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mancoi

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RAID 5 array and installing SErver 2003

This is what I have:

Poweredge 4300
3 - SCSI 8gb drives
Perc Raid controller

I am trying to install Server 2003.....

I configured all 3 drive and made one logical drive.....( it totaled 16GB)

I then booted the Windows SErver 2003 CD and windows formatted the 16GB Logical drive and copied the files....

Then my server rebooted and this time I didn't PRESS ANY KEY TO BOOT THE CD......

It then gave me an ERROr.......A DISK READ ERROR OCCURED....PRESS <CRTL><ALT><DEL> to REBOOT.

What does this error mean?
How can I go to the next step of installing Windows?

Thanks
Mancoi



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Duncan Meyers
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I'm pretty sure that it's the wrong driver for the PERC card.

   
Agreed.  Hit F6 during the install process (when first booting from 2003 CD) and you'll be able to go from there.

Much easier, naturally, is using Dell's OS Install CDs (they come free with all the Dells) to handle the install. The 4300 sounds like an older one, though, so perhaps 2003 isn't supported.
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mancoi

ASKER

I did try to install the driver from a floppy, but Windows said that it has a newer version of the driver for the scsi card and recommends to install "their" drivers.

What do you think?
I think the easiest solution is the Dell Server OS Setup CD, which will handle all of this for you.  Have you tried that?
Looking out on the Dell site ,the 4300 requires a couple of BIOS upgrades to run W2K3.
Has this been done?
And ALWAYS use the device drivers off of the Dell site and not from M$.

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I do not have the dell os DC's/.

I upgraded the Bios to A12 from A11. A12 is the only one on Dell's Website.

What else do you suggest.

DO you think it is something to do with the way I am configuring the RAID.
This is what I did:
Configure a new array of 3 SCSI drives all 8gb each.
I then Initialized it.
I then ran the Windows 2003 CD.

When Windows reboots. It only gets to BIOS text mode and gives me the error.
If you boot with your 2003 CD now, does 2003 see that an installation was partially done?  Is the disk now formatted?  
Another thing you might like to try is to boot from a Knoppix CD (http://www.knoppix.org/), mount the RAID volume and see if you can write to it successfully. That way, you'll know if you've got a bug with the hardware or the W2K3 installation process.
Don't configure the RAID at all.
Set it up as a single drive (remove the other 2) and reset everything to default and install.
If you still have the same problem,it might be hardware.
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I got something...

I configured 2 logical drives.

1st logical drive is 8gb (1 SCSI) where I installed my os.
2nd logical drive is 16gb (3 SCSI) for data.

How does this shound?
Why did I not get any errors this time?
I did get a windows error. syaing " has not passed Windows Logo testing to verify its compatability wiht the version of Windows"
Does anyone know what that means?
Also it now takes a very long time to go from BIOS text mode to Windows Graphical Mode???


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up the points
The error you got means the drive isn't Windows Hardware Labs certified.  That's not good, but it's not a disaster at the moment either.  You should replace it with a certified driver when you can.

Is your 1st (OS) drive on the same PERC controller?

Is there a reason this same issue is in 2 seperate posts in Expert's Exchange?
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Yes both configurations are on the same PERC.

Well I didn't mean to have multiple posts, but they sort of evolved into the same problem.
I was only trying to ask peices of the main question in different posts. Sorry. I should've ended them after the first response.
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Duncan Meyers
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Which model PERC and BIOS rev?
They're all just OEM'd controllers(Adaptec.LSI Logic).
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15 seconds

Ususally it is 1-3 seconds

P.S    Thanks for anwsering my questions on two different posts
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I am using .....American Mega Trends Dell PERC Version 2.68.0.0
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Sorry, CTL M
>I configured 2 logical drives.
>1st logical drive is 8gb (1 SCSI) where I installed my os.
>2nd logical drive is 16gb (3 SCSI) for data.

So it is no longer configured as RAID?
Just separate drives?
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<<Is the PERC card the one that was shipped with your PE4300, or was it from another system?>>

I dont know I just bought it off ebay.


<<If you do a CTL A on boot and get into the BIOS ,can you give me a REV level?>>

Yes this is the correct REvision
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