Windows 2000 spanned volume failure recovery: One disk in a three-disk spanned volume failed and has been replaced. How do you recover the volume and its data from backup most efficiently?
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AExtend the spanned volume to include the new disk, then rescan disks
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BExtend the spanned volume to include the new disk, reboot, then restore data with Windows Backup
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CRescan disks, format the existing spanned volume, then restore data with Windows Backup
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DRescan disks, extend the spanned volume to include the new disk, reboot, then restore the new data
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ERescan disks, delete the failed spanned volume and create a new spanned volume including the new disk; format it, then restore data with Windows Backup
Answer
Correct Answer: Rescan disks, delete the failed spanned volume and create a new spanned volume including the new disk; format it, then restore data with Windows Backup
Explanation
Introduction / Context:Windows 2000 spanned volumes provide capacity aggregation but no fault tolerance. If any disk in a spanned set fails, the entire volume becomes unreadable. Recovery relies on replacing failed hardware and restoring from a valid backup. Understanding the correct rebuild procedure avoids wasted steps and speeds restoration.
Given Data / Assumptions:
- Three-disk spanned volume; one disk failed and was replaced.
- Hot-swap is supported; regular full backups exist.
- Goal: recover volume and data as soon as possible.
Concept / Approach:Because a span lacks redundancy, the logical volume is lost after a member failure. The proper procedure is to recreate the spanned volume layout and then restore data from backup. Attempting to extend or rescan an already broken span does not reconstruct missing blocks. Formatting and restoring ensures a consistent file system.
Step-by-Step Solution:
Rescan disks so Disk Management detects the replacement drive.Delete the failed spanned volume (it is unusable).Create a new spanned volume across the intended disks with the same or desired size.Format the new volume and run Windows Backup to restore the latest full (and differential/incremental if applicable).Verification / Alternative check:After restore, run chkdsk and validate application data integrity. Compare sizes/hashes for key data sets.
Why Other Options Are Wrong:
- Extending or rescanning does not reconstruct lost span data.
- Rebooting does not change the fundamental loss condition.
- Formatting an invalid span without recreating it properly may fail or still leave an inconsistent layout.
Common Pitfalls:Believing a span provides protection like RAID; only RAID 1/5/6/10 provide fault tolerance. Always maintain reliable backups for spanned volumes.
Final Answer:Rescan disks, delete the failed spanned volume and create a new spanned volume including the new disk; format it, then restore data with Windows Backup