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:^[1]

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

Multimedia

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

References