Computer Support/Hardware Troubleshooting/Storage

This lesson covers troubleshooting storage.

Objectives and Skills

Objectives and skills for the troubleshooting storage portion of A+ certification include:

Given a scenario, troubleshoot hard drives and RAID arrays with appropriate tools.

• Common symptoms
  • Read/write failure
  • Slow performance
  • Loud clicking noise
  • Failure to boot
  • Drive not recognized
  • OS not found
  • RAID not found
  • RAID stops working
  • Proprietary crash screens (BSOD/pin wheel)
  • S.M.A.R.T. errors
• Tools
  • Screwdriver
  • External enclosures
  • CHKDSK
  • FORMAT
  • File recovery software
  • Bootrec
  • Diskpart
  • Defragmentation tool

Readings

1. Wikipedia: Master boot record
2. Wikipedia: RAID
3. Wikipedia: Blue Screen of Death
4. Wikipedia: S.M.A.R.T.
5. Wikipedia: Screwdriver
6. Wikipedia: Disk enclosure
7. Wikipedia: CHKDSK
8. Wikipedia: format (command)
9. Wikipedia: Data recovery
10. Wikipedia: diskpart
11. Wikipedia: Defragmentation

Multimedia

1. YouTube: Troubleshooting Hard Drives - CompTIA A+ 220-901 - 4.2
2. YouTube: Hard Drive Troubleshooting Tools - CompTIA A+ 220-901 - 4.2