win2k setup fail to continue after first reboot on E60

[johnzeng]

Equipment: E60 with latest BIOS version, 15G ibm ide HD.

Senario: Win2k(no sp integrated) installation starts from cdrom and the win2k can recognize the real hd capacity while BIOS can't. After the process of copying files to hd and the 1st reboot, system hang, setup can't proceed.

Possible causes:
1.IDE hd capacity is beyond the BIOS support(8.4g) and ntldr can't load normally.
2.Microsoft Knowledge Base Article - 254769(http://support.microsoft.com/default.aspx?scid=kb;en-us;254769)

Ultimate solution: provide the latest upgrade BIOS asap.

Protess: Very bad post-sale service in local region.

[Terri Harris]

Since HP did not test IDE hard drives in the Netserver E60, a more basic question is "can you install any OS"?
The BIOS does not recognize the hard drive - does this mean the hard drive does not banner during POST? If this is the case there is a hardware issue, not a software issue.

[johnzeng]

1.Since HP did not test IDE hard drives in the Netserver E60, a more basic question is "can you install any OS"?

This is a problem. Products are NOT tested completely before they're handed in to the customers. Should this attitude exist in the world-wide famous "Hewlett-Packard Company"? I don't think so. What is "customer" towards HP?

And, I don't expect E60 can have all OSs installed on it. But if the main stream Windows OS is not available, there's a big problem.

Please have a look at the release date of the latest BIOS. "24-Apr-01". Shouldn't we expect HD more than 8G at that time?

After all, I am quite moved by your brave words admitting the fact -- "did not test" and I hope your head leader won't see this because you're an HP employee and you're standing here representing your company.

2.The BIOS does not recognise the hard drive - does this mean the hard drive does not banner during POST? If this is the case there is a hardware issue, not a software issue.

Well, this ought not be a good question from you. The BIOS can of course recognize the HD before I can start my OS installation on it. But the capacity is not reported correctly.

=======================
I also conducted almost all docs from HP website and got nothing useful. I got only one thing in some way related and I would like to PS here: Net-raid hardware doesn't support hd over 8G.

Next time, please do a thorough research before you reply here. And if you have the time, I would also suggest you to have a dictionary in hand, and look at the forum in Chinese version and see what the responses are from end user. ASUS can be your model to follow at least in post sale service.

Wish HP a bright future. And to tell the truth, HP is my favourite company and I am reluctant to see HP's image getting worse and worse.

Thank you.

[Terri Harris]

If you call HP Netserver support you will receive the same answer concerning the testing & support of IDE hard drives in the Netserver E60. IDE hard drives were not tested and are not supported by HP in the E60.
The HP NetRAID controllers do support drive capacity larger than 8 GB.

[Greg Carlson]

John,

HP only tested and supports SCSI hdds on all E-series servers. In fact they have only had two servers that I'm aware of that have used an IDE hdd which are the TC2100/2110. Buy an hp hdd for SCSI A and then install your NOS.
HP hdd partnumbers:

D4911A 9gb 7200rpm
P1167A 18.2gb 7200rpm U3
P1213A 9gb 7200rpm U3
P1214A 9gb 10k rpm U3
P1215A 18gb U3

Here is a link for the E60 along with tested third party hardware.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Home.jsp?locale=en_US&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=45937

ciao,
Greg

[johnzeng]

I made a mistake:(quoted from the document)
Tip #2. HP NetRaid-1 Partition >8GB Not supported
Issue: You cannot install Windows 2000 on a system using an HP NetRaid-1 as the boot
device and a logical drive > 8GB.
Workaround: the HP NetRAID-1 adapter has an 8 GB limit for the boot partition. If
you are going to boot from devices connected to a NetRAID-1 controller, be sure that you
don't set the boot partition any larger than 8 GB during the Windows 2000 installation
procedure.

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/CoreRedirect.jsp?targetPage=http%3A%2F%2Fh200005.www2.hp.com%2Fbc%2Fdocs%2Fsupport%2FSupportManual%2Flpn13532%2Flpn13532.pdf
==============================
I've no more to tell.

[Greg Carlson]

John,

That documentation is on the NetRaid-1 card which is a rather old card. It is related to the Classic NetRaid card which was a 3 channel card with no official HP support for MS Server 2000. The NetRaid 1si was the recommended Raid controller for the E 60 server and is also supported in MS Server 2000. Since you are mentioning IDE hdds I'm not sure why you even mention it.

I don't know what parts are available in China but if you pick up one of the HP hdds I mentioned in the previous post and get to a supported HP configuration for the server you probably would be up and running.

Good luck,
Greg

[e4services]

A lot of information, but only a bit useful. I would take the partition size suggestion. Do not try and use your entire drive for the install partition, definately limit the size to below 8GB. Windows, spexially NT, had trouble with HD "translations" and boot sectors beyond the 1024th cylinder of the HD. This would also explain why the two sizes come up different. If 8 GB does not work, try 6.