Can't install Win2003 Server from CD in IDE tray

[Karl_52]

I'm new to HP servers, firmware,and HP way of doing things so so forgive me for possible simple question.

I have 2 LH4r's which I'm trying to install Win2003 Ent.Server on. I:

1. Updated the BIOS
2. Setup and initialized the RAID 1, and 5
3. Setup the 2 logical drives
4. Set my IDE CDrom as the 1st boot device.

After POST I always get "OPERATING SYSTEM NOT FOUND" (...no kidding)

What am I missing here? It won't work on either of them.

Thanks in advance.

[Alf Solbu]

Try this..
Skip step 1 & 2 if array and logical disks already done.

1.Build array(If not built)
2.Initiate logical disks(if not done)
3.Start server with a w98 startdisk.
4.Run FDISK and make partitions.(FAT)
5.Restart server(W98 disk)
6.Format disks (FAT)
7.Start installation from CD(Drive:\i386\winnt.exe)
8.Remove diskette and CD when prompted to restart.
9.When server boots do NOT press F6.Follow instructions on screen... install on FAT and convert to NTFS after instalation.

Hope this helps.
Brgds
Alf Solbu

[Karl_52]

Thanks for the work-around.

Does anyone know what is the real cause of this is?

-Karl

[Karl_52]

I tried this, The CDRom is recognized, but can't read the disk.

For a test- I inserted a WIN2K-SERVER disk and it found it immediately after POST.

This is a brand new 2003 Enterprise Server disk. Any ideas as to why it won't read?

I don't want to install 2000 server and upgrade to 2003 if I don't have to.

[amhakassa]

Hi Karl,

If the server reads windows 2000 server CD but failed to read the windows 2003 installation CD
, I would say try another windows 2003 installation CD. My guess is probabily the windows 2003 CD you have right now is not a bootable CD for some reason

Cheers
Amha Kassa

[Karl_52]

Thanks for the response.

The strange thing is that the CD runs properly on any other machine, but not the two LH4R's I have. It auto starts properly on a Dell server and desktop.

How could it be bad media?

I'm getting extremely frustrated since these are to be my new DC and Exchange server.

-KX

[Karl_52]

After copying the CD image, the new CD worked.

Now I get an "A disk read error occurred..."

This could be several things..

[amhakassa]

Hi Karl,

Have you tried using another CD ROM in the server (Probabily the cd rom is bad oin your server)

Regards
Amha Kassa

[Terri Harris]

I do want to advise that HP did not test Windows 2003 on any of the Netservers, so this is not a supported configuration. It also means there is no HP documentation on possible issues. You may want to search the Netserver forum for other postings of users installing (or trying to install) W2003. The Advanced Search page is here:

http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/james/home.do?admit=716493758+1098121437568+28353475

Good luck with this.

[Karl_52]

Thanks for everyone's feedback!

OK.. I finally resolved the problem...

1. The CD ROM didn't read any of the Microsoft CDs.- Burning the image with Nero (slow speed) on to generic CD media fixed this.

2. Re-setting the system CMOS (F11) and Re-flashing the RAID bios AGAIN finally got it to work.

The above fixes worked on both of my LH4 R boxes.

Thanks again,

Karl

kxjimenez@eyewonder.com