SmartStart CD for Windows Server 2008

[michaeldean]

I am having the same problem with smartstart 8.2 with a ML 31- G5p

[DRE23]

To get Windows Server 2008 to successfully install with StartStart 8.x, you must uncheck SNMP when asked. After OS installed, add SNMP and rerun PSP.

[Jesper Rex]

I have just overcome this irritating problem, with SmartStart 8.00

I was constantly getting this error, trying to Install Windows Server 2008 std. 64 bit edition, with SmartStart 8.00 64 bit edition.

After some research, I read what was PRINTED on the Microsoft 2008 DVD.... I had tried installing a 64 bit version, using the Windows 2008 32 bit DVD!!!!!

After inserting the Windows 2008 Server Standard 64 bit DVD, and browsing to DVD Installation went through, without any problems.
And I did select SNMP during SmartStart 8.00 installation.

[Scott Williams MCT]

I have successfully used SmartStart version 8.25 x64 with Windows Server 2008 Standard Edition.

You will need to COPY the Windows 2008 .iso file to a DVD. DO NOT "burn the .iso image to DVD". Once the DVD was mounted, I was able to reference the .iso file on the DVD.

I would also recommend FIRST restarting to the RBSU Setup (F9) and then go to advanced options to Reset / Remove the current Boot Partitions - Clean Slate.

[nlouie]

I am using Smart Start 8.25 and trying to install Windows Server 64 bit in early July 2009 and still running into problems very similar to what I have read on this forum. In addition to this, on a manual install of Windows, it is not recognizing the P410i driver. Does anyone know if there is a version of smart start that works as advertised?

[Scotty Leach]

Yes!
I was having the exact same trouble with 8.15. Stupid me. The 64 bit smartstart CD needs to match the 64 bit OS. A flat install with a source of D:\dvd\mount then works perfectly. No more pesky 0x8007000D or unreadable Install.wim errors!

[Brian Dayton Apple]

I'm still having this issue with the latest SS v8.25. I've been testing this with 2003 ENT 32bit. I have tried several variations with the same result when it comes to navigating to the OS (wether it's in ISO or in flat file format). I get the invalid entry error. I used SmartStart on a usb flash drive and I used it in CD format and yet the error persists.

The only working method for me is to use the OS CD media which does not help the issue that I want to provide a consolidated package to other SEs to perform installations with.

Did this function ever work? Is there maybe a specific method that the ISO of the OS needs to be created? Could it be the HP usb format utility? I used v1.20 which also copies over the SmartStart CD so it's loadable on the flash drive. After this, I then copy over my ISO folder.During testing I also copied a source folder of the OS and even placed the ISO at the root level.

I have searched everywhere on this and found various results in success where some create logical drives via the SmartStart media, while others found odd loop holes in where once it errors, but if you type in the location instead of browsing for it it would work as well.

I would love to find a solution to this so I can update my documentation. It would be great to have all my OS media on one flash drive instead of a CD book full of discs.

[BDay]

I've been able to get the OS to install with SmartStart 8.25 and then run the support pack after install, but has anyone figured out how to use the 2008 AutoUnattend.xml as part of their install?

Can I dump AutoUnattend.xml on the USB key as well or does SmartStart create it's own version of AutoUnattend.xml (and override anything I put on thee?) in order to get the support pack to run after OS instal and insert the product key etc?

Thank you in advance.

[AlWill]

Experienced the same flat file problem with SS versions 8.0 & 8.20 when trying to install WS2008 EntEd64 on a DL360 G5.

Found that SS version 8.15 worked without any problem.

Best of luck!!

[Frederick Denton]

Same Problem SS 8.25 w/W2008 Std X64...

Will not accept /mount/dvd on target media.

SS 8.25 Installed W2003 x64 & W2008 Std x32 OK...

Thanks

Rick Denton
New Century Systems
704-248-8629

[Kopp2]

Hi all,
I was able to install Win 2008 R2 Std x64 with SmartStart CD 8.30 x64 and fresh downloaded windows 2008 R2 ISO "en_windows_server_2008_r2_standard_enterprise_datacenter_and_web_x64_dvd_x15-59754.iso".
One DL380 G6 was successully installed, other two ran in the issue "windows could not parse c:\windows\panther\unattend.xml"
But the problem with "invalid entry /mount/dvd" did not appear anymore!

I will check SNMP settings.... I adjusted it in two cases...
PS: But the installed server got untouched public/private/127.0.0.1

Regards, Juergen Kopp

[Marcel Schluchter Swiss]

New Problem with SmartStart 8.30 64bit. Everything works fine, but Installation stucks when finished copying 99%.
"JavaScript error occured! Error description: WIM.getElementsByTagName("MAJOR")[0] is undefined. Line number: 899"
Clicked ok and nothing happens, just stands at 99%... Any ideas?

[Marcel Schluchter Swiss]

Problem solved... Same issue than this:

http://forums11.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/bizsupport/questionanswer.do?threadId=1375270

Bad Media download from Microsoft...

[Neil Cummings]

Use SmartStart 8.30 - this works.

[Neil Cummings]

Sorry Schluchter, overlooked your post. Yes, same problem here with SmartStart 8.30, 99% then error. Cold boot from that screen did not work either, will try downloading the media again as suggested.

[Matty-CT]

Smartstart 8.30 claims to support Windows 2008 R2 but Windows setup fails for me on a ML350 G6 using HP branded media. HP Support had me simply run setup via the OS DVD. I wanted to avoid this due to the old F6 and driver installs. However, I suprised to see that W2K8 R2 (HP branded) has drivers for P410 RAID controllers. If it has P410, then it should have older drivers too.

HP Support claims that a forthcoming Smartstart will fix the glitch.

Hope this helps those ready to lose it!

[Cshare]

I ran upon the same issue, the installation of WIN2K8 R2 will fail on the final stages.

How I got around this was by not installing SNMP and not installing the HP insight Management WBEM Providers for Windows (WMI-based providers). I also setup Custom PSP Installation Mode.

[m3rdpwr]

Here's how to fix it.

When you get to the SNMP screen do the following:

Leave Public and Private as your default community strings.

Also, remove the IP all together.

It now works.

This is a bug HP has not fixed.

You could change the community strings, as long as they don't match which in many cases, they do.

So just leave everything as is and just remove the IP from SNMP install screen.

When the OS loads, change you SNMP settings in Windows.

All is good...

-Mario

[m3rdpwr]

I should have mentioned above that this is when you are using SmartStart andget to the point of the SNMP config.

Also, if you decide to install the 2008 x64 OS and PSP later, that doesn't work properly.

Why you ask?

Well, HP's Network Management Utility won't work because it thinks the mini-port drivers aren't going to load no matter what, trust me.

They work for the mezzanine 326m NIC's once updated, but not the 370i's.

Took a while to figure that all out...

FYI, 2008 R2 seems to be fine though...

-Mario

[GPetit]

Just to follow up on this thread:

Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 with SmartStart using a USB key fails ("The unattend answer file contains an invalid product key. Either remove the invalid product key or porvide a valid product in the unattend answer file to proceed with Windows installation"). However, installing from the SmartStart DVD worked.

[GPetit]

Sorry, forgot to mention that this was using SmartStart 8.60 and 8.70 (same result with both)

[wcapers]

Thanks to everyones comments I notice that I was using a 32 bit and not a 64 bit and that was my problem.  Some times a second eye or comment can be a big help.

Thanks you all