Netfinity 5500 w/Windows 2003

[Dimarc67]

Totally unsupported by IBM, but...

Attempting clean install of Windows Server 2003, Standard Edition on an IBM Netfinity 5500 (PIII/500/768MB/ServeRAID2). Installation freezes hard at 34 minutes remaining.

Attempted pre-installation of Win2k Server (successful), then upgrade of Win2k3. System freezes hard during first reboot in the Win2k3 splash screen.

Any ideas or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

David Marcus
CurtCo Publishing
DavidM@CurtCo.com

 

[ibmtech65]

You are most likely running into a driver/compatibility issue since the Netfinity 5500 was not designed to run Win03.

http://www.pc.ibm.com/us/compat/nos/microsoftnetfinity.html

 

[Dimarc67]

Thanks. I assumed as much, and, as I said, it's not supported by IBM. Would love some suggestions on how to work it through, if possible.

D.

 

[catorze]

My guess would be it's the ServeRAID driver for the onboard ServeRAID II in the 5500.

 

[Dimarc67]

Disabled the onboard ServerRAID-II, and installed a ServeRAID-3H with no success--issue remains unchanged.

Picked the brain of IBM's hardware support department (who were relatively helpful despite the server being out of warranty, and my attempting an unsupported installation). They don't believe there's any issue with the ServeRAIDs and Win2k3. They're guessing an incompatibility with the processor chipset in the Netfinity 5500 model server (8660-6RU). However, the chipset is not specifically identified in any of the IBM documentation or web info.

Any other brainstorms out there?

Thanks.

DavidM@CurtCo.com

 

[askewgary]

Hi,

I just had the exact same problem and when we checked the logs it appeared to be an issue with the Parralell port. When checking the BIOS this was disabled. I have now enabled it in BIOS and the install works fine.

Hope this helps,

Gary

 

[Dimarc67]

Gary! GARY!!! YOU are the MAN!!!!!

You pegged it, Bro. I never would've thought of enabling the parallel port in a million years (speaks a lot to my impatience with detailed troubleshooting). As I type this, the install is at 19 minutes remaining, and counting.

Incidentally (and coincidentally), I received an e-mail, at the same time as your post, from a tech in Canada who let me know that he got around a similar problem by using the Evaluation version of Win2k3. He (and I) couldn't explain why one works when the other doesn't, but I thought I'd mention it here.

Thanks, again, Gary. You just saved us a decent server!

David Marcus
CurtCo Publishing
DavidM@CurtCo.com

 

[Dimarc67]

Just a follow-up. Server installation completed without a hitch. In production now, and going strong.

Happy computing.

David Marcus
CurtCo Publishing
DavidM@CurtCo.com
David@Dimarc.com