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Installing Win 2000 AS on Raid 5 Server

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14 replies

by donalconlon

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Hi,
We have taken delivery on a Compaq server with a Raid 5 configuration. I'm trying to install Windows 2000 advanced server onto it but the setup program states that there is no hard drive present. How do I install the operating system on a pre configured system like this.

14 replies

by blandmesser

CompaQ usually ships with a smart start disk. I would recommend starting there. If you do not have (or do not want to use) the smart start disk, you will have to download the Win2K driver for your RAID card onto a floppy and restart the install. When it asks you to press F6 if you want to install a third party RAID or SCSI driver right in the beginning of the process, do so and point it to the driver on your disk. Happy hunting!

by blandmesser

I agree that Smart Start is the easiest way to go, but have found strange problems later on in the OS... BBSOD's when trying to do backups and restores. Few and far between but still out there. Could be a bad thing for a production server.

by mckaytech

The answer above is correct but my experience is that using the SmartStart CD is the best way to go when loading a Compaq server.

paul

by blandmesser

With Smart Start, there is usually a Profile Disk (floppy) and a C/D. Just boot off the CD ROM and follow the on-screen directions. It will tell you to insert and remove the floppy- it will even restart your PC a few times. It is all automated.

by avswamy

boot with smart cd and take drivers for raid5 controller from online instructions and reboot the system with bootable win2k server while booting in first promt see at bootom it will show you to press F6 and press it and load the floppy with it then the remaining things are same.

i hope this will solve your problem.

by banyanman

Look into your SmartStart Docs. What you need to do is to use the SmartStart CD to configure the Array controller for Raid 5 if it is not already done so. This will also configure a system partition on the drive so that you can reconfigure the system without the CD. Most controllers now adays are not automatically recognized with Windows 2000. When you start the win2k install it will prompt you at the bottom as soon as the first blue screen appears. Here you will need to hit F6 to specify a driver for the the array controller. This should be included with your server package or you can download it from compaq(HP) website.

by banyanman

Just read that your system was preconfigured. Disregard using smartstart and simply hit F6 when win2k setup goes to first blue screen and load driver for your array controller. Let me know if this helps.

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