Paul Thurrott: Serious Windows Home Server concerns

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As is the case with my problems with the Xbox 360's Fall 2007 Dashboard Update, where I am having many issues that no one else seems to be having, I'm sort of hoping that what I'm seeing on Windows Home Server (WHS) lately is just me. But I'm concerned enough about these issues to at least just throw them out there and see what happens. Here's what's up. First, I've literally just completed my switch-over to WHS and have taken down my previous Windows Server 2003-based server. I'm using HP's Media Smart Server and have added two 512 GB drives for a total of 2 TB of storage. I really only need 1 TB but I do use WHS's data duplication functionality extensively, so what the heck. Plus it's backing up several PCs regularly. The point of all this is that I'm really using this thing. It's not a best test or an experiment. My data is all on this server.

The HP has had a troubling number of hard drive corruption issues. These issues seem to be occurring mostly on a single disk, but that's not necessarily true, so I will keep watching this. Occasionally, I will logon to Vista in the morning, see a red WHS icon and click it to discover that something's wrong with a hard disk. WHS lets you repair these problems, and it takes a long time but always seems to work. I don't have any offsite backup so this is troubling. I am experimenting with backing up to my old Firewire 800-based BiggerDisks over the network, but it's slow, and if the WHS-based data is corrupted, I'm screwed anyway. I'm not sure if it's my router or my home server, but three times now I've gotten an alert that the remote access feature had stopped working. Just navigating to the Remote Access tab of the Settings dialog triggers a re-configuration, and that does work each time. But what if I'm away when this stops working and thus can't access my files remotely? It sort of renders the feature moot, doesn't it?

View: Full Story @ Paul's SuperSite blog

(5 replies) #1 HawkMan on 22 Dec 2007 - 20:53

I guess unlike the rest of the world, Paul is too importsnt o call MS support about the problems he has, and instead he needs to post about it on his superblog so all his internet fans can talk about the problems he has and how important he is... come to think of it, does Paul have any fans left anymore ?

#1.1 1759 on 22 Dec 2007 - 20:59

I have to agree; by now, like any normal person, I would've called HP, and complained to them, as it would be under warranty and all, or contacted the HD manufacturer...reads too much like my page needs hits, and I like to hear myself whine.

#1.2 nekrosoft13 on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:26

MS support is useless, If you have retail, you only get 2-3 calls, and you have to pay 25 dollars. Why would anyone want to talk to someone that can't speaks English. I called once, for 5 minutes i had to explain to "tech support" what control panel is and how to open it. Never called again after that.

#1.3 RubberJabber on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:47

Paul's stories/reviews do make the headlines of technology sites and so with his rant he can grab the attention of Microsoft/HP through the use of the internet; much like how you heard of his story, on Neowin.

It'll be fixed within a month now

#1.4 Chugworth on 22 Dec 2007 - 23:43

RubberJabber: That's correct. What Paul did was the quickest way to get a resolution to this problem.

The MS support number is absolutely useless if you know much about computers. They are not just going to give you an "easy fix" that you don't already know. If the solution is not already available on the net, then it doesn't exist. By calling MS Support, he would only have wasted his time and money.

I don't always like Paul's posts. He tends to be a bit too arrogant for me. But I'm glad he gave the warning on this one. Although I wasn't going to use WHS anyway since it's not based on Windows Server 2008, and it has poor support for x64 clients. I could not believe that Microsoft, of all companies, is still releasing software with such poor support for x64.

#1.5 mlerner on 23 Dec 2007 - 01:07

I would gladly give him one of two priority support incidents if he paid me.

(9 replies) #2 +RenderItBlue on 22 Dec 2007 - 20:56

Ive NEVER called MS for any problem EVER.

#2.1 phiberoptik on 22 Dec 2007 - 21:08

Achievement Unlocked "Cookie"

#2.2 bluarash on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:39

You forgot to add to your credit that you never have asked for directions either (when driving).

#2.3 Marshalus on 22 Dec 2007 - 23:05

Quote - (RenderItBlue said @ #2)

I called Microsoft once about an issue with Exchange, cost me $250 and I spent nearly 14 hours on the phone with them. They didn't solve my problem.

#2.4 Jugalator on 23 Dec 2007 - 00:48

No, I just try to fix it on my own instead. But this isn't related to a lack of problems in MS products. I'm not sure exactly what you were trying to say there.

