Cluster validation fails on missing drive letter

Problem

Failover Cluster validation fails with the following error: “Failed to prepare storage for testing on node X status 87”:

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Analysis

This error was caused by how the operating system was installed on the server. For some reason there was a separate hidden boot partition with no name:

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I suspect that this is the remains of a Dell OEM installation CD, as there is also an OEM partition on the drive. I didn’t install the OS on this server though, so I was unable to figure out exactly what had happened.

Solution

The solution is simple enough, just assign a drive letter to the boot partition:

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You could also reinstall the node or create a valid boot loader on the C: drive, but just assigning a drive letter to the partition is way quicker.

Author: DizzyBadger

SQL Server DBA, Cluster expert, Principal Analyst

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