Can't boot from SmartStart on Proliant 6000

[Bruce Code]

Hi Everyone,

I can't boot from the SmartStart 5.50 CD on a Proliant 6000, but I *can* boot from the Windows 2000 CD. It isn't the CD because I have just downloaded and made the SmartStart Disc from the HP web site *and* I can read the CD from within Windows. I have also booted from this disc previously. Has anyone else had this problem, or do you have a solution for me?

Thanks,

Bruce

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P.S. This Thread has been moved from Servers --> General to Servers --> Proliant - Netservers - Forum Moderator

[NMory]

Bruce:

Try it with SS 5.0.
Try to boot another server with the CD just in case....

Try to follow these steps in your installation:

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.

[Bruce Code]

Thanks for your reply L,

In this case your reply wasn't what I needed, but thanks for taking the time to help.

I have found out that it appears to be improper memory sharing by device drivers (http://www.microsoft.com/technet/prodtechnol/windows2000serv/proddocs/srvgs/sgsappa.mspx ). I'll attempt to fix this and reply back here with my result.

Thanks again,

Bruce

Atomic Design Studio
http://www.atomicdesignstudio.com.au

[Jack Lemar]

Bruce,

Sorry for late answer but I had some kind similar problem recently with my PL5500. Just have a look at:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/questionanswer.do?threadId=1060065

and maybe it will help you too.

oiram

[Bruce Code]

Hi Oiram_mh,

Thanks for your reply. I'm not getting anywhere with this server. It won't even POST now...


Thanks,

Bruce

[Jack Lemar]

Bruce,

Have you tried to reset NVRAM as well as checking connections (cables, boards)?

oiram

[Bruce Code]

Hi Oiram,

I've checked all connectors I can think of, right down to the fans. I've changed memory, the position of memory expansion boards, processors, power supplies, added and removed hard drives, added and removed RAID controllers...

How do you reset the NVRAM? I've switched the jumper on the peripheral board, powered the server on, turned it off and then reset the switch back to it's original position. As far as I understand, that should reset the NVRAM right?

Thanks,

Bruce