Proliant 8000 Windows 2003 will not install!

[David Bonamo_2]

I am trying to load Windows 2003 Server, standard edition, on a Proliant 8000. Everything is fine until it starts copying files. Anywhere from 20-70% system just stops, now errors or anything, just a blank screen. Thinking that the CD might be bad, I tried another CD, still same thing.

Then I tried a copy of Windows 2000 Advance server, this loaded and got about 90% throught the setup portion and then STOP machine_check_exception.

Rebooted, setup restarted, then I get the HALT message, it mention parity error.

I tried some simple things like removing all PCI cards and reseating memory modules, have done the CPU's.

Any suggestions or ideas would be welcomed.

Tanks

[sgunelius]

David,

Support for this OS on the 8000 wasn't added until March of 2003 (4.06) and there is a slightly later revision (4.07) dated June 2003. Make sure you're running the latest system firmware revision. Once you've flashed the firmware, you should probably be okay:

http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/locate/69_1103.html

Scott

[NMory]

David:

This a cookbook I prepared myself for that case...
Installing Windows 2000 and 2003 in old Proliant Servers.

There are 2 types of installations: Assisted or Manual. Both are mentioned.

The intention of this steps are to be a "Quick Guide" of what happends during the installation of any Windows version using Smart Start 5.5 on any old Proliant Server.



***Windows Server 2003 doesn't support Smart Start's 5.5 Assisted Installation, you have to do a Manual Installation in order to complete it succesfully***


Manual Installation



***IF YOU ARE INSTALLING WINDOWS SERVER 2003 THIS IS THE ONLY OPTION YOU WILL USE TO INSTALL IT IN ANY OLD VERSION OF PROLIANT SERVER***



1. Boot the server with the Smart Start CD 5.5

2. System Utilities is launched. Run Erase Utility (a warning message will appear, click yes)

3. A message is displayed on a black screen saying that the process takes about 3 minutes. After the process is competed, it will say "System has been erased. Cycle system power now."

4. Restart the server with the power button.

5. The Smart Start boots, and window will appear where you have to select your Language. Click English,

6. A Regional Settings window appears...Select your Country, Date, Time and press OK. A System Summary window will appear, press continue.

7. The License agreement window will appear. Agree to the license and press OK.

8. Choose the desired Smart Start Path window appears. Select Manual configuration. Select begin.

9. Operating System Selection window appears. Select the OS that you want to install. If installing Windows 2003 select Windows 2000 Server Advanced. Click Next. An Operating System Warning message appears. Click Continue.

10. Smart Start loads the System Configuration Utility. If you have your server configured properly and everything is ok, a blue window appears that says "your computer and all detected boards have been configured"; this window will display the controller that you will use to control your hard drives if you have one. This same window will give you the option to manually adjust some configuration options for your server by going to Review or Modify HW Settings.

The Options given by the Window are Continue with Smart Start Installation and Review or Modify HW Settings.



11. These are the options that you have if you select Review or Modify HW Settings:



1. Important System Configuration Information (it's only text)

2. Add or Remove Boards (not used, only if necessary)

3. View or Edit Details (to check the Boot Controller Order, and HW settings...It's like the BIOS of the server)

4. Examine Switches or Print Report (not used, only if necessary)

5. Save and Exit



If you select Save and Exit another window will appear with 2 options:



Save the configuration and Restart the Computer

and

Discard the configuration and return to Main Menu



12. Select Save the configuration and restart the computer. A reboot message is displayed, press enter.

13. System reboots

14. Smart Start Loads and System Reboots again.

15. Smart Start Loads.

16. System Partition Installation Utility starts, System makes a Quick Format of the area for the partition, Smart Start files are decompressed, a HW Discovery is performed.

17. Smart Start Loads and asks you if you want to create a Support SW Diskette (Not necessary). Click Next to continue.

18. A window pops up saying that "the system is ready for the OS to be installed. Please remove the Smart Start CD". Remove the Smart Start CD and insert the Windows CD. Click Continue.

19. A "removing Smart Start Files" message appears and the Server reboots.

20. The Windows Setup starts (like any normal Windows setup), press F6 if necessary to specify additional SCSI drivers for the controller that you have on the system. If installing Windows 2003, this one should be able to install without any specific driver for any controller installed in a HP Proliant Server. If installing any other version of Windows download the specific driver for the controller that the server has installed from the HP website.




http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/index.html (SW and Drivers download page)





Assisted Installation



***THIS OPTION WILL NOT WORK IF YOU WANT TO INSTALL WINDOWS SERVER 2003***



1. Boot the server with the Smart Start CD 5.5

2. System Utilities is launched. Run Erase Utility (a warning message will appear, click yes)

3. A message is displayed on a black screen saying that the process takes about 3 minutes. After the process is competed, it will say "System has been erased. Cycle system power now."

