Help HP Micro Server, won't boot

[Rubber Bullets]

Hi,

So I got my HP Microserver, and have installed XP on it (I think) but it won't boot.

I put an install of XP on a USB stick, and went through both parts of the install process, seemingly without problem. I had put on all the name and time stuff etc.

When the computer rebooted for the 2nd time though it just won't start windows, I just get to a black page saying:

"Windows could not start because of a computer disk hardware configuration problem.

Could not read from the selected boot disk. Check boot path and disk hardware.

Please check the Windows documentation about hardware disk configuration and your hardware reference manuals for additional information"

I googled this message and got to this page and tried the remedies suggested but with no luck, nothing has changed. I then tried going through the auto fix thing off the USB, but that did nothing either

Does anyone have a clue? If not I could try to format the drive and start the whole process again, but if that doesn't work either (and I don't hold out much hope) I could just go down the FreeNAS route.

Any advice at all would be very welcome at this point!

RB

 

[soze]

Did you slipstream the F6 driver or does the bios have a compatibility mode? Downgrading machines in work we get disk errors due to the hard disk controller. You can add the driver or change the controller to AHCI or compatible mode. Might be worth checking mine does not have a screen on it so I can't look.

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Thanks Soze, you have to talk to me like I'm stupid because, well I am. Is the f6 driver to do with raid? So far I've only got the 250Gb drive that came with the server installed. I've got a 2Tb disc to join it, but won't be raiding anything.

I have tried changing the SATA controller to AHCI mode, there isn't a compatibility mode, but the result is identical.

Assuming I do need a f6 driver how do I know which one, and how do I install it? Remember I am stupid.

RB.

 

[soze]

I am afraid the F6 driver would need to be presented during the installation as its the driver for the storage controller. I would say now you have changed to AHCI mode run though the XP set up again and see if it lets you boot.

 

[Rubber Bullets]

The problem was that I had to change from AHCI mode to get it to boot from the USB stick, I found the tip in this review.

RB

 

[soze]

According to this you need to use IDE mode on the Storage Controller. And you will need to sort a few drivers yourself as HP have no XP Drivers for download.

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Thanks Soze, that is a really useful link, but it is looking a bit scary.

Will I have to do the install again, and will I have to slipstream the drivers into the install? I was quite pleased with myself managing to get XP onto a USB drive, slipstreaming too might be beyond me! Especially if I have to work out which ones I need and where to find them, as your link says AMD have locked down one of the pages necessary!

Which will be easier in the long run, persisting with XP or just going straight to FreeNAS, at least the latter seems to have large amounts of help online, (I found the dedicated form which has a whole section dedicated to noob questions).

RB

 

[soze]

I would go with changing to the IDE mode and installing XP again.

If you are happy with XP I would stick with it. I do not know much about FreeNas but from the NAS thread it does seem to have a fairly steep learning curve if your not used to it.

 

[dysfunction]

You wouldn't be interested in putting windows home server on it?

I was looking at getting this home server and just wondering why windows home server isn't recommended very much

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Thanks again Soze, the install that I have done is in IDE mode, so another identical install would probably have the same result. Do I need to find a way to get some other drivers in there?

Dys, I did look at that, and there are some pretty good reviews. The negative reviews seem to be mostly from people who have upgraded from earlier versions that have changed functions, but as I have no preconceptions, and I am likely only to scratch the surface of what it can do, it might well be a good idea. I guess as a long time windows user too it might be a better choice. It is pretty cheap, I was just trying to go down the free route in the first instance.

RB

 

[soze]

Windows Home Server 2011 is a good product. The first version was very shaky though and the wrong move with adding or removing a disk could cost you your data. As with a lot of MS Products the new version is tarnished with the sins of the early products.

With the XP install all I can think is there was maybe a problem installing from the USB Drive, if you have access to a spare SATA DVD Drive i would say connect that and give it another go in case.

 

[MYstIC G]

Will I have to do the install again, and will I have to slipstream the drivers into the install?

That would be sensible. If you're worried about slip streaming use this: http://www.nliteos.com/

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Thanks to everyone who helped, I have now got it all up and running, though it wasn't as easy as it should have been.

I bought a cheap DVD drive to install in the box which helped, but I screwed up the slipstreaming, and couldn't get my disc to run, but it didn't matter as XP boots now, and I was able to apply SP3 and the required drivers through windows (especially the one for the NIC that came from Soze's link, thanks, but also the graphics drivers and chipset etc.)

It is all running pretty well now, and with TVersity as a free media server happily playing my mp3s on the Soundbridge downstairs.

I even managed to set up remote desktop, and so I can now control the whole thing from my main PC and don't need a mouse, keyboard and monitor attached, except I do have one question. How do I turn the thing off? There doesn't seem to be an option through remote access, and the only option on the server is to hold the on/off key, and I don't want to do that.

Any ideas?

Thanks again for getting me this far,

RB

 

[soze]

Install the Teamviewer client on both machine and have it start with Windows on the Micro Server. Connect to in from your Main PC. You will get full control of windows including turning it off that way.

 

[SheepCow]

If you're using remote desktop, the Start -> "Security" (or something similar) option lets you logout, shutdown etc. normally.

 

[Rubber Bullets]

Ah thanks again guys, No doubt Teamviewer works, but Sheepcow, that gives access to Task Manager and I can either power down or restart. Perfect, thanks.

RB