Installing Windows Server 2003 on ML350 G5 w/SmartArray?

[Ned Grubb]

If I use the SmartStart 7.9 CD to install Windows Server 2003 on an ML350 G5 with a SmartArray e200i controller (RAID 5) I get the BSOD (STOP error) on restart after installation. If I use SmartStart 8.0 I get no hard drive to install on.

If I boot from the WinServer 2003 CD, press F6 to specify a driver from a USB-attached floppy disk (SmartArray SAS/SATA Controller v6.12), I eventually get (roughly) "There is no hard drive to install the OS on. Press F3 to exit."

I've unconfigured and reconfigured the RAID system several times. There is also a SCSI controller for an LTO3 installed.

What in the world do I need to do to get Windows Server 2003 to install on this system?

Thanks in advance,
Ned Grubb

[KarloChacon]

hi Ned

weird issue

which controller server has? e200 p400?

try 7.91 just in case

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=MTX-ca075df7a8224f0291bfd77629&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

but before continue with installation I recommend you run erase utility from smartstart CD, you know in maintain Tab you will find erase utility run it and re-run installation

regards

[Gary Antonio Benavides]

Hi!

I am a little confused about the steps that your are taking in order to install the OS. If you have the smart start CD, why are you loading the driver with F6. In the smart Start Home page there is an option "Deploy Server". You click on deploy server and this processor is going to install the drivers. You just follow the steps and Then it will ask you to insert the OS CD in order to continue with the installation.

[Gary Antonio Benavides]

Excuse me! I didn't read properly. You alreay tried that.

[Ned Grubb]

Smart Array E200i Controller.

Used SmartStart 7.91. Ran the erase utility.

Reinstalled and, after installation when the screen says "Starting Windows", I get BSOD with:

STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF789A63C, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000).

Any help is appreciated,
Ned Grubb

[KarloChacon]

sorry my lnk was 7.92 Smartstart CD

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

first remove the tape drive and the controller to which it is connected(and any optional PCI cards or usb devices).

Then update Firmware of all components in the server :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=MTX-2c5987b8362348dbb3e80d277b&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

Go in RBSU and be sure that the next boot device after CD is the SA E200i controller.

hope this hgelps

Regards

[Ned Grubb]

OK, removed the tape drive and its controller; downloaded and updated the firmware(8.10), changed the boot order in RBSU to have SmartArray second after the CD, and reinstalled using SmartStart 7.91 and still the the STOP error BSOD.

If I try SmartStart 8.0 it shows a Boot Controller Disk Size of -1 MB and will not allow an install. SmartStart 7.91 shows a Boot Controller Disk Size of 287388 MB. The system is configured w/6 500GB drives in RAID 5 as one logical drive.

I have gotten past the BSOD by booting the machine from the WinSrv2003 CD, loading the SmartArray SAS/SATA Controller v6.12 driver from a floppy, but get the following message when selecting a destination for the OS:

0 MB Disk 0 at Id 4 on bus 0 on HpCISSs2
(Setup cannot access this disk.)

I've got the media for WinSrv2003 R2 coming just in case the original non-R2 version I have is the problem.

Any other suggestions are greatly appreciated,
Ned Grubb

[KarloChacon]

hi

seeing that 7.91 shows you this

" SmartStart 7.91 shows a Boot Controller Disk Size of 287388 MB. The system is configured w/6 500GB drives in RAID 5 as one logical drive."

just for test

configure a RAID 5 with just 3 HDDs so 1 TB, in case windows is has any issue with any logical drive bigger than 2 TB so remove 3 HDDs configure 3 HDDs RAID or RAID 1 with 2 and use SSCD 7.91 or 7.92 the one I linked

regards

[KarloChacon]

hi Ned

did you resolve your issue?

regards

[Ned Grubb]

Not yet.

I am going to try the smaller logical drive size you suggested but would like to try the install with the R2 version of the 2003 server first, so I am currently waiting on the R2 disk to arrive.

Thanks,
Ned Grubb

[KarloChacon]

hi Ned

any update about your issue?

regards

[Ned Grubb]

Yes, the Windows Server 2003 R2 CD installed but I had to make a few concessions (similar to your suggestions).

It would not install on the whole partition of 2 TBs. I created a volume of 250GB and installed the operating system there and created another volume with the remaining space for data. I couldn't use SmartStart but was OK installing from the WinSrv2003R2 disk and pressing F6 for additional drivers. After Windows was running, I then installed all of the support pack from the SmartStart CD to get the remaining drivers, etc.

The non-R2 version of Windows Server 2003 would not let me access the disk for any type of configuration or installation.

Thanks for your help and for checking back on me,
Ned Grubb

[KarloChacon]

oh

glad to hear that server is up and running

Regards