NT install on LH Pro Couldn't find NTLDR

[Gordon Owens]

Hi,

I have a retired HP Netserver LH Pro and have decided to use it as a test platform for various issue resolution instead of junking it. The server has one 200Mhz Pentium pro, 128MB of memory, 6 HP SCSI hard drives, (connected to SCSI channels A and B), One SCSI CD-ROM (SCSI ID 5 channel A) and an HP Surestore 5000 (SCSI ID 2 channel A). I have updated the system with the most current BIOS from the HP website. The only card in the system is a 3COM 10/100 PCI NIC.

My problem is when I try to install Windows NT, (using the 3 disks), it will get to the point where it tells me to remove the floppy and press any key to re-boot so it can complete the installation and I get the the following error when it tries to complete the installation process BOOT: Couldn't find NTLDR. I have checked and made sure there are no partitons on any of the hard drives, I have tried using a different hard drive as SCSI ID 0 with the same results.

Any information you could provide would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gordon

[Terri Harris]

Do you have a DOS boot disk with FDISK on it? The easiest way to test this problem is to use FDISK to create a small bootable DOS partition (50MB is fine). Then see if the server will boot from this DOS partition.
If it does...are you trying to install NT Server 4.0? What install partition size are you specifying? Go ahead and try the install again. You need to specify the HP SCSI driver, do you have the HP NT 4.0 driver diskette? If not, create this from:

http://h20004.www2.hp.com/soar_rnotes/bsdmatrix/matrix50454en_US.html

The following HP document provides the basic steps for installing NT Server 4.0 on a Netserver:

http://isupport2.hp.com/Solution.asp?id=46c9004d-0eac-11d6-bed2-0090278a7756

IS12246 - HP Netservers - Manually Installing Windows NT ?? Server 4.0

[Gordon Owens]

I have installed MS-DOS 6.2 on it with no problem. I created a 50MB partition and installed the original MS-DOS diskettes to it and it boots fine. i have also created a partiton and installed the system files on drive 0 with a Win95 boot disk, again no problems. I then wiped all the partitions from the drive and attempted the installation of Win NT and received the same error. Also, I made the NT drivers diskette, but I am unsure of when I need to use it, since i can't even get a basic NT installation complete how do I implement the drivers on the diskette?

Any help is appreciated.

Gordon

[Terri Harris · Accepted solution]

Did you see the HP document I gave previously? It includes the steps for how to specify OEM drivers.

Key points:

1. Boot from NT disk # 1
Do NOT insert the NT CD until prompted.

2. On NT Disk # 2 there is an option to SKIP, then SPECIFY. This is where you will specify the HP SCSI driver.

If it still does not work, the question is are the NT diskettes good? NT CD ok?

[Gordon Owens]

Terri,

Yes I did and printed it out. I remember now, sorry for the repeat, it's been a long week already ;-) I'll give it a try and see what happens.

Thanks

Gordon

[e4services]

Could be the size of the install partition you are selecting also. NT can not boot if installed in a partition that passes the 1024th physical cylinder of the HD.
Drives to my cause yo not to find the correct boot device also.

[Gordon Owens]

Terri,

Thanks a lot for the information. I tried once last night and it choked, (think I missed a step), but walked through it again and NT came up.

One other quick question, based on the inforamtion I have my understanding is that if I want to utilize a different video board, (PCI) all I need to do is disable the on board controller via the dip switches and then install the new board. Correct? I searched the net and HP's site and have been unable to find any specific instructions on this.

Thanks again

Gordon

[Terri Harris]

For trying a different video card, yes, you are correct. Disable the integrated video with System switch # 8. Then install the desired video card. If you search through the ITRC here you will find HP customers who have gotten specific cards to work, so if you need recommendations I would search - and/or post a new message asking for suggestions.
For reference I will include the available specs on the LH Pro I/O.
Very glad you were able to finally get NT installed!

I/O Slots (PCI spec 2.1)

Slot 9: 32-bit PCI, 5v, Bus 0. PCI 6 & 9 are independent (use these first!)
Slot 8: 32-bit PCI, 5v, Bus 1.PCI 5 <-share-> PCI 7
Slot 7: 32-bit PCI, 5v, Bus 1 PCI 8 <-share-> Embedded SCSI A&B
Slot 6: 32-bit PCI, 5v, Bus 1 PCI 6 & 9 are independent
Slot 5: PCI / EISA Shared
Slots 1-4 are EISA

[Paul Cotton]

Hi

I am having the same problem

I have just bought a server from e-vay from someone and i have had a go at booting but it does nothing. I have windows 2000 on cd so when i put the disc in and reboot all i get is the usuall tests and then it says Can not find NTLDR

Can you help me get started and what i need to do, If its t format or re-install windows, How to go about it

Regards

Paul

[Terri Harris]

Paul,
It would be better if you create a new thread (new posting) for your problem.
If you've got a DOS boot disk with FDISK (this can be downloaded from the Internet), boot the DOS disk and create a small bootable partition. 50 MB is fine.
If the server will boot from the DOS partition the issue is probably software and not hardware. With NT 4.0 and (less commonly) 2000, this often means an OEM driver is needed during the install.