Server Restore option when replacing system drive?

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  I'm replacing a smaller, slower system drive in WHS. I ran WHS BDBB and backed up the home server shares to ARCHIVE, a drive attached internally for the sake of backup.
  
  There are 3 hdd's in my system - 1 containing the system drive, another for more storage, and ARCHIVE.
  
  I removed ARCHIVE from the system, replaced the system drive with a bigger, faster, newer HDD, and booted up with the install disk. I was presented with an option of SERVER RESTORE. Sorry, I now forget the exact wording of the associated warning, but it was something to the effect that all share data would be lost. 
  
  

  RTM DVDs call it Server Reinstallation.  I believe MS changed the wording with PP1, although I'm not sure (mine is RTM).  Were you given 2 options during installation or only 1?  What were the option(s) called?
  
  

  My question: what is Server Restore? I've seen threads on Server Reinstallation, but not Server Restore. And the warning... that was totally unexpected.
  
  Also, referring to the actions I took in the 1st paragraph regarding backups, my understanding is that I'm covered as far as backups go. Is this so?
  
  

  IF you ran both BDBB (for backing the backup database) and the backup tool included with WHS (to backup the network shares), you should be ok.
  
  

  If I have this right and assuming that I will not choose Server Restore but rather New Installation, all I need to do is remove all disks but the new primary, run setup, reattach my additional storage disk, and re-run install, this time choosing re-installation. ARCHIVE is just there for me in case of an unforeseen problem.  Do I have this right?
  
  

  If you're going to go the New Installation route, after it's complete, just attach your secondary storage drive to a client and copy the data over the network to the shares.  Once that's done, add that drive to the storage pool.  You can find the data on the secondary drive in a hidden folder called DE.  See the FAQ post:  How to recover data after a server failure for more details.
  
  

  *Also, I should mention that I did not use Folder Duplication. Only the backups schemes I mentioned.
  
  
  **I should also mention that I'm running the 120-day evaluation software from MS. I'm getting near the time where I have to make a decision whether to buy a copy of the WHS OS, or bite the bullet and buy an HP MediaSmart server.  Either way, I'll need to be reasonably sure that I can manage a system disk replacement without data loss. As I've said, I think I have it covered with BDBB and home server backup, but if I'm wrong, won't someone please clue me it. Thanks.
  

  
  

  Friday, October 16, 2009 11:37 PM

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  Yes, 2 options: Server Restore and New Installation
  
  Yes, I ran both BDBB and server backup of shares.  Both were saved to the backup drive named ARCHIVE.
  
  Ok, once I've done a fresh install, I'm going to assume that I can attach the disk labeled ARCHIVE and run BDBB to restore (after reinstalling the BDBB add-in, of course). That shouldn't be a problem, right?
  
  As to the folder shares: If I understood correctly, I should attach the disk labeled ARCHIVE to another computer and restore the folder shares across the LAN.
  I'm sorry but I have to ask if it is not possible to attach ARCHIVE directly to the WHS and restore from there? Perhaps a newly attached drive designated for backup gets formatted? Or is this a matter of restoring files of each folder through the Connector interface's Shared Folders link? If the latter is the case, I'm guessing that I'll have to create User Accounts so they'll be available. Is that right?

  Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:00 AM
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  Yes, 2 options: Server Restore and New Installation
  
  

  Then you should want Server Restore.  Can you boot from the DVD again and post the exact message you see for that option (or, better yet, take a pic of it and post it to a pic website, then link to it here)?  Heck, if you can get a pic of New Installation as well, that would be even better because, based on the way you described it, there is no difference between the two.
  
  

  Yes, I ran both BDBB and server backup of shares.  Both were saved to the backup drive named ARCHIVE.
  
  Ok, once I've done a fresh install, I'm going to assume that I can attach the disk labeled ARCHIVE and run BDBB to restore (after reinstalling the BDBB add-in, of course). That shouldn't be a problem, right?
  
  

  I would assume so, but you should verify that with the author of the add-in.  (I've never actually used it.)
  
  

  As to the folder shares: If I understood correctly, I should attach the disk labeled ARCHIVE to another computer and restore the folder shares across the LAN.
  
  

  Sorry, my bad. I was referring to the fact that if you go with a New Installation, then you could do that.  Although, if you are certain you have everything backed up on your backup drive, you could just do a New Installation, then restore the data from your backup drive back to the server.
  
