · Jan 09, 2009, 09:18:15

Quote from: Rik on Jan 09, 2009, 09:15:34
Computers am a pain.

They certainly are, Rik, and you usually get a run of problems when they start, I've had a few in the last 6 months or so. $:-\$

Rik · Jan 09, 2009, 09:32:32

It's around that point when you begin to think a pen and ink looks an attractive option, isn't it.

Ray · Jan 09, 2009, 09:34:41

Quote from: Rik on Jan 09, 2009, 09:32:32
It's around that point when you begin to think a pen and ink looks an attractive option, isn't it.

This is true, Rik.

Sebby · Jan 09, 2009, 12:14:12

Sorry to hear this, Ray. Motherboard failures are quite rare in my experience - perhaps cooling wasn't ample?

Lance · Jan 09, 2009, 12:46:02

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Jan 09, 2009, 09:04:07
lesson learned don't use old second components to build a Server.

That's why I don't have a WHS yet!

Rik · Jan 09, 2009, 12:47:08

The plans are well advanced though, from the sound of it, Lance.

Lance · Jan 09, 2009, 12:48:36

Unfortunately the bank balance isn't though

Paypal contributions accepted!

Rik · Jan 09, 2009, 12:49:06

I can spare a couple of quid.

Steve · Jan 09, 2009, 14:51:20

Sorry to hear that Ray.However I get the impression that the WHS can also be hard on HDDs as well presumably due perhaps to the media server activity. Have you thought about backing up the backup database? I know there is an addin that claims to do it

Ray · Jan 12, 2009, 14:04:08

Well I've received the new components to repair my Home Server and started work on installing them only to find I've been stuffed by the fickle finger of fate, my power supply has only got a 20 pin power connector and the MB requires a 24 pin connector

. I'm now awaiting delivery of a new power supply.

Steve · Jan 12, 2009, 14:20:31

Will it not accept a 20 pin with a 4pin ATX connected? but I suppose its not worth the hassle as you will only want to change it when the new power supply arrives.

David · Jan 12, 2009, 14:28:55

Sorry to hear this Ray I had wondered where you had got to.......look cheer up I'm on my way

Where did I leave that screwdriver

Good luck with it Ray and hurry back........Rik says he needs some intelligent conversation,but that I would do

I will fix this for Ray,how do you get in again ?

Rik · Jan 12, 2009, 14:59:19

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Jan 12, 2009, 14:04:08
I'm now awaiting delivery of a new power supply.

Like so many jobs, once you start, it seems everything conspires against you Ray.

Ray · Jan 12, 2009, 15:24:45

Quote from: stevethegas on Jan 12, 2009, 14:20:31
Will it not accept a 20 pin with a 4pin ATX connected? but I suppose its not worth the hassle as you will only want to change it when the new power supply arrives.

It will accept a 20 pin, Steve, unfortunately the power supply hasn't got a spare 4 pin connector.

Rik · Jan 12, 2009, 15:25:26

A few Duracells and a little ingenuity, Ray?

Ray · Jan 12, 2009, 15:27:11

Quote from: badpianoplayer on Jan 12, 2009, 14:28:55
Sorry to hear this Ray I had wondered where you had got to.......look cheer up I'm on my way

Where did I leave that screwdriver

Good luck with it Ray and hurry back........Rik says he needs some intelligent conversation,but that I would do I will fix this for Ray,how do you get in again ?

It's ok thanks, David,

it's all back together now just waiting for the new power supply to arrive hopefully tomorrow.

Ray · Jan 12, 2009, 15:31:15

Quote from: Rik on Jan 12, 2009, 14:59:19
Like so many jobs, once you start, it seems everything conspires against you Ray.

That's very true, Rik, the new one should arrive tomorrow and I've also gone for a 450 watt version as the replacement, I've now got a 350 watt Antec power supply going spare.

Ray · Jan 12, 2009, 15:32:19

Quote from: Rik on Jan 12, 2009, 15:25:26
A few Duracells and a little ingenuity, Ray?

Rik · Jan 12, 2009, 15:40:15

No sense of adventure, the youth of today.

Steve · Jan 12, 2009, 15:47:45

Quote from: Sheltieuk on Jan 12, 2009, 15:24:45
It will accept a 20 pin, Steve, unfortunately the power supply hasn't got a spare 4 pin connector.

Does it have an 8 pin connector that splits into 2? One for the cpu and one for the 20+4. Unlikely I suppose because if it did it would probably also have a 24 pin MB connector

Ray · Jan 12, 2009, 15:50:41

Quote from: Rik on Jan 12, 2009, 15:40:15

No sense of adventure, the youth of today.

I know it's shocking isn't it, Rik.