#2.5 Poof on 23 Dec 2007 - 01:49

Quote - (Marshalus said @ #2.3)

Ouch...

When I've called MSFT support... They called me back since it was a toll call from where I lived... Didn't charge me, even though I was an OEM customer... And fixed my issue...

Go figure *_* I guess times have changed with their support. =/

#2.6 toadeater on 23 Dec 2007 - 03:10

I called MS support to make fun of them.

#2.7 excalpius on 23 Dec 2007 - 04:51

Quote - (toadeater said @ #2.6)

Congratulations on settling the "who is a bigger loser?" question.

#2.8 oufc_gav on 23 Dec 2007 - 18:05

If it's anything like the UK, MS refund the support charge if they cannot solve the issue.

#2.9 TSThomas on 23 Dec 2007 - 19:22

Congratulations... unfortunately, TIME has already announced their Person of the Year, so you'll have to be re-nominated next year.

(2 replies) #3 craybox on 22 Dec 2007 - 20:58

he's a fairly even minded character don't listen to all the crap that people spew about him, and he has made this posting on his blog he could have kept quiet like some people might have want him too.

#3.1 HawkMan on 22 Dec 2007 - 21:03

You don't need to listen to what other people say about him, he has a blog where he spews all his own crap.

and it's not about keeping quiet, it's about whining incessantly about problems that may or may not exist(based on his histor, may not seems more likely), yet, he has not called either HP or MS support about these problems to check if anyone else have had them or if it couldbe a hardware issue.

seriusly.

#3.2 bluarash on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:44

The problem with that is that Paul doesn't speak for those involved in information technology or that have a history of computer usage. The main focus of his blog is in the everyday user. He tries to keep things very simple to keep with the focus of his audience.

#4 Deviate_X on 22 Dec 2007 - 21:06

The Windows Home Server Toolkit diagnoses connection problems with WHS.

http://forums.microsoft.com/WindowsHomeSer...53939&SiteID=50

Last edited by Deviate_X on 22 Dec 2007 - 21:21

#5 jesseinsf on 22 Dec 2007 - 21:17

it sounds like it coubl be a router issue. The only router that I can rely on is Buffalos top-of-the-line wireless N router. They specialize in home storage servers. HERE is the router page. good luck on getting one cause a stupid company in Assie is suing every manufacturer who uses wireless technology in their product.

Update. I found to believe that a new windows update has caused the drives to corrupt. My "D" drive keeps corrupting in windows Vista Ultimate. and I keep performing a "Check Disk" to fix the problem. Then I find out that it becomes corrupt again.

Last edited by jesseinsf on 23 Dec 2007 - 06:46

#6 Cansokid on 22 Dec 2007 - 21:46

Thought of the day
Since when did MS make the hardware in HP systems

(6 replies) #7 Novaoblivion on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:28

Quote -

I'm using HP's Media Smart Server and have added two 512 GB drives for a total of 2 TB of storage.

Ummm maybe I am wrong but 512GB x 2 = 1TB no?

#7.1 Joel on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:32

Quote - (Novaoblivion said @ #7)

He said, "added". That means there was something there to add it to.

#7.2 Novaoblivion on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:39

Ahh missed that my bad :p

#7.3 chilliadus on 22 Dec 2007 - 23:20

Actually I'm not aware the existence of any 512GB HD. If he'd said something like 465GB that's unusual too but at least it is understandable.

#7.4 nekrosoft13 on 22 Dec 2007 - 23:38

512gb hard drives don't exist

#7.5 pjak on 23 Dec 2007 - 00:37

really??

click here and then click here and also click here...

#7.6 FATILA on 23 Dec 2007 - 01:32

Quote - (pjak said @ #7.5)

Looked at the links, where is the 512?

(1 reply) #8 Mr. Dee on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:30

I wouldn't complain if I were him because its free hardware he got to review and making it sound like it came from out of his pocket.

#8.1 Jugalator on 23 Dec 2007 - 00:46

Huh? If there's reason for complaints, he should as a good reviewer (and for the best of his readers) not allow that to influence his opinions. If those sending him hardware or software for review can't handle that, they shouldn't be sending him that. The worst I know is reviewers who just make things glossy and shiny in the review because they act like someone being bribed with it.

#9 seamer on 22 Dec 2007 - 22:49

A personal blog of only one persons experience hits front page news...the mind boggles.

He hasn't called MS because they'd tell him the truth - faulty hard drive - and there isn't anything in that he can blame MS for, and thus no page views as a result.

