HP Statement on Data Corruption Issue
Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows Blog have published a statement issued by HP over the data corruption issue. Paul’s blog also state that HP hasn’t had anyone call in with this issue to their support line and that the issue isn’t even a top five question from customers seeking support. Which suggests that as we have always stated that the issue is indeed rare, especially as the MediaSmart Server is the best-selling WHS solution that’s currently available.
HP’s Statement:
HP has been in close communication with Microsoft on the Windows Home Server data corruption issue. There are two points to remember: we are only aware of a small percentage of customers with confirmed instances of the issue, and it occurs only when utilizing certain programs on Home Server systems with more than one hard drive. We understand disappointment with the estimated June delivery of a fix. But we also understand the challenges MS faces in reproducing bugs that occur so infrequently, the complexity of finding the right solution, and the need to complete extensive testing to ensure the bug fix is done correctly. HP is working with MS and is providing engineering and test resources to expedite this fix. With all the complexities of various operating systems, numerous applications, the variety of networking components, and the layers of software on top of Drive Extender, the testing will, in our experience, take some time to complete. Until that time, HP recommends that all HP MediaSmart Server owners follow Microsoft’s recommendations to ensure their data remains safe. More information can be found on Microsoft’s web site.
Paul Thurrott’s SuperSite for Windows Blog.
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Microsoft finished the Power Pack 1 development in January, but the WHS team also said they’re likely to hold off on releasing the the next version of WHS — until the data-corruption fix was released.
So all that talk about WHS PP1 was nothing more than a posturing tactic designed to appease WHS customers from detaching their WHS umbilical cords to Microsoft!
I remember there being a message on the blog somewhere around the holidays about the WHS people staying in ‘extra long’ so that this Data Corruption fix could get shipped ASAP.
Inexcusable! Microsoft does a piss poor job creating WHS and testing it, but then sells it to the public which is harmed by having their family videos, photo albums and financial data files destroyed by KB 946676 data corruption, and Microsoft says, “wait until we have many months to insure the patch works” instead of FIRST insuring that the WHS product had actually worked to begin with!
Microsoft has got everything backwards! Microsoft should have taken the time and effort to first insure WHS was actually READY for public release, and not that only after with a proven data corruption flaw that they would delay to release the patch, or re-write to that effect.
Wasn’t the main point of using WHS was for keeping your stuff safe? And it’s not: it’s destroying stuff. Or it might: you can’t be sure. So in other words, I spent a couple hundred bucks on a machine that keeps my files safe, but I can’t use it as advertised, because it might destroy them, and I have to wait half a year to actually get what I paid for.
How is that fair, or even reasonable?
I have ZERO confidence in my WHS to safeguard any of my data. It’s WAY too fragile and don’t be fooled by Microsoft’s attempt to downplay it!
I don’t find it unreasonable that people are miffed about this. In fact, I’m wondering why people aren’t asking for their money back with a proven design flaw!
That fact, I had to remove my second HDD from the storage “pool” so that I’m immune to the bug (as known) isn’t what I bought WHS with multiple HDD’s for in the first place.
Why should I pay for what I cannot use?
What’s the point of even using WHS with only one hard drive? No mirroring! No backup, unless you think on that same hard drive it is immune from hard drive failures? And if so, why in the world would anyone at all need or want such a limited system for backup, that doesn’t even back itself up!
WHS is a lemon!
Microsoft claimed I could use fileshares on my WHS, which is no longer the case unless destruction of your files is acceptable. How can be happy about that, paying for this disaster?
Apparently, Microsoft boasting performance figures on WHS was premature all along! WHS is a product that is nowhere near complete! Except for destruction of your data! Nice going $$$ Microsoft.
9 months (minimum) to fix such a bug on a server product ?
How is that even reasonable?
How sad is it that something like his comes along and ruins it for everyone that took a leap of faith…
NEVER again will I assume Microsoft can be trusted. No more paying for their software until P-R-O-V-E-N first!
I’m really thinking about returning my WHS and contact a consumer rights defense association.
Windows Home Server is bad in a way that you just don’t want your OS to be. Windows Home Server has the capacity to hose your data. For an OS, that’s bad, but for a filer server OS, that’s a disaster.
Seriously, explain to your kids how simply playing files thru Windows Media Player would constitute “editing” because WMP changes the “underlying metadata”.
And these guys think a KB 946676 article is sufficient while WHS users get their data destroyed for the past several months and many more ahead just to get a fix!
This is an Outrage!
Why should anyone need to “work around” this issue?
If Microsoft didn’t cause the problem to begin with, we wouldn’t have needed to remove the additional hard drives preventing everyone from using more storage memory.
It’s insane that Microsoft expects everyone to backup their data, with a proven design flaw in WHS DE that corrupts your data on multiple hard drives for which everyone wants to increase memory storage.