  

  I'm sorry but I have to ask if it is not possible to attach ARCHIVE directly to the WHS and restore from there?
  
  

  You're right.  Like I said, my bad.  :)
  
  

  Perhaps a newly attached drive designated for backup gets formatted? Or is this a matter of restoring files of each folder through the Connector interface's Shared Folders link? If the latter is the case, I'm guessing that I'll have to create User Accounts so they'll be available. Is that right?

  
  

  Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:18 AM

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  No problem. I was looking for information and confirmation and you did that for me, so thank you. I gotta say I really appreciate the help I get in this forum.
  
  As for now, I think I'm done for the night. I have to get up early tomorrow.
  
  I will post screen shots, and if not that, a detailed description of what I see when I do the install later tomorrow.  Since my stuff is backed up to the ARCHIVE drive, I think I'll first try going with the Server Restore, or whatever it may be called.  In that case, it'll be the new system drive ( disk 0 ) and the additional storage drive that'll be attached for the process.  If that goes south, I'll simply do a New Installation to the new system drive with no other drives attached, then reattach the other drives and proceed with the restoration of files and backups.
  

  Saturday, October 17, 2009 2:46 AM
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  OK, I attached a new drive intended to replace the system drive, along with the additional storage drive, and booted up with the install DVD.  This is verbatim from the setup:

  • Select an Installation Type

  • What type of install do you want to perform?

  • Installation Type:   Server Restore                 

  • Choose this option to restore your Windows Home Server if your primary hard drive fails.

  • IMPORTANT: Your installed programs, settings, Computer Backups, and unduplicated Shared Folder content will be lost.

  • Restoring you Windows Home Server will recover Duplicated Shared Folder content.

  
  

  *Yes, New Installation was an option, with the associated warning: IMPORTANT: Installing Windows Home Server will erase all data on all of your hard drives. If you have data that you would like to preserve, please cancel the installation process now.
  
  I did not proceed with the installation process as I now understand that Server Restore would preserve Shared Folder content only if Folder Duplication were previously enabled. Since I was not using Folder Duplication, I will opt for the New Installation and manually restore my Shared Folder content from the backup on ARCHIVE. I expect BDBB to work as advertised. We'll see.  :)

   

   

  Saturday, October 17, 2009 12:38 PM
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  OK, I attached a new drive intended to replace the system drive, along with the additional storage drive, and booted up with the install DVD.  This is verbatim from the setup:

  • Select an Installation Type

  • What type of install do you want to perform?

  • Installation Type:   Server Restore                 

  • Choose this option to restore your Windows Home Server if your primary hard drive fails.

  • IMPORTANT: Your installed programs, settings, Computer Backups, and unduplicated Shared Folder content will be lost.

  • Restoring you Windows Home Server will recover Duplicated Shared Folder content.

  
  

  *Yes, New Installation was an option, with the associated warning: IMPORTANT: Installing Windows Home Server will erase all data on all of your hard drives. If you have data that you would like to preserve, please cancel the installation process now.
  
  I did not proceed with the installation process as I now understand that Server Restore would preserve Shared Folder content only if Folder Duplication were previously enabled. Since I was not using Folder Duplication, I will opt for the New Installation and manually restore my Shared Folder content from the backup on ARCHIVE. I expect BDBB to work as advertised. We'll see.  :)

  Ohhh yes, now I remember that.  That was changed with PP1.  As I recall, although it does say you will lose data, it's not guaranteed you will lose data.  (It depends on what data was stored on the old primary drive.)  And besides, worst case scenario is you just connect the old primary drive to a client and copy whatever you find inside X:\DE\shares to your server through the network shares.  (That is a hidden folder and where WHS stores all of the actual data on each hard drive.)

  • Proposed as answer by kariya21Moderator Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:06 PM
  • Marked as answer by dvn1 Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:34 PM

  Sunday, October 18, 2009 12:36 AM

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  OK, this is the preliminary.
  
  I decided I should run Server Restore.  I needed to know this would work.  So before I did anything else, I hooked up another drive and enabled Duplication on all the folder shares.  That done, I waited till Duplication equaled the size of Shared Folders as reported in the Server Storage tab, then pulled the slowpoke system drive, stuck in a new one, and booted up with the installation DVD.  I did in fact choose Server Restore .  I once again saw the ominous message about data loss, but plowed ahead anyway.  When the installation had finished, I saw that my computer backups were still there! as were the folder shares!  As I say, this is preliminary because I haven't had a chance to really check everything out, but this is looking good so far. I'll update once I know more.  Fingers crossed. :)
  

  Sunday, October 18, 2009 1:23 AM
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  OK, this is the preliminary.
  
