ML115 Blue screen with NVGTS.SYS

[slipgate]

I installed Windows 2003 adding the drivers at install with a USB floppy. All went well, however, if I try and copy a load of files across, whether through USB, network or local backup, I get a BSOD.

The only clue is the NVGTS.SYS driver error at the bottom of the screen. Another thing I've noticed is that there is an 'unknown device' in the hardware manager. I only say that may be an issue, as a colleague installed the same server, somewhere else, but with nLite to slipstream the RAID drivers. I'm wondering if something was lacking in the USB way of installing it.

I've tried re-installing the drivers and management software a few times, but I still get, now and again, server STOP errors on backup.

Can anyone shed any light on this?

Thanks

Richard

[Tavrez_1]

Which program aer you using for the backup?

[Mi6t0]

Hello :)

About USB installation of drivers on Proliant 100-series - forget it. There is a modification that allows only HP-floppies for pointing the raid drivers during istallation.

As far as I see, there are no newer drivers for the ML115. I think it is a good idea to check the exact version of the chipset and to look for newer driver on the nVidia website... Cause this driver seems to be the nvidia sata driver.


Regards,

[slipgate]

I am using Ntbackup for local backups and Attix 5 for remote online backup through the Internet.

But the issue doesn't seem confined to a particular backup, just bulk copying. In fact, it happend again last night, in that case, it was the Nbackup, which is obviously dumping a load of data to the disks!

With regards to the HP USB thing, I was able to install the drivers with a generic USB floppy drive.

I checked on the HP site for updated Nvidia SATA RAID drivers, but looks like they're still on version 1.00 and the Nvidia site itself didn't seem very helpful.

So, I'm not sure what's happening. But as I say, a colleague who used nLite didn't seem to have the same problem, but obviously doesn't help me.

Thanks

Richard

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

what you can do is to update the firmwares, since there can be a little incompatibility...

System ROM :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3330535&prodNameId=3412419&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-1f66ce50c48644e6874e24e90a

Storage controller ROM :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3330535&prodNameId=3412419&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-82d363aa4fde4ab9852b87fea0

The other related thing is the storport.sys driver from Microsoft which works together with the HP miniport drivers...

Update the windows...just in case did you installed the drivers for the tape and the controller which is connected to it?

Regards,
Pac

[slipgate]

Pac,

I'll give the BIOS update a shot. I've had an issue with a recent HP laptop that had an unstable NIC under XP (Vista was fine) until I updated the BIOS, that apparently was only meant to fix some power issue with the lid shut!?!?!

As for the other one, I only have the built in nVidia/RAID device in use. I have no tape drive connected, just local NTBackups to a USB disk and the online backup.

Thanks

Richard

[Blazhev_1]

Hi Richard,

really strange issue...
did you try to copy a file to another logical drive if you have one?

Here the newest storport :

http://support.microsoft.com/kb/941276

Are there any error messages in the windows event logs(system & App)?
You say there is only a message of driver error, no Stopcode...you can check the memory dump(if ther is any).

Did you try with just few files to see if it is from the load on the controller or from the USB HDD/backup software?
The only other thing that I can think of is the legacy USB.1.1/2.0 settings in BIOS, which can be troubleshooted if you can make a local copy(not to the USB HDD)...

I hope that the solution is found soon...

Regards,
Pac

[L.B.Versnel]

Hello Pac,

Have the same problem:

New server installed. ML115G1.
Configured onboard RAID for disk 1 & 2.
Used F6 driver addition with nvidia driver from support CD by means of USB-floppydrive.
Driver contains nvgts.sys.
Installed W2003 Standard Release 2.
Applied Proliant support pack and all windows updates.

Added 3rd SATA disk (disk(3) for internal backup and storage use.
Installed WDS with distribution share on disk(3). Works fine.
But:
Copying file >approx 600MB from RAID disk or IDE DVDrom to single disk(3) generates blue screen pointing to nvgts.sys , address F724C203 base at 723E000 timestamp 45a82426.
Always. Copying succeeds to approx 50%, then slows down and crashes at 75%.
Copying from DVDrom to RAID disks: no problem.
Ghosting RAID disks to disk(3) no problem.
Uploading .WIM WDS file from client to distribution share (1,2GB!), no problem.
Installing client from WDS distribution share: no problem.

Tried almost everything to solve internal copying problem. Not yet applied storport hotfix. Will try this tomorrow.

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

@slipgate

this can help with the unknown device :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01039306&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

I assume you have installed the chipset driver...

@L.B.Versnel
- storport is the only related thing I think of now...hope it helps

Pac

[slipgate]

Thanks Pac. Managed to do the BIOS update, a new one has come out since and just been able to get back on customer site.

I'm gonna just do that first, then try the storport.sys update from MS - don't wanna do to many things at once, won't know what's fixed it.

I tried the HP link for the uknown device, but it didn't exist.

It's nice to know (well not for the other fella) that someone else had the same problem. As I mentioned, a colleague of mine has the same setup, with no issues.

Thanks.

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

are there any results, I'm just curious :)

[slipgate]

Thanks Pac. Would have replied earlier, but kept on getting 'Service unavailable' when clicking on the link that someone has posted an update. Since just logged in normally and looked for the thread.

With regards to this, the BIOS update of the system made no difference. However, after going through the application and system log I noticed that when it was blue screening, it was happening at exactly the same time within 10-15 seconds.

This is when the Attix online backup kicks off (I'm pretty sure nothing else does at this time). I'm guessing it's doing some prep work before the actual backup starts. I've since moved it to two hours later. It hasn't gone again yet (change was made two weeks ago), so still keeping an eye on it. But since it's 'only' blue screened 6 times in about 3 months, I'm not holding my breath!

