Final answer:
The systems administrator should consult the legal department to determine the legal requirements regarding the discovery of protected health information (PHI) on a general-purpose file server.
Step-by-step explanation:
The systems administrator should consult the legal department to determine the legal requirements regarding the discovery of protected health information (PHI) on a general-purpose file server. This step is necessary because legal considerations are important in such situations, especially when dealing with patient information which is protected by laws such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). Consultation with the legal department will ensure that the appropriate actions are taken to comply with legal requirements and protect patient privacy rights.