  I decided I should run Server Restore.  I needed to know this would work.  So before I did anything else, I hooked up another drive and enabled Duplication on all the folder shares.  That done, I waited till Duplication equaled the size of Shared Folders as reported in the Server Storage tab, then pulled the slowpoke system drive, stuck in a new one, and booted up with the installation DVD.  I did in fact choose Server Restore .  I once again saw the ominous message about data loss, but plowed ahead anyway.  When the installation had finished, I saw that my computer backups were still there! as were the folder shares!  As I say, this is preliminary because I haven't had a chance to really check everything out, but this is looking good so far. I'll update once I know more.  Fingers crossed. :)
  

  You should be ok as far as your shares (since everything was on 2 drives).  As for your backup database, that would depend on whether any part of it was on the old primary drive or not.  You could always hook it up to a client and see if there is anything inside x:\DE\folders\{00008086-058D-4C89-AB57-A7F909A47AB4} (where x = letter of assigned drive).  That is the folder where any portion of the backup database would be stored.

  Sunday, October 18, 2009 2:18 AM

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  You should be ok as far as your shares (since everything was on 2 drives).

  That seems to be the case.
  
  

  As for your backup database, that would depend on whether any part of it was on the old primary drive or not. You could always hook it up to a client and see if there is anything inside x:\DE\folders\{00008086-058D-4C89-AB57-A7F909A47AB4} (where x = letter of assigned drive). That is the folder where any portion of the backup database would be stored.

  I think I lucked out here as well.  The only thing in that folder was a 6K file called Commit.dat, which I see also exists in that folder on the server. I took a peek at them in Notepad and saw a few small differences:  .old~Ø  vs.  .new
  Ø 
  
  I assume these differences are a byproduct of the recovery process and in no way effect the backups or access to them.
  
  I'm still running Windows updates, since this evaluation edition is at PP1, but at this point I'm pretty confident that the server has been reliably upgraded.
  
  Kariya21 , thanks so much for taking time to provide me with some good information and feedback. You certainly made this a lot easier for me. Very much appreciated!
  

  Sunday, October 18, 2009 1:31 PM
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  OK, I've found something odd.
  
  Look at this screen shot of an incorrectly identified HDD in Server Storage tab of the WHS Console. 
  
  What I refer to is the 3rd drive listed as Maxtor 6Y120P0.  In fact, that is not a Maxtor 120GB drive, but a WDC WD5000AAKB-00H8A0 500GB hard drive, identical to the first drive shown in the screen shot.
  
  Maxtor is the old system drive I have just replaced, and it's currently attached to my main desktop computer.
  
  The WHS OS recognizes that the drive is a Western Digital, but WHS Connector does not.  WHS Connector does report the correct size, however.
  
  Curious...yet it probably is nothing to worry about.
  

  Sunday, October 18, 2009 3:58 PM
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  OK, I've found something odd.
  
  Look at this screen shot of an incorrectly identified HDD in Server Storage tab of the WHS Console. 
  
  What I refer to is the 3rd drive listed as Maxtor 6Y120P0.  In fact, that is not a Maxtor 120GB drive, but a WDC WD5000AAKB-00H8A0 500GB hard drive, identical to the first drive shown in the screen shot.
  
  Maxtor is the old system drive I have just replaced, and it's currently attached to my main desktop computer.
  
  The WHS OS recognizes that the drive is a Western Digital, but WHS Connector does not.  WHS Connector does report the correct size, however.
  
  Curious...yet it probably is nothing to worry about.
  

  The only way you're going to be able to change that is to dig into the registry and change it there.  However, that is unsupported and could very well potentially trash your entire installation.  As long as it's working, I would just leave well enough alone.  :)

  Sunday, October 18, 2009 11:09 PM

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  "If it ain't broke,..."   I know, I know.
  
  Then again, sometimes I just can't help myself.  :)
  
  I edited the reg value of ManufactureName, and rebooted.  Now the drive name comes up correctly in WHS Connector. 
  

  Monday, October 19, 2009 12:53 AM