This morning I installed Windows 2003 on a proliant 8500R. It installed fine.
I tried adding two other SCSI drives to have a D drive for the data. I
created a second Raid 1 Array. That went fine. Then I got a blue screen stop
error.

Since then I cannot boot into my Windows 2003 previous install. I decided to
start fresh. I did a system wipe with a utility diskette. I used the same two
SCSI drives in bus0 and bus1. Created the RAID1 array. That all went fine.
Boot of the CD and it installed all the files I needed. It then asked me to
select a partition to install Windows. I select the only one available and
select format with NTFS file system. The format progress bar takes litteraly
4 seconds to go from 0 to 100%. Then I am given the following error.


Setup was unable to format the partition. The disk may be damaged.

Make sure the drive is switched on and properly connected to your computer.
If the disk is a SCSI disk, make sure your SCSI devices are properly
terminated. Consult your cmoputer manual or SCSI adapter documentation for
more information.

You must select a different partition for Windows to continue press enter.


If I select the same partition once again it formats in 4 seconds again but
this time instead of giving me the error it starts to copy the files. But I
am not out of the woods as this simply brings me to the first reboot and upon
rebooting it does not continue the setup. I assume because the NTFS partition
created is all messed up.


Anyhow, I know it's not a hard disk issue because I was able to install the
OS an hour before and it was running off these drives for a while before that
without a problem. I have searched the internet and people have fixed their
problem but they were using IDE hard disks and it seems like they resolved
their issue in a haywire manner. Meaning they never really figured out the
issue just some work around.

I wouldn't mind a work around either but I would prefer a proper way of
fixing this issue.

Any suggestions are greatly welcomed

TIA
Dups

Sounds like a cabling or bus termination issue.

(Note: If your drive controller is not natively supported then you'll want
to boot the Windows 2003 CD-Rom. Then *F6* very early and very important (at
setup is inspecting your system) in the setup to prevent drive controller
detection, and select S to specify additional drivers. Then later you'll be
prompted to insert the manufacturer supplied Windows XP driver for your
drive controller in drive "A")

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Dups" wrote:
| This morning I installed Windows 2003 on a proliant 8500R. It installed
fine.
| I tried adding two other SCSI drives to have a D drive for the data. I
| created a second Raid 1 Array. That went fine. Then I got a blue screen
stop
| error.
|
| Since then I cannot boot into my Windows 2003 previous install. I decided
to
| start fresh. I did a system wipe with a utility diskette. I used the same
two
| SCSI drives in bus0 and bus1. Created the RAID1 array. That all went fine.
| Boot of the CD and it installed all the files I needed. It then asked me
to
| select a partition to install Windows. I select the only one available and
| select format with NTFS file system. The format progress bar takes
litteraly
| 4 seconds to go from 0 to 100%. Then I am given the following error.
|
|
| Setup was unable to format the partition. The disk may be damaged.
|
| Make sure the drive is switched on and properly connected to your
computer.
| If the disk is a SCSI disk, make sure your SCSI devices are properly
| terminated. Consult your cmoputer manual or SCSI adapter documentation for
| more information.
|
| You must select a different partition for Windows to continue press enter.
|
|
| If I select the same partition once again it formats in 4 seconds again
but
| this time instead of giving me the error it starts to copy the files. But
I
| am not out of the woods as this simply brings me to the first reboot and
upon
| rebooting it does not continue the setup. I assume because the NTFS
partition
| created is all messed up.
|
|
| Anyhow, I know it's not a hard disk issue because I was able to install
the
| OS an hour before and it was running off these drives for a while before
that
| without a problem. I have searched the internet and people have fixed
their
| problem but they were using IDE hard disks and it seems like they resolved
| their issue in a haywire manner. Meaning they never really figured out the
| issue just some work around.
|
| I wouldn't mind a work around either but I would prefer a proper way of
| fixing this issue.
|
| Any suggestions are greatly welcomed
|
| TIA
| Dups
|

Ok, well the drives have the Compaq logo on it (seems to be a seagate). I
would believe that it's natively supported.

