Every time my ML115 G5 W2K8 server updates the NVidia RAID array is destroyed

[Tim Staddon]

Hi

I'm now on my third build of a brand new ML115, 2.5GB RAM, with HP Windows 2008 x64 edition.

The system has 3 Seagate 640GB disks in a RAID 5 array.

I can get the server installed no problem, install all my application software no problem, and use the server, no problems at all.

My problem is that as soon as I perform a Windows Update an error appears in the RAID array during the next POST, and the system will not boot from that point on. The array is, to all intents and purposes, FUBAR.

When I examine the array from f8, it claims only one disk is in the array, and it is unbootable - and there are no other disks available.

All three disks are recognised in BIOS prior to this, and SMART says they're all fine too.

The only way I can recover from this point is if I completely destroy the array and rebuild the server.

So what's happening?

[Tim Staddon]

Now the damned thing loses the array during first reboot of the Windows setup, with 2 disks disappearing out of the array AFTER the setup disk has correctly identified the RAID controller and array, and partitioned it!

GAAAAH!

[AycheKay]

How did you fix this problem? It sounds like maybe you were using the Setup CD to install the OS. The Setup CD cannot be used with the built-in nVidia RAID controller. Depending what options you select, it will go ahead and destroy the RAID array you already configured and then install Windows on one disk.