Boot from external USB CD-ROM

[byronfromwesleyan]

Hi! I have a Compaq ProLiant 1850R. I've updated the BIOS to the latest possible (version from the year 2002). My internal CD-ROM is broken. I need to run SmartStart, then install my new OS. I have another CD-ROM attached to the server via USB. The server is set to boot in order from a:, cd-rom, then the hd. How can I boot from the external USB CD-ROM drive? Thanks!

[Mauro Rusignuolo]

Have you tried to set as boot unit the "removable drive" ?
in the boot sequence, the "removable" must be before the HD.

also, pay attention to enable the USB port via BIOS.

bye

TJ

[byronfromwesleyan]

TJ,

Thanks for the response. The USB drive wasn't an option for me to select as a boot device. How might I enable it so?

[Marek Nelec · Accepted solution]

Hi
You will not be able to boot from USB devices on this legacy server. It is simply not supported. Here is the Proliant USB support matrix:
http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/platforms/usb-support.html

[Moderator edit: Removed the broken link. Please refer to http://support.hpe.com/]

[Marek Nelec]

In any case you can open the cover, and if there is standard IDE connector on the motherboard, you should be able to connect standard internal IDE CD-ROM to this connector and try to boot. I think it's worth a try.

[Arch_Muthiah]

Current windows system won't support booting from USB drive because of the followinf reason....
BIOS must support INT 13h During the boot process, Windows assumes that support for communicating with the boot device, either hard disk drive or CD-ROM drive, is present in INT 13h when Windows loads because the NT Loader uses calls to INT 13h to access the disk. INT 13h support must comply with the "BIOS Enhanced Disk Drive Services - 2" specification and the "USB Mass Storage Specification for Bootability," The newer specification is considered the authority if the two specifications contradict each other.

Accurate drive numbering by BIOS Windows also requires that the assignment of drive numbers follows "Compaq Phoenix Intel BIOS Boot Specification version 1.01." Hard disk drives should begin numbering at 80h and CD-ROM drives should begin numbering at 82h, as in the past.



Archie

[Mauro Rusignuolo]

for sure, you are right.
If so, I haven't understood.
I have an exernal HD in a box USB Enermax Glory; inside the external box there is a "clone" of my system disk.
if I remove the SAS system disk from my Proliant ML150 G3 and I connect the external box via USB port ... it boot normally !
strange things happen...

Have a nice evening.

TJK

[Brian_Murdoch]

Hi,

Just buy a replacement from Ebay - They are cheap enough. Search for part 327921-001.

http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-Proliant-1850R-24X-IDE-CD-ROM-Drive-327921-001_W0QQitemZ130077093829QQihZ003QQcategoryZ56092QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-327921-001-CD-24X-Slimline-IDE-Drive_W0QQitemZ330085941552QQihZ014QQcategoryZ56092QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

http://cgi.ebay.com/Compaq-Proliant-CD-Rom1850R-6400-314993-509-327921-001_W0QQitemZ250009328610QQihZ015QQcategoryZ33870QQrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQcmdZViewItem

Regards,

Brian