#10 Tikitiki on 22 Dec 2007 - 23:54

I'm starting to feel the same way about the bickering over Paul as many of us have felt about the bickering over XP and Vista.

(1 reply) #11 dyreryft on 23 Dec 2007 - 00:18

Paul is an idiot, no other words need to be said.

#11.1 craybox on 23 Dec 2007 - 00:45

well there we have it judge and jury from an industry expert we can all sleep well tonight.

(1 reply) #12 neufuse on 23 Dec 2007 - 03:24

512GB? Huh? they have 500GB and 750GB and so on ... I've NEVER seen that odd number before for storage...

#12.1 Budious on 23 Dec 2007 - 04:38

If you have a 500GB drive, it formats as 465GB. I understand he was rounding in a sense, to explain TB storage but he would get a lot less flaming for just calling them 500GB drives... anyways, this article and the hard drive stuff is fud. WHS works as reliably as 2003 Server from which its based when installed on proper hardware, the HP seems to be problem, not WHS.

#13 +Martog on 23 Dec 2007 - 05:51

WHS has a few corruption issues laid out in their KB aritcles, kind of disturbing this is happening:

http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx/...n-us?spid=12624

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/943393

Right now there are two different ways at least of having corrupted files on WHS, not good at all.

#14 needlegun on 23 Dec 2007 - 06:48

I recently had to call Microsoft for a problem we'd been trying for weeks to fix. They announced that Windows 2003 Server was "working as designed" but that this behaviour would be corrected in Windows 2008 !?

(1 reply) #15 Aahz on 23 Dec 2007 - 07:19

Why are people jumping on Paul's case here?

He made a post on his blog. You know those things where bazillions of people post tons of useless crap that really doesn't matter to anyone outside of the small smattering of people who read them.

It's a blog people and blogs are tailor made for ****ing and moaning and that's exactly how he's using it. Nature of the beast you geniuses.

What you should be asking, if this is so truly useless to you, is why is Neowin posting blog entries as news.

Last edited by Aahz on 23 Dec 2007 - 07:23

#15.1 +The Cub on 23 Dec 2007 - 10:26

Quote - (Aahz said @ #15)

What you should be asking, if this is so truly useless to you, is why is Neowin posting blog entries as news.

Because it might actually be a serious problem? I'm glad I read it here.

#16 RodDev on 23 Dec 2007 - 10:38

Who is Paul Thurrott??

(1 reply) #17 jonnytabpni on 23 Dec 2007 - 12:27

Jeepers people!!

The poor guy made a review on how WHS/HP HS is treating him and his data!!

Give him a break! Given that he is not lieing, would you trust WHS after reading this?

Are you saying that just because someone has some issues it should go ignored and just flame against him...

Get a life people! Everyone is entitled to review and opinonate anything they want! If you find this review useless, go buy WHS, and end up having the same issues....don't say that someone didn't warn you!

#17.1 Elektricity on 23 Dec 2007 - 13:19

I have been using WHS since the betas and not had any data corrupion or errors in the console that he mentions.

I don't think is what he is talking about is the issue but the way he is implying that WHS is crap and will loose data if you look at it wrong.

(1 reply) #18 necrosis on 23 Dec 2007 - 15:59

With no x64 support WHS doesn't mean **** to me. MS really needs to get off their asses and fix this.

#18.1 Budious on 23 Dec 2007 - 16:46

Quote - (necrosis said @ #1

It's coming Q1 2008 as part of a WHS 'R2' release which applies to all current WHS sold as a broad update with some new server side features implemented as well and the x64 client introduction.

(1 reply) #19 +DrunkenMaster on 23 Dec 2007 - 17:13

Why is he using WHS and their data replication service when he had an apparently perfectly functioning Win 2003 server? I like to try out new tech too but if your existing backup is working, don't just ship to a new technology just to try it out.

#19.1 +DrCheese on 23 Dec 2007 - 17:33

yeah... I couldn't understand this either. I don't think I'd move all my important files to something thats only really just came out, when my previous system was working fine. I'd maybe have it for my non important stuff so I could learn it and test it.

Besides, if he's putting all that stuff on one server he should have another backup as well.

#20 Budious on 23 Dec 2007 - 17:35

There are online unlimited backup solutions for WHS available for subscriptions at $79/yr with promo code. If you want to keep a backup offsite it is the best solution for home users.

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