Complete Setup

[Ayman Altounji]

I recently enherited a Compaq Prosignia 300 Server, it has 2-2.1GB drives, 1 Apache 2GB Tape drive, and a CDOM drive, 150mhz CPU and has been completely formatted /fdisked. I understand this is not how to setup a compaq server after reading some of the rompaqs. Could someone with allot more knowledge than I have, save me some major time and tell me step by step how to set this server up so that I can install either DOS, Win98, WinME or even WINNT4 on it? Not picky as to which OS, but, very unlcear to the order in which the rompaqs, and even which rompaqs to install. I have had it to the point of both HD's up and going, but the cdrom, even though it see's the driver and acknowledges it, flickers (read/write light) with the Hard drive, yet doesnt appear to want to read cd's and gives me the same msg with ot without media, leaving me to believe it just isnt setup right. Anyways, hope I am being clear enough here. I need step by step with specific rompaqs to get this up and running with any of the above mentioned OS's on it. Also, is there a place where I can just oder lets say a CD with all this on it? Even if it cost a few bucks, it would save me allot of hassle rather than having to d/l all these rompaqs on my wanna be 56K line. (live in country, so even though I have 56K, I dont come close to getting it) Please, help! =]
You too can become my hero today, so, step up and be all you can be, for me. =] thanks!

[Ayman Altounji]

The system may already have the latest system ROM installed. Check the BIOS date and ROM ID when you cold boot the system. You can download the current system ROM update from this web address.

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/download/8540.html

This should be the only ROM update you need before you install the OS, if you are using the hardware controllers that shipped with the system.

Next you download and make the Compaq system configuration program disks from this web address.

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/download/9180.html


Boot the system with the first disk in the set. Select "Configure hardware" from the menus. Configure the BIOS settings for the OS that is going to be installed. Save the new hardware setup to CMOS.

Now you need to boot the system with the required boot media to install the OS. For DOS, Windows 98 or Windows ME, you need bootable DOS disk that has the required SCSI driver for the CD-ROM drive. You can download the DOS SCSI driver from this web address.

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/download/7599.html
See the readme file on the disk created for instructions on what goes into the config.sys and autoexec.bat files.

You boot the system with the prepared DOS disk. Put in the OS instll CD into the CD-ROM drive. Then change to the drive letter for the CD-ROM drive. Next, change to the directory on the CD where you install the OS from. Then run the setup.exe program to install the OS. Follow the OS installation instructions on the screen.

For the NT OS, its a whole different ball game. You need to download and make the required drivers disks from the Compaq SSD at this web address.

http://www.compaq.com/support/files/server/us/download/9192.html


For the older version of the NT OS, you need to make the NT install boot floppies from the NT install CD. You run the WINNT.EXE program to do this. Use the "WINNT.EXE /?"command in the /i386 directory at the DOS prompt to get a list of the command line parameters required to make the boot and install floppies.

For the newer version of NT, you boot the system with the NT 4.0 CD. See the readme files on the Compaq NT 4.0 SSD for installation instructions.