SCSI Array wont boot - fails during W2K3 load - Red Lts on 2 discs

[StevenLomax]

Server is down! Any help is much appreciated...Proliant DL380 G1 (Beige) with RAID 5. 4- 36.4GB Compaq Drives. The ROM Paq software was not loaded before system installation so I cant break the boot cycle. None of the F-keys do anything during POST until the Raid controller starts. Then, all 4 drives light up, in sequence and are green.
Windows begins to load and when the 3rd drive (#2) gets going loading windows, suddenly at the same point every time, the 2nd and 3rd HDD lights go RED and the system bluescreens for a flash, then restarts.
At this point I can boot from CD but it can't see any hard drives to install/repair etc.
The 2 drives in question exact model #. I'm wondering about firmware, drivers, etc. How & where to load them to rectify the issue and get the customer back to work.

Thanks!

[KarloChacon · Accepted solution]

hi

you can use Smartstart to diagnose HW in the server

smartstart 5.5 for G1 servers

http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&swItem=MTX-597d7cb6b45d493285e27c1412&jumpid=reg_R1002_USEN

regards

[juan quesada]

Hi,

Disable ASR in BIOS so you can check the blue screen, also try to boot in minimal configuration to isolate the issue to one single point of failure, if needed boot without HDD's to get access to BIOS and check settings, also BIOS and controller FW should be flash using FW CD 7.91 also make sure that the controller is in the right slot and the SCSI termination is ok

Regards

[StevenLomax]

Thanks! I knew I needed SmartStart but didn't realize I had to use v5.5.
I had tried a later release, but with this server, it isn't supported.

So, assuming I can boot to this, and SmartStart wasn't used to do the install originally (F10 does nothing except tell me that the softpaq isn't installed)and I need to recover the data on the array, what would you think would be the best plan?

After data recovery, I can do the install properly (erase array) but I need to recover data on the array first.

Again, Thanks!

[KarloChacon]

hi

sorry you mean a plan to recover the data?

regards

[StevenLomax]

exactly. This server was not set up by me and due to its current state, I'd like to recover data, then install 2k3 server properly.

[KarloChacon]

hi

well if the server loads windows fine.

you might use a 3 party software to create an image and backup that data in an external hardware

regards

[StevenLomax]

and there's the problem, the system crashes during boot due to (I believe) a driver/firmware issue.

I hope to be able to use a 3rd party util to get it to boot, but was hoping someone would have some suggestions as to how to proceed. Thanks for your help already, btw. I've gotten SS v5.5 and am researching the other options now, but welcome any input!

Thanks!

[KarloChacon]

hi again

well smartstart won't help you to recover HDD data only to diagnose what is not good in the server (HDDs, memory or anything else)

have you try minimum configuration as Juan quesada said?
- just 1 proc, 1 memory module, no PCI cards
- also reseat parts?
- clear NVRAM?

- also have you try repairing windows that would another way:
http://www.techspot.com/vb/topic8356.html

- or enter in safe mode?

regards