It doesn’t go the other way, in that everyone buys smaller hard drives and expects to only use just one drive.
I honestly didn’t find anything innovating about WHS. The basic features are already built into XP. It also lacks the configurability that one can achieve using standard NTFS security permissions. Furthermore, it seems to have a lot of issues with file corruption.
In other words, expect the fix to be further delayed as Microsoft makes sure it is of high quality.
You mean, had Microsoft NOT caused the problem and then released it to the public after insuring it with their internal bar settings, we wouldn’t be needing to be assured a second time of Microsoft’s lack of high quality in standards and in testing their own software products.
They’re a bit too late to be trumpeting “quality” on this matter. What’s really going on here?
Surely you would think Microsoft wouldn’t willingly leave a file corrupting bug out there for so many months..? And yet Microsoft is doing just that!!!
This is a huge issue with WHS and makes me wish I hadn’t purchased it!
I regret ever buying the HP MediaSmart server using Windows Home Server. WHS totally sucks having data corruption. What more needs to be said, except refund, return and never again!
A backup system that corrupts files. Remember when Windows Home Server product manager Steven Leonard claimed that the bug cropped up only when the server was under an “extreme load” as it copied large files.
Yeah, we listen to you then, and we still have this data corruption problem! What good did it do us to listen and believe you Steven???
The revised KB 946676 support document now omits any mention of “extreme load.”
In December, WHS product managers said that the team was hard at work on a patch and wouldn’t rest until it had one ready to push to users via Windows Update.
Again, Microsoft assured us with more promises and FAILED to deliver!
That is unless the Window Home Server Team is going to keep their word of continuing working without REST until the fix was ready to update to WHS users…
Microsoft claims, they understand the frustration we all are going through by delaying for 9 months any resolution for such a serious design flaw!
Perhaps, Microsoft didn’t understand, we already PAID for WHS as customers, and we didn’t expect to be given a BROKEN product that’s crippled and flawed.
Boycott Microsoft!!! Don’t give them anymore money at all!
Windows Home Server was not and is NOT ready for the public! Nobody wants data corruption and be told to live with it…
How does something like this serious data corruption flaw get through to RTM public release? Greedy Beta pushers!
I’m sorry to inform you that your Windows Genuine Home server might be down for few months/years. We have escalated the issue to our Genuine Home Server team, kindly try to reboot your WHS v4 again on Tuesday 04 Aug 2019. hopefully, by then the issue will be resolved.
Thank you for contacting the Genuine Microsoft Technical Support Team.”
Who can believe that Microsoft didn’t even know there own software will NOT work on Windows Home Server? But, knowing this now and Microsoft still delays to provide any resolution. How is that reasonable?
Obviously, nobody can trust Microsoft with testing their own software products.
Furthermore, it’s possible even more programs could cause corruption, Microsoft acknowledged. What else can go wrong?
No wonder Vista is so bad, they still haven’t gotten basic file sharing functionality down yet.
I would under no circumstances rely on Microsoft these days if I had a business to run. Why I rely on Microsoft for my own personal use?
I expect higher standards than DATA CORRUPTION!
Yes, this is a complete joke. “Microsoft urges all Windows Home Server users to back up important data before attempting to store files on the WHS system”.
Is HP going to protect my data from WHS loss? Nope. What else to say, but that’s NOT what I paid for to experience when using Windows Home Server!
Why would anybody want to hire HP or Microsoft Consulting Groups for their project, where these companies has basic problems in delivering their own?
HP knows about this design flaw, it’s proven and yet HP still thinks to sell their HP Ex475 all the same. That speaks loud to me, how about you? Money is all they care about, not our data, not our work, not even our experiences as their customers.
Boycott greedy companies!
Microsoft finds a bug that undermines the core functionality of their product – and then goes on to tell the users to (1) stop using that core functionality, and (2) sit quietly and behave for another few months.
How about buying a safe that will occasionally (but rarely) incinerate everything within it? Or a car whose breaks will occasionally (but rarely) cease to function? In either of those cases, the response would be an immediate product withdrawal and a compensation/exchange for whoever bought it.
Whoops, make that “whose BRAKES will occasionally…”
I’ve been patiently waiting for this bug to get fixed before I make a commitment to WHS. However, I also agree with many others. This is absurd!
Maybe we should launch a sort of petition or a blog to centralize our complaints and file a class action lawsuit! Otherwise, we might never get a fix to the data corruption issue, as Microsoft is sold to Google. Just as HP is sold to Lenovo.
Microsoft is selling a file-killing flaw (KB 946676). Don’t buy WHS!
Since March 31, Microsoft still has NOT resolved the proven data corruption design flaw in WHS that HP reported to it’s customers.
When will someone at Microsoft provide some relief here? Why cannot Microsoft keep us informed about any progress being made here?
What is being done to resolve this serious data corruption problem in WHS?
Why is there no response from Microsoft?