topic Re: P420i cloning a drive does not boot in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

P420i cloning a drive does not boot

YTD — Fri, 14 Nov 2025 04:37:03 GMT

I'm working on a fairly old server. It has a P410i Smart Array controller.

it has 2 data arrays with 2 logical drives

1 - a single SSD drive - the Windows OS bootable drive

2- a RAID 5 array of 4 SAS drives - the data drive

I want to replace that SSD with a newer one. So I took the drive out and imaged it and then restored the image to the new SSD (a larger one)

Put the new drive in but the server does not even try to boot to Windows.

What am i doing wrong? Why won't it boot?

Re: P420i cloning a drive does not boot

Rakshitha_K — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:04:15 GMT

Hi @YTD ,

The issue is not the imaging tool or the data itself — it's almost certainly that the HP Smart Array P410i is presenting the new SSD as a new logical drive, and the boot controller order / BIOS boot settings are still pointing to the old logical drive ID (or the old physical port).

HP Smart Array controllers assign logical drive numbers (1, 2, etc.) based on the order they detect arrays at boot. When you replace the SSD, even with a perfect clone, the controller may:

- Assign the new SSD to a different logical drive number than before.
- Or, worse, not enable it as bootable by default.
- Or the boot controller order in the server BIOS (RBSU) is still set to look for the OS on the original logical drive/port.

Please try the following diagnosis.

1. Boot to ORCA (F8)
2. Delete the logical drive on the new SSD (if it exists)
3. Create a new RAID 0 logical drive on the SSD -> it should become Logical Drive 1
4. Mark it bootable (if option exists)
5. Exit and reboot
6. Enter RBSU (F9) -> Set P410i as 1 boot controller

Regards,
Rakshitha_K

Re: P420i cloning a drive does not boot

Greeshma21 — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:04:16 GMT

Hi @YTD,

Always create a logical drive on new disks via the Smart Array controller before imaging or restoring an OS.

The controller boots from logical drives, not raw disks.
Imaging or restoring must be done to the logical drive as presented by the controller.

Follow the steps below to resolve the issue.

Install the New SSD in the Server.
Enter the Smart Array controller’s BIOS/firmware setup
Create a New Logical Drive on the SSD:
Restore the OS Image.

Regards,
Greeshma

Thank You!
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Query: P420i cloning a drive does not boot

support_s — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:04:22 GMT

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Re: P420i cloning a drive does not boot

YTD — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:33:14 GMT

So I clone the drive and then delete the logical drive?

Re: P420i cloning a drive does not boot

YTD — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 14:34:27 GMT

Hi Greeshma

Thanks for that. Your instructions seem quite different to your colleagues...how I do know which one to follow?

TYhnks

Re: P420i cloning a drive does not boot

Greeshma21 — Thu, 13 Nov 2025 15:00:40 GMT

Hi @YTD,

No, you should create the logical drive first, then clone your OS image onto it. Deleting the logical drive after cloning will remove the array metadata and make the disk unbootable again. The controller needs the logical drive in place to recognize and boot from it.

NOTE:

Do NOT delete the logical drive after cloning—the controller needs it to boot.
Set the boot order if needed.

Regards,
Greeshma