Still can't work out what the unknown device is though :-(

[Blazhev_1]

Hi,

about the unknown device :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&objectID=c01039306&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

if you still can't open it, search for c01039306 in www.hp.com and you will get the advisory...

"An HP ProLiant ML115 server running any edition of Microsoft Windows Server 2003 (Base Media) displays an "Unknown Device" in Device Manager by displaying a yellow exclamation point, also known as a "yellow bang." This condition is related to support for the "High Precision Event Timer" and occurs even though all drivers from the ProLiant ML115 Support CD-ROM are installed."

So the solution is to update to SP1/2 to take it away...

If you already have it , try HP NULL IPMI Controller Driver for ml115 :

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3330535&prodNameId=3412419&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-0087fb77bd9d41139ee04b65a9

Hope this resolves the issue with the unknown device...

Regards,
Pac

[slipgate]

Server blue screened again last night :-( But at about the same time as the Attix backup, which I'd moved to 21:00 - so this maybe another avenue to explore.

Already got SP2 so the first one is a non-starter. I'll give the stor thing and the other link you sent ago when I'm next on the customer site.

Meanwhile, I'll speak to Attix to see if they have any ideas.

[slipgate]

Got a little further with this. Found out that a colleague had a similar issue with another server (not same make/model), it was rebooting everyday.

Turns out that he had to turn off the Attix Exchange plugin that backed up the DBs, then it stopped rebooting.

I'm gonna give it a whirl on my server and see what happens! I also email Attix support, so we'll see if they know of anything.

[Claus Blok]

Hi

I have the same problem with ML 115
small business server 2003 on it
if I use a sata harddriv I get blue
screen with erro nvgts.sys fil
when I copy large fils to harddriv
If I use ide disk no problem come up
it seen to be the nvgts.sys driver for
sats harddriv.
I have uses the disk that came with the server sata 160GB harddriv
can hp come up with a fix?
the nvgts.sys is from dec. 2007
My system is on 2 sata in raid and here is no
problem.

Claus

[Claus Blok]

hi

The problem also come up when I run
ntbackup on the server and the fil is stored
on sata harddriv with the driver nvgts.sys

[slipgate]

The issue on mine appears to have gone away now. The thing that seemed to have been causing it is Attix backup, but specifially when it does the system state backup (it uses ntbackup to do this, then uploads it via the net).

The strange thing is, I have standard ntbackups running to backup the files and exchange to a local USB disk and the server has never crashed at those times.

I've been chatting with the Attix support team, and they've never come across this, but seems like some kina ntbackup/driver related thing.

I'll update when I get something more concrete.

[slipgate]

Right, well, just to update you guys, the server is still running fine with no reboots. For whatever reason, as Attix aren't too sure, turning off the system state backup has stopped the server rebooting. I still have it running as a native NTbackup job and runs fine. It's a little odd, but at least it doesn't reboot anymore.

Also, found the unknown device (which I've seen a bunch of other people having issues with). It's the some Null INF driver - http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=uk&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3577708&prodNameId=3577715&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-b8943f6c78904e42a93d8e6848

...even though it's for the ML110 G5, it fixes the issue on this box, since this device driver doesn't appear under the ML115 Support & Drivers - kinda makes life hard when HP don't put all the drivers in the one place!

Hope this helps.

[slipgate]

Okay guys, all is not well. I just happened to be on customer site today, when the server just rebooted (there's no screen on it, so couldn't see what, I just heard some beeps and thought it was a computer next door!)

Same error. This time, nothing no backups of file copies were running. Just a couple of users using Outlook (in cached mode, so they didn't notice!!)

This must be a driver issue with NVGTS.SYS - not sure what kind of support HP give on these low end boxes. I'm used to Carepacks on DL3xx and above.

Anyway, gonna try and see if HP will help me out.

[bberr]

Did you ever find a resolution to this? I have seen the nvgts.sys appear whenever our clients ML115 blue screens. I even ran the Windows Debugger tool and it said it was probably caused by nvgts.sys, I noticed the server blue screening when a large amount of data was being written to the HDD. It has happened when I have unzipped a large file, installed an application and even downloading a service pack.

[slipgate]

Sadly, I have not got a resolution to this yet. I checked the server the other day, and it's still happening, but not nearly as frequently as before when I had the Attix backup doing the system state backup.

I've not been able to contact HP, but gonna have a word when I get the chance.

[Marlon Marin]

There is something that is not clarified in all the situations all of you have.
As far as I know this server has an intergraded NVIDIA controller.
If you the HDDS are directly connected to the system board you are using this particular controller; so my next questions will be if all of you followed the installation instructions of this controller listed on this link.
http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=3330535&swItem=MTX-9ba2f79cbbeb4351bfe3e60799&prodNameId=3412419&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&taskId=135&mode=4&idx=1
On the HP.com website this drivers are not listed for the ML115 G5 you have to go to the ML115 server.
If none of you followed this I might think this can be the root cause of all this problems.

Regards
Marlon F Marin

[slipgate]

I've followed that bit already, so I don't think it'll make a difference.

I've just spoken to HP on the phone for about 30 minutes who appeared to be clutching at straws as all that was being suggested was update drivers, which I've done.

They didn't fill me with confidence when he asked me to check the system management, of which it doesn't have one as it's below the 300 range which have the HP PSP - unless someone knows how I can install it on this little box?

He finally rounded off by asking to update the HDs firmware -again, I can't check as I'm remote.

I know it's tough for those guys, but there is clearly a problem and I have an ML110 which was setup identically and works flawlessly.

Oh well, lets see if the firmware fixes anything!

[spile1]

I am running Windows Home Server which is based on Windows 2003. Although I am not getting BSOD on my ML115 G5 I am getting about one or two nvgts.sys errors in the server logs.