Cannot access Storage Space

ColMac · 21 Aug 2018

I've created a problem with Storage Spaces by changing the drive letter in Windows 10. This has caused a Storage Spaces error, and I can no longer see the Storage space in File Explorer.

Disk Management shows the drive as unallocated.

I now have the following situation. The 2 drives in the storage space are the ones shown as 931.5GB (or Disk 4 in the Management image). (it was originally set up as 10Tb but only 2 x 2tb physical disks initially)

Any suggestions as to whether I can correct this. Thanks

Colin

ColMac · 29 Aug 2018

Does no one have any suggestions?

muchomurka · 29 Aug 2018

One of your External physical disk is in Split state which means it is out-of-sync; furthermore, your virtual disk has no redundancy (is JBOD similar). This is likely why the virtual disk is seen as Not Initialized.

But there is one chance: if you recently performed Feature Upgrade to higher version (1803), downgrading to previous OS version may revive seemingly dead volume. See thread How do I recover/repair my storage space? Solved - Windows 10 Forums for more info.

Otherwise, copy output of the following command here:

Code:

get-storagepool -isprimordial 0 | get-volume

Screenshot of full Storage Spaces applet can be helpful too.

Btw. creating JBOD-like array over external disks is very poor idea because they can be too easily disconnected. And out-of-sync error at physical disk level likely is not caused by assigning drive letter to volume.

Little chance to data recovery.

ColMac · 30 Aug 2018

Thanks for the reply. I'll read the link and have a look later, as soon as I get the chance.

ColMac · 05 Sep 2018

Hi thanks,

I have not had time to try a roll back, I'll need to set aside a bit of time for that.

In the meantime, I have enclosed a screen shot of the storage space error

Also tried the "get" command with no success. I just get the command line returned again

The other comments, are appreciated. Thanks.

Colin

muchomurka · 07 Sep 2018

Maybe JBOD volume is inaccessible because physical disk with essential volume metadata is in Split status:
WD Ext ... OK
WD 10E ... Split

You can try following:
1. shutdown your comp
2. disconnect disk with status OK (WD Ext)
3. power on your comp; status of disk WD 10E should change from Split to OK
4. connect disk WD Ext again
5. check Storage Spaces, Disk Management and File Explorer, at least some data may be accessible
6. paste results here

If it does not help, try to "downgrade" OS (make image using Reflect for reverting to current version, install older version, check your Storage Space). After that, only some data recovery company can help..

ColMac · 07 Sep 2018

Thanks again. I'm away from home for approx. 10 days, but when I get back I'll try the suggestions and report bck for others to see as well.

Thanks again

Colin

ColMac · 14 Sep 2018

I've tried as you suggest, with no luck. However Doing so leads me to blieve there may be an issue with the power supply for on of the disks (the faulty one obviously).

I'm now speaking to Western Digital to investigate further.

Thanks again

ColMac · 09 Oct 2018

Sorry for the delay in responding but I was away longer than planned.

Turned out the power supply was fine.

I repeated the exercise below, and my Storage Space was back.

muchomurka said:

1. shutdown your comp
2. disconnect disk with status OK (WD Ext)
3. power on your comp; status of disk WD 10E should change from Split to OK
4. connect disk WD Ext again
5. check Storage Spaces, Disk Management and File Explorer, at least some data may be accessible

Thanks for your help. Really appreciated.

muchomurka · 23 Oct 2018

You're welcome. Also you can consider to use different layout than No Resiliency volume across external disks.