What I do not understand is that I did nothing special to install Windows
2003 the first time around. I popped in the CD and installed it like normal.
Now I am suddenly having these errors of not being able to format the
drive....

Second, I tried pushing F6 a lot, fast and early and it just ignores my
keystroke. Should I be pushing F6 when I see it on the screen?(logic would
suggest that yes but sometimes logic flies right out the window.)

Third, You wrote (Then later you'll be prompted to insert the manufacturer
supplied Windows XP driver for your drive controller in drive "A"). Why
Windows XP? I am installing Windows 2003 or was that just a typo?


"Dave Patrick" wrote:

Well I figured out one of my issues. Pressing F6 works just later on in the
installation.

I'll have to search for the proper drives for the scsi disk and see if that
works. However, what still boggles my mind is how on earth did I get it to
install that one time?

Surely though Windows 2003 server should have drivers for an older compaq
proliant scsi disk.

"Dups" wrote:

1.) Yes a typo.

2.) You need the controller driver. Nothing for the disk drives. Natively as
in the controller driver is included on the Windows Server 2003 installation
media.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Dups" wrote:
| Well I figured out one of my issues. Pressing F6 works just later on in
the
| installation.
|
| I'll have to search for the proper drives for the scsi disk and see if
that
| works. However, what still boggles my mind is how on earth did I get it to
| install that one time?
|
| Surely though Windows 2003 server should have drivers for an older compaq
| proliant scsi disk.
|
| "Dups" wrote:
|
| > Ok, well the drives have the Compaq logo on it (seems to be a seagate).
I
| > would believe that it's natively supported.
| >
| > What I do not understand is that I did nothing special to install
Windows
| > 2003 the first time around. I popped in the CD and installed it like
normal.
| > Now I am suddenly having these errors of not being able to format the
| > drive....
| >
| > Second, I tried pushing F6 a lot, fast and early and it just ignores my
| > keystroke. Should I be pushing F6 when I see it on the screen?(logic
would
| > suggest that yes but sometimes logic flies right out the window.)
| >
| > Third, You wrote (Then later you'll be prompted to insert the
manufacturer
| > supplied Windows XP driver for your drive controller in drive "A"). Why
| > Windows XP? I am installing Windows 2003 or was that just a typo?

Well, I verified that the BIOS, all firmware and the controller drivers are
all up to date. This has been confirmed.

I am still having problems formating this HDD. I was able to format the HDD
with a utility diskette. So there is nothing wrong with the HDD itself. Any
ideas? I am fresh out of them.

"Dave Patrick" wrote:

Did you F6 and provide the manufacturer's controller driver on floppy?

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Dups" wrote:
| Well, I verified that the BIOS, all firmware and the controller drivers
are
| all up to date. This has been confirmed.
|
| I am still having problems formating this HDD. I was able to format the
HDD
| with a utility diskette. So there is nothing wrong with the HDD itself.
Any
| ideas? I am fresh out of them.

Sadly, I have tried it. It mentions that the driver I have is older then then
one being used by Microsoft Windows 2003. I still select to use the one I
provided on diskette instead and it does not work.

Next I am trying to zero full the drive and then install after that. I'll
let you know if it works.

"Dave Patrick" wrote:

If the controller is natively supported (I think that's what you're telling
us) then F6 isn't necessary. I'd go back at look at the cabling and or bus
termination.

--

Regards,

Dave Patrick ....Please no email replies - reply in newsgroup.
Microsoft Certified Professional
Microsoft MVP [Windows]
http://www.microsoft.com/protect

"Dups" wrote:
| Sadly, I have tried it. It mentions that the driver I have is older then
then
| one being used by Microsoft Windows 2003. I still select to use the one I
| provided on diskette instead and it does not work.
|
| Next I am trying to zero full the drive and then install after that. I'll
| let you know if it works.