4. Restart the server with the power button.

5. The Smart Start boots, and window will appear where you have to select your Language. Click English,

6. A Regional Settings window appears...Select your Country, Date, Time and press OK. A System Summary window will appear, press continue.

7. The License agreement window will appear. Agree to the license and press OK.

8. Choose the desired Smart Start Path window appears. Select Assisted configuration. Select begin.

9. The window to insert the Server Profile Diskette appears. You will need to create the diskette in order to continue with this installation. You can download it from the following website:



http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/7453.html



10. Operating System Selection window appears. Select the OS that you want to install. If installing Windows 2003 select Windows 2000 Server Advanced. Click Next. An Operating System Warning message appears. Click Continue.



11. Smart Start loads the System Configuration Utility. If you have your server configured properly and everything is ok, a blue window appears that says "your computer and all detected boards have been configured"; this window will display the controller that you will use to control your hard drives if you have one. This same window will give you the option to manually adjust some configuration options for your server by going to Review or Modify HW Settings.

The Options given by the Window are Continue with Smart Start Installation and Review or Modify HW Settings.



12. These are the options that you have if you select Review or Modify HW Settings:



1. Important System Configuration Information (it's only text)

2. Add or Remove Boards (not used, only if necessary)

3. View or Edit Details (to check the Boot Controller Order, and HW settings...It's like the BIOS of the server)

4. Examine Switches or Print Report (not used, only if necessary)

5. Save and Exit



If you select Save and Exit another window will appear with 2 options:



Save the configuration and Restart the Computer

and

Discard the configuration and return to Main Menu



13. Select Save the configuration and restart the computer. A reboot message is displayed, press enter.

14. System reboots

15. Smart Start Loads and System Reboots again.

16. Smart Start Loads.

17. System Partition Installation Utility starts, System makes a Quick Format of the area for the partition, Smart Start files are decompressed, a HW Discovery is performed.

18. The additional SW Selection window appears, click next.

19. A summary of the SW products to be installed window is shown, click Next.

20. Obtaining Preinstallation Info. It asks if you want to create a Replication Disk. No. Click Next.

21. Guided-Preinstallation Interview starts, click Continue.

22. ASR Options, click Next.

23. More ASR Options, click Next.

24. More ASR Options again, click Next.

25. More ASR Options, click Next.

26. Integrated Remote Console, No, Click Next.

27. Integrate Management Display Info (for Display), No, click Next.

28. Integrate Management Display again, click Next.

29. Integrate Remote Console, click Next.

30. Windows Boot Partition Size Selection. Select the desired boot partition size. +/- 3GB NTFS. Click Continue.

31. Windows NT Server Setup window appears. Select the number of licenses and the server type (5, per server, stand alone). Click Continue.

32. Compaq Web Based Management Security Config. Click Next.

33. Compaq Web Based Management Security Config, select your Windows log on Password and Confirm it, click Next

34. Compaq Web Based Management Security Config, click Continue.

35. Interviews Complete, click Continue.

36. System asks you if you want to create a Diskette Builder (Support SW). Click No and Continue.

37. System starts to copy data files from the System Partition to the Profile Diskette.

38. A window appears saying that the server will restart, click Continue. Server reboots.

39. System starts to Format the Partition (CPQFMT 1.0)

40. Once Format is finished, Smart Start comes up again.

41. Copying Files from CD to the System Partition.

42. A window appears asking for the Windows CD, click Continue.

43. Windows installation starts copying files to the Hard Drive.

44. System tells you to remove all CDs and Floppies from the server, click Continue.

45. Server Reboots.

46. Windows Installation Starts.

47. Server Reboots and shows some setup configuration info.

48. Server Reboots.

49. Windows starts the Setup process.

50. License agreement is displayed.

51. Windows continues to install files and server reboot at the end of it.

52. Windows OS Starts.


Hope this helps....

LN

[David Bonamo_2]

Thanks for your replies. It turn out I had 2 bad sticks of memory. Windows 2k3 did complete the inital file copy during setup and was able to boot to setup.

Thanks again

david