ML110G3 RAID boot Catch-22

[Jim Helfer]

I am struggling to install windows 2003 Web edition on an Proliant ML110 G3 using RAID-1 with the embedded SATA controller.

First problem:
Windows disk doesn't have the drivers.
Setup won't read drivers from the CD
ML110 does not include a floppy
A USB floppy drive is not recognized
There is no way to make the USB or CD impersonate a floppy at boot
ML110 does not have a floppy controller to add a floppy

Conclusion: I can't install windows while the controller is in a RAID configuration

Plan B: Install first to IDE, then install RAID drivers and mirror the drive?

Install windows
load all drivers, including RAID driver and storage manager
Reboot
Change IDE to RAID in BIOS

Server will not start, reboots shorty after displaying Windows bitmap.

Leaving the aside the question of how no one noticed this in product testing, can anyone give me an idea how I am supposed to use the RAID Array that I bought this system for if I can't install with it ON, or turn it on after install?


Thanks for any ideas.

Jim Helfer

[Prashant (I am Back)]

Hi,

Refer to this post might be help.
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1011243

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1029441

Prashant s.

[Jim Helfer]

Unfortunately I can't seem to get to the second link.

The first link mentions a USB 2.0 floppy, but the OP did not indicate any sucess. Also, reformatting the drive is indicated, but I would not be able to do this because I have no way to load a driver for it.

I am looking for some instructions to build a slipstream CD with the mass storage drivers included, but I have not so far figured out what installation files need to be modified, or where the drivers go.

[Prashant (I am Back)]

Hi,

Something likt this
http://www.maximumpc.com/2005/01/how_to_slipstre.html
But this is example is for XP same we can do for other Os

Prashant S.

[Jim Helfer]

Thanks, that looks like what I am looking for.

[Jim Helfer]

I successfully made one bootable CD, but had an error on the setup file. So, I fix and make another, in fact 5 more, all using the same directions. "Cannot boot from CD: code 4" "Cannot boot from CD: code 5"

This is ridiculous for a server-level machine from (what was once) a name synonymous for dependability.

I'm wondering what other parts of this cbox are "not ready for prime-time Windows"

Long time compaq server user, not exactly happy about my experience with the ML350 and ML110.