1000MHZ DL380 and Windows Server 2003 AGAIN!

[Larry Heimendinger]

There have been numerous posts about the installation hanging when Windows tries to start. I have even confirmed inserting a bootable drive from another DL380 hangs during boot. I have spent hours reading docs, creating CDs and floppies to manage the damn thing but the install of 2003 remains steadfastly undoable.

Please pretend I am an idiot (not a stretch) if you can and detail the prepatory steps I need to get Windows 2003 to install correctly. I tend to believe it is an issue witht the smart array driver, but then I saw a post that got around the problem by swapping CD drives??

I am surprised, I guess, with the number of posts (all seem to have almost a witch's brew of solutions hard to decipher) that HP or MSFT has not issued a KB article on this. If there is, can someone point me to it?

I will bless your racks and keep kittens out of your SAN box if you can help me on this.

[Igor Karasik · Accepted solution]

Larry,
Did you see:
http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000075974356

Igor

[Larry Heimendinger]

Nope Didnt see it and it seems like just the ticket. Will try this weekend, thanks

[Larry Heimendinger]

The procedure worked albeit with a few wrinkles. Thought I would pass them along.

1. I downloaded the CD-ROM ROM Firmware 7.20 for the DL380 et al., and it already contained the 1.50 ROM update for the Smart Array Controller, so using the supplementary floppy with the download is unnecessary. When I ran the utility, it automatically detected it needed the update and found it on the CD.

2. The procedure does not make it entirely clear what ROM update to use or where to get it. Track it down in the drivers and downloads for the DL380.

3. When I started the install of Windows 2003 and pressed F6, it found the driver but informed me the one on the CD was newer. I chose to ignore that one and stick with the floppy.

4. It took several minutes after the Starting Windows message until it actually started. I thought damn, it didnt work. But the phone range and I went to answer it and saw it working. I dont know if I would have waited that long (2-3 minutes).

[Larry Heimendinger]

http://www1.itrc.hp.com/service/cki/docDisplay.do?docLocale=en_US&docId=200000075974356 contains instructions that although a bit arbitray and in need of interpretation do seem to work.

The key is updating the ROM in the controller to 1.50 and updating the BIOS to P17. Also load the driver when installing windows.