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110 Troubleshooting Your System
Troubleshooting a Hard Drive
Problem
• Device driver error.
• One or more hard drives not recognized by the system.
Action
CAUTION: Only trained service technicians are authorized to remove the system cover and access any of the
components inside the system. See your Product Information Guide for complete information about safety
precautions, working inside the computer, and protecting against electrostatic discharge.
NOTICE: This troubleshooting procedure can destroy data stored on the hard drive. Before you proceed, back up
all files on the hard drive.
1
Run the appropriate online diagnostic test. See "Using Dell PowerEdge Diagnostics" on page 117.
Depending on the results of the diagnostics test, proceed as needed through the following steps.
2
Remove the bezel. See "Removing and Replacing the Optional Front Bezel" on page 45.
3
If you are experiencing problems with multiple hard drives, skip to step 8. For a problem with a single
hard drive, continue to the next step.
4
Turn off your system, reseat the hard drive, and restart the system.
5
If your system has a SAS RAID controller card, perform the following steps.
a
Restart the system and press <Ctrl><C> to enter the host adapter configuration utility
program.
See the documentation supplied with the controller card for information about the configuration
utility.
b
Ensure that the hard drive has been configured correctly.
c
Exit the configuration utility and allow the system to boot to the operating system.
6
Ensure that the required device drivers for your controller card are installed and are configured
correctly. See the operating system documentation for more information.
NOTICE: Do not perform the following step if you have a SAS RAID controller card.
7
If you have the non-RAID SAS controller card, remove the hard drive and swap its drive bay location
with another hard drive that is functioning properly.
If the problem is resolved, reinstall the hard drive in the original bay. See "Installing a Hot-Plug Hard
Drive" on page 74.
If the hard drive functions properly in the original bay, the drive carrier could have intermittent
problems. Replace the hard-drive carrier.
See "Getting Help" on page 129.
If the hard drive functioned properly in another bay but does not function in the original bay, the SAS
backplane has a defective connector.
See "Getting Help" on page 129.