Windows doesn't read drive during install

[Lord Nicoll]

Having an odd issue, I tried to install Windows Server 2012 R2, but it doesn't detect my HDD through the HP smart array B110i (not so fucking smart after all). The driver from HP's website isn't being detected from the USB key I loaded it onto, so I've tried nothing and am all outta ideas. I formatted it in NTFS before trying in case that was the issue, and that didn't work. The server is a HP ProLiant DL160 G6

[NelizMastr]

This appears to be the only official B110i driver from HP for 2k12. I presume you tried this one, or did you use the 2008R2 driver?

 

http://h20564.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=3958194&swItemId=MTX_2783ab4ebb604f4e91ab6652bc&swEnvOid=4138

[brwainer]

Have you made an array for the drive through the bios control? When you boot up, before the windows installer loads, you should get the option to enter the raid config settings. This type of RAID card normally doesn't pass theough disks that aren't assigned to a RAID set. If you only have the one disk, then you select that disk and tell the controller to make a RAID 0.

[Lord Nicoll]

On 10/10/2016 at 8:40 AM, NelizMastr said:

This appears to be the only official B110i driver from HP for 2k12. I presume you tried this one, or did you use the 2008R2 driver?

 

http://h20564.www2.hpe.com/hpsc/swd/public/detail?sp4ts.oid=3958194&swItemId=MTX_2783ab4ebb604f4e91ab6652bc&swEnvOid=4138

Yeah I tried that but I worked out the problem, seems the firmware needs updating but since HPE are cunts and the server is old, they won't let me download the service pack update, something about the warranty being out from 2013 onward, which is the biggest pile of shit ever, lucky I only needed 1 programme that I ended up running in a virtual machine.

6 hours ago, brwainer said:

Have you made an array for the drive through the bios control? When you boot up, before the windows installer loads, you should get the option to enter the raid config settings. This type of RAID card normally doesn't pass theough disks that aren't assigned to a RAID set. If you only have the one disk, then you select that disk and tell the controller to make a RAID 0.

Yeah, the drives(s) where set up in a RAID 10 array, it is most likely a firmware issue surrounding the system.

[Blake]

On 10/10/2016 at 2:55 PM, Lord Nicoll said:

Having an odd issue, I tried to install Windows Server 2012 R2, but it doesn't detect my HDD through the HP smart array B110i (not so fucking smart after all). The driver from HP's website isn't being detected from the USB key I loaded it onto, so I've tried nothing and am all outta ideas. I formatted it in NTFS before trying in case that was the issue, and that didn't work. The server is a HP ProLiant DL160 G6

HP servers are stupid, first install wont work out of the box with an OEM disk + driver CD. You need to boot the the "smart provisioning service" or whatever it is called. there is an option in there to install the an OS.

 

enterprise servers: sometimes they do good things liked iLo/Dracs other times they do stupid shit like force you to use their installer -> because I can automate that for mass deployments.

[brwainer]

1 minute ago, Blake said:

HP servers are stupid, first install wont work out of the box with an OEM disk + driver CD. You need to boot the the "smart provisioning service" or whatever it is called. there is an option in there to install the an OS.

 

enterprise servers: sometimes they do good things liked iLo/Dracs other times they do stupid shit like force you to use their installer -> because I can automate that for mass deployments.

I've never heard of this? granted the newest server I've used is a DL380 gen 5, but I've never heard of not being able to directly install an OS.

[Lord Nicoll]

1 hour ago, brwainer said:

I've never heard of this? granted the newest server I've used is a DL380 gen 5, but I've never heard of not being able to directly install an OS.

 

1 hour ago, Blake said:

HP servers are stupid, first install wont work out of the box with an OEM disk + driver CD. You need to boot the the "smart provisioning service" or whatever it is called. there is an option in there to install the an OS.

 

enterprise servers: sometimes they do good things liked iLo/Dracs other times they do stupid shit like force you to use their installer -> because I can automate that for mass deployments.

My issue is firmware being too old to support the newer windows, Linux runs fine, which is now running a virtual machine of windows, It won't be needed from tomorrow on wards and can easily be deleted then, 

[brwainer]

2 hours ago, Lord Nicoll said:

 

My issue is firmware being too old to support the newer windows, Linux runs fine, which is now running a virtual machine of windows, It won't be needed from tomorrow on wards and can easily be deleted then, 

Look up the "Service Pack for Proliant" - it's a DVD image HP provides that has firmware and drivers for every hardware they still support. The gen5 servers were supported until about a year and a half ago, I'm not sure when the gen6 ones will no longer be supported. They normally make a new version every quarter. All you have to do is burn the image onto a DVD and boot from it, and it will boot into an included mini-OS, identify the hardware in your system, tell you what firmware updates are available, and then install them.

[leadeater]

You don't actually need the DVD image, you can just get the specific firmware update you need which doesn't require an HP support agreement/login/warranty.

 

HP Intelligent Provisioning is sort of nice in that it takes you in to one place to configure the RAID array, embed the require drivers, setup network settings etc etc. Most of the time this works very well but if you don't have recent firmware then you run in to problems when trying to install an OS newer than it supports.

[Lord Nicoll]

1 hour ago, brwainer said:

Look up the "Service Pack for Proliant" - it's a DVD image HP provides that has firmware and drivers for every hardware they still support. The gen5 servers were supported until about a year and a half ago, I'm not sure when the gen6 ones will no longer be supported. They normally make a new version every quarter. All you have to do is burn the image onto a DVD and boot from it, and it will boot into an included mini-OS, identify the hardware in your system, tell you what firmware updates are available, and then install them.

I tried, they wouldn't let me download them because I didn't have a support subscription. My server also doesn't have DVD, I usually use USB, perhaps that is why the firmware needs updating. I don't even have DVD burners. 

 

52 minutes ago, leadeater said:

You don't actually need the DVD image, you can just get the specific firmware update you need which doesn't require an HP support agreement/login/warranty.

 

HP Intelligent Provisioning is sort of nice in that it takes you in to one place to configure the RAID array, embed the require drivers, setup network settings etc etc. Most of the time this works very well but if you don't have recent firmware then you run in to problems when trying to install an OS newer than it supports.

Chances are you'd need a compatible OS instead. IDK why they haven't released the firmwares yet, the server is now over 5 years old, the standard ProLiant support life, ergo there would be no monetary incentive to keep them huddled up.