Install raid after OS
I have SBS2003 running on an IBM XSeries 206 type 8482.
Before I assumed the network the machine was running on a raid 1 array (Adaptec on board sata raid controller AIC 8215). At some point one of the hard drives failed and the consultants working the network removed the bad drive and left it....
System works fine and it is just set to boot from Sata 0, which I will assume has been running like this for some time.
I am having trouble getting raid to play nice with windows it tries to boot but wont, it restarts.
I indstalled the IBM Server raid software which I thought would load the drivers
I am positive that I created the array correctly and set it to be bootable and in bios told it to boot from the new array. (I told the raid config to copy existing drive to new drive instead of destroy data and create a fresh array). It took awhile but it did propagate over.
Go to boot and windows load for about 5 seconds then restarts so i booted into safe mode and it hangs and restarts at acpitable.sys maybe acpitable.dat (something along those lines)
My assumtion is the driver is loaded into windows as the machine was running raid before but I cant be sure.
Is there a way to load the drivers at this point? I dont think booting from the CD then F6 and load the drivers at this point will work.
Ideas?
Before I assumed the network the machine was running on a raid 1 array (Adaptec on board sata raid controller AIC 8215). At some point one of the hard drives failed and the consultants working the network removed the bad drive and left it....
System works fine and it is just set to boot from Sata 0, which I will assume has been running like this for some time.
I am having trouble getting raid to play nice with windows it tries to boot but wont, it restarts.
I indstalled the IBM Server raid software which I thought would load the drivers
I am positive that I created the array correctly and set it to be bootable and in bios told it to boot from the new array. (I told the raid config to copy existing drive to new drive instead of destroy data and create a fresh array). It took awhile but it did propagate over.
Go to boot and windows load for about 5 seconds then restarts so i booted into safe mode and it hangs and restarts at acpitable.sys maybe acpitable.dat (something along those lines)
My assumtion is the driver is loaded into windows as the machine was running raid before but I cant be sure.
Is there a way to load the drivers at this point? I dont think booting from the CD then F6 and load the drivers at this point will work.
Ideas?
ASKER
IBM also provides a boot CD to install raid but the manual doesnt refer to if you already have an OS loaded just no OS loaded.
I'll do some research on the parallel OS option.
For the F6 option I guess I would just boot from CD hit F6 load drivers then wait until the install in which partition screen comes up. Then what just reboot the machine? I am very hesitant to do an 'upgrade install' whic other people have tried. I guess it wont matter since I'll image the drive before playing.
I'll do some research on the parallel OS option.
For the F6 option I guess I would just boot from CD hit F6 load drivers then wait until the install in which partition screen comes up. Then what just reboot the machine? I am very hesitant to do an 'upgrade install' whic other people have tried. I guess it wont matter since I'll image the drive before playing.
The correct procedure is a repair install.
This should be similar to what is done in XP.
perform a reinstallation of Windows XP, sometimes called a repair installation?
you will need the COA key. No persoanl files will be lost this only repairs windows ..
Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. Then insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and restart your computer.
When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.
Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.
In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.
I hope this helps !
This should be similar to what is done in XP.
perform a reinstallation of Windows XP, sometimes called a repair installation?
you will need the COA key. No persoanl files will be lost this only repairs windows ..
Configure your computer to start from the CD-ROM drive. Then insert your Windows XP Setup CD, and restart your computer.
When the Press any key to boot from CD message is displayed on your screen, press a key to start your computer from the Windows XP CD.
Press ENTER when you see the message To setup Windows XP now, and then press ENTER displayed on the Welcome to Setup screen.
Do not choose the option to press R to use the Recovery Console.
In the Windows XP Licensing Agreement, press F8 to agree to the license agreement.
Make sure that your current installation of Windows XP is selected in the box, and then press R to repair Windows XP.
Follow the instructions on the screen to complete Setup.
I hope this helps !
ASKER
I assume win 2003 has the same screen as XP? Ive never booted to cd from win server 2003
Pretty much the same and straight forward.
Here is a link. It deals with troubleshooting startup issues and is a step by step document.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325375
Go to the recovery console portion of the doc and it describes how to access your drivers.
Here is a link. It deals with troubleshooting startup issues and is a step by step document.
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/325375
Go to the recovery console portion of the doc and it describes how to access your drivers.
As you mentioned in your question the machine was running on Raid 1 before then obviously OS should have raid drivers installed.
So first think I would make sure that the Raid 1 is installed/restored correctly. You did enable the Sata bios already so after that you just need to enter Array Manager on boot Ctrl + A initialize the new drive and add it as new spare. Just please make sure that you initialize the new hdd or one which has been taken off the Raid 1. After that you should not have any problems to boot to Windows just please make sure the mirror is rebuilding => enter the raid manager and you should see the message the mirror is rebuilding.
I am writing this because this is what you should try first if the mirror was split accidently by disabling Sata Raid in bios or if someone just removed existing HDD from a raid without any good reason.
Generally I agree with experts about, but before you should do as suggested if you have not. I had exactly your situation on 2 servers and worked for me.
So first think I would make sure that the Raid 1 is installed/restored correctly. You did enable the Sata bios already so after that you just need to enter Array Manager on boot Ctrl + A initialize the new drive and add it as new spare. Just please make sure that you initialize the new hdd or one which has been taken off the Raid 1. After that you should not have any problems to boot to Windows just please make sure the mirror is rebuilding => enter the raid manager and you should see the message the mirror is rebuilding.
I am writing this because this is what you should try first if the mirror was split accidently by disabling Sata Raid in bios or if someone just removed existing HDD from a raid without any good reason.
Generally I agree with experts about, but before you should do as suggested if you have not. I had exactly your situation on 2 servers and worked for me.
ASKER
For whatever reason the raid array was setup at one point then a hard drive died. The person that messed with it I believe turned off the sata raid in BIOS.
OK well when I turn it on initialize the drive in the array we should all be good. Windows SHOULD 'remember' that is has the drivers but it doesnt.
Thats the problem is the driver is not there or is not loading. So windows freaks out and reboots when starting on the array. Starting off of the array we are all good.
OK well when I turn it on initialize the drive in the array we should all be good. Windows SHOULD 'remember' that is has the drivers but it doesnt.
Thats the problem is the driver is not there or is not loading. So windows freaks out and reboots when starting on the array. Starting off of the array we are all good.
You need not just to initialize the drive, but add it as hot spare too. Otherwise it may not rebuild the mirror and experience boot problems etc.
If you did that then only think left is missing or corrupt drivers and yes strange if they already are not in Windows.
Even if you would change the motherboard you could set up the raid without reinstalling drivers, of course if it worked before. So disabled bios is not the issue.
If you did that then only think left is missing or corrupt drivers and yes strange if they already are not in Windows.
Even if you would change the motherboard you could set up the raid without reinstalling drivers, of course if it worked before. So disabled bios is not the issue.
ASKER
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ASKER
OK done
I wouldn't discount the boot from CD and F6 option. Give it a try.
If that fails, you could do a parallel OS installation and copy and paste the correct drivers where they need to be. Just do a search for your current drivers in the old OS directory. This can be a sticky wicket so make sure you know how to do a parallel install of the OS before attempting. The main thing is to install it into a different location / directory and set the box up to do a dual boot. I have done this several times and it works well.
Once you do the PI you will need to find fresh drivers and copy and paste them over the current ones in the old OS path. Probably Windows\system32\drivers. If you are not sure where to put them just do a search for the old ones. I would start with the acpitable.sys and replace this file and then try a reboot.