431 Installation

[Ayman Altounji]

I have been attempting installation of an ML370 with NT4 Small Business Server and a 431 Array Controller (3 x 9.1GB Ultra3 drives.) Have used the methods suggested above, including F6 and specificing the controllers, but no success, as installation fails on the NT hardware detect screen (after restarting machine). Ideas suggestions appreciated, as I am keen to either get this fixed or throw the machine back at the dealer.......
Chris

[Ayman Altounji]

1) Run SmartStart cd and choose option to create support software
choose option to create server support software for NT 4.0
make diskettes 2) scsi/array drivers and 4) nic drivers
2) Create the 3 NT install diskettes (if you boot from CD you need to hit f6 about evey 2 sec. when NT cd starts to load)
3) At the window that mentions mass storage detection, select S to skip mass storage detection.
4) At the next window, select S to specify mass storage device.
5) At the next window, select Other
6) Insert SSD diskette with scsi subdirectory ; (disk 2 currently)
7) Select "Compaq Integrated Smart Array Controllers" for 3200 controller or Select "Compaq Integrated Smart Array\42xx Controllers" for 431/integrated/4200
8) At the next window, select S to specify more mass storage devices
9) Select "Compaq 32 bit scsi controllers"
8) At the next window, select S to specify more mass storage devices
9) At the next window, hit the UP arrow and select IDE CD-ROM
10) Continue hitting S to specify mass storage devices until all scsi and array drivers are recognized
When you get to networking portion DO NOT CHOOSE DETECT CHOOSE SPECIFY put in disk 4
11) Proceed with rest of NT installation

[Ayman Altounji]

Thank you for the very detailed step-by-step instructions for the NT 4.0 installation process when using the Compaq NT 4.0 SSD driver disks. Some of the eariler versions of the NT 4.0 CDs would not load the drivers correctly if you booted the system from the CD. In those cases, you have to make the 3 NT boot and install floppies from the NT 4.0 CD using the WINNT.EXE command. Use the WINNT /? command to get a list of install parameters needed for making the install floppy disks.