Strange hard disk issue

[drjones]

I just built myself a NAS/Media Server.

Basic pertinent specs are 3x 3TB Seagate Barracuda SATA 3, ST3000DM001 for storage, and one of which is the disk in question. All drives are formatted GPT. OS runs on its own Seagate 1TB drive.

Motherboard is a Gigabyte GA-Z87-D3HP. Win7 Pro x64, SP1, all patches & updates installed.

I use Cobian to backup each internal 3TB drive to its own dedicated Seagate 3TB USB, STBV3000100.

I noticed with one of my drives, the S: drive (internal) when I initiate a Cobian backup job and then open windows explorer, the drive first kind of goes blank; typically, you see the graphical blue bar representing free/used space as well as a description of "1.8TB free of 2.8TB" - that text & the graphic/line disappear for about 10 seconds.

THEN, as I keep hitting "refresh" in windows explorer, this drive shows almost entirely full. If I keep hitting refresh, I can literally watch the drive capacity tick down to normal.

It truly only has a few hundred GB used, out of 3TB space.

I tried this with another of the separate internal drives; initiating a cobian backup and then watching windows explorer and the opposite happens; the drive capacity/description also disappear, but it will then briefly show the drive having 0GB used space, when it in fact also has several hundred GB used.

I was researching this issue and one of the possible resolutions was to install Intel RST, which I downloaded from my mobo's support site; v.12.8.0.1016.

Installing this RST did NOT change the issue, though it did seem to improve performance / transfer rates a bit.

Is this anything to worry about; the drive showing full, then ticking down? Is it perhaps because Cobian is initiating a VSS lock or something?

I have CrystalDiskInfo installed, running as an active monitor and all drives show healthy. All SATA cables are also brand-new, SATA III cables.

Also PSU is brand new, Corsair 600w supply.

Thanks!

 

[FremontPC]

From a Newegg review on this board, dated 1/19/14:

"I pulled out the Pcb with the hotswap controller and ran the sata normal. But I still have the issues of drives disappearing, the worst is when im in a game or trying to turn on the com and check my email."

 

[drjones]

From a Newegg review on this board, dated 1/19/14:

"I pulled out the Pcb with the hotswap controller and ran the sata normal. But I still have the issues of drives disappearing, the worst is when im in a game or trying to turn on the com and check my email."

I'm going to display my ignorance but what's a "PCB / Hotswap controller"?

How would you not "run SATA normal"?

Drives are all set to AHCI in the BIOS if that's what is meant.

There are no other hard disk controllers / cards / RAID cards, etc....all drives are connected direct to the motherboard. Also, no overclocking whatsoever - box stock.

 

[FremontPC]

I think he's referring to controller that lets you pull the drives while the system is powered up.

Have a look at the reviews here:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16813128590

Odd thing is, reviews on Amazon are pretty good. Maybe there's a BIOS update? Might be time to check in with Gigabyte on this.

Anybody else out there running this board?

 

[drjones]

Again I only notice this quirk when I start Cobian...otherwise the system seems pretty solid.....you sure it isn't a VSS issue / lock?

Cobian does use VSS....

 

[smashedbotatos]

Leave it be, but monitor that drive.

Might just be a quirk, but quite honestly, if it ain't broke..... If it starts to show other symptoms start to worry. I have a feeling maybe just a quirk with the software or Windows.

 

[drjones]

Leave it be, but monitor that drive.

Might just be a quirk, but quite honestly, if it ain't broke..... If it starts to show other symptoms start to worry. I have a feeling maybe just a quirk with the software or Windows.

Like I said in my OP, it appears to have a similar effect when I run cobian to backup the files on a separate physical drive.

I definitely agree that I am not going to fix something that's not broken...I'll keep an eye on it for sure.

I just tested this by running cobian on my primary / working PC and I did NOT notice the drives disappearing from Win Explorer, nor did it magically fill up.

Strange...

 

[JustInspired]

Have you tried switching off VSS in the Cobian backup job just to test?

 

[drjones]

Have you tried switching off VSS in the Cobian backup job just to test?

Nope. Perhaps I will try that.

 

[drjones]

Ok so I uninstalled the VSS Requester in Cobian, ran another backup and did NOT see the drive disappear / fill up / act strangely....so fortunately this issue DOES seem to be related to the way cobian & VSS interact.

Again this is on my personal media server and the files aren't going to change that frequently; 99% of any changes will be straight additions. With that in mind, any reason to be concerned that I'm not using VSS with Cobian?

Also, you can either uninstall the VSS Requester in Cobian and/or uncheck the box to use VSS in a backup task....I uninstalled the VSS requester entirely. Does it make any difference which way I go on that?