Please help me restore OS for Acer Aspire EasyStore H340

[GoodEnough]

My Acer Easy Store HomeServer is not showing up on the network, and I need to get it running again.

First I tested the Acer server OS hard drive by removing it and plugging it directly into my desktop.
It was not detected, and was making a sound. I assume it was dead.

So, now I wanted to restore the HomeServer OS.

On my desktop PC, I downloaded the ISO image for the restore disk, and burned to DVD.
I disconnected the 2 Acer server data drives, and only a fresh SATA HD is still connected for the OS restore.
(So I don't overwrite the data drives accidentally)

I booted my desktop PC from the restore CD, and it showed no network drivers.
I installed some Inspiron 570 (desktop PC) network drivers (Broadcom ethernet) onto my USB drive.
I booted PC off the DVD again, clicked "Install drivers" and it said "successful" and listed it in the Broadcom network driver in the network box.

However, on the next step, it just says "Searching for Windows HomeServer", and can not find the Acer server.

I noticed on my NetGear router that the ethernet cable connection #2 was not lighting up on the first display panel.
I doubled checked and reconnected the ethernet cable from the back of the Acer server and my router.
Wire clicks into place, yet the #2 does not light up.
Could this just mean a bad ethernet cable?

 

[GoodEnough]

Ok, it’s not the ethernet cable.
I unplugged PC ethernet, and #1 light went off on router.
Plugged that same cable into the Acer (powered on, but not OS drive connected), and nothing lit up on the router.

 

[Ketchup]

Do you still have the manual? Here is the link if you don't.

http://dl.owneriq.net/0/04a35254-5569-4fd6-8e19-8de568a77c69.pdf

Starting on page 18 shows you how to set this up.

Place the Aspire easyStore H340 Software Installation Disc in the optical drive of the first home computer. The installation wizard starts

Hint: it doesn't say anything about booting off this disc.

You were also linked to this in your other thread.

 

[GoodEnough]

Thanks, I am way past that step.

As I described above, the Acer does not show up on the network, despite the ethernet cable being verified as good.
No idea how to proceed from here.

 

[Ketchup]

So Windows Home server has been re-installed on the server since you replaced the drive?

Have you installed the connector on the other computers?

 

[GoodEnough]

The Acer went dead.
The OS hard drive seemed to be dead and overheated and clicking.
It also would not be detected when plugged into my desktop's "slave" SATA cable.

I put in a new blank hard drive, and was about to try to restore onto the replacement drive.

That's when I noticed the Acer doesn't even show up on the network.
So, I have 2 problems. A dead OS hard drive, and no way to restore to a new hard drive since there is no network connectivity.

Not sure what your 2nd question means.

 

[Ketchup]

So you replaced the OS drive with a blank hard drive and expect it to show up on the network?

If you don't know what the home server connector is, you need to read your manual.

 

[GoodEnough]

Not show up on the network. I said detected by the router.

I think we are talking about 2 different things.
I have a feeling you did not read my first post in this thread.

When I plug in the ethernet cable into my Acer server ethernet port,
and the other end of the ethernet cable into the WiFi router,
wouldn't you expect the router to detect the ethernet connection?
I am expecting a little #2 to light up to show there is a wired connection between the router and the Acer server, via ethernet cable.
You are saying this connection will not register unless there is a working OS drive running? I thought it doesn't matter if there is an OS drive working or not. Normally, when you plug a powered device into an ethernet cable, the connection lights up. Even the cable's plug lights up. Does it matter if the OS is actually running, or does it just matter if the devices are both powered on?

 

[GoodEnough]

In other words,


If I plug a broken server into a router (server hard drive died, and now has a blank drive in it)
but server powered on, will it show up as an ethernet connection on the router light up display part?

Or, does the router only display a live ethernet connection with a device that is actually running a working OS and is sending network traffic?

ie: Is the router’s “connection light” a result of
1) actual NETWORK TRAFFIC from a working device,
2) or just an closed wired ELECTRICAL CIRCUIT between 2 devices?

If the answer is #1.....this leads to a logical dead end, however.

If the Acer can not be detected by the router without a running OS,
how are you ever supposed to restore an image to a dead server with a blank replacement drive???
ie: You can only restore an OS image to a sever that is already working !??! Doesn’t make any sense....

 

[Ketchup]

A few thoughts:
1. Did you get the server with a hard drive and OS? If not, this install should be just like the first.
2. My particular router has a yellow light for a connection with no power. Since Acer doesn't tell us everything the installer does, there could be some pre-configuration when tbe process is started.
3. If you try running the installer from another computer, while the server is running, how far do you get?

 

[GoodEnough]

Hey K,

1) No, I've never installed this OS. I was given the server from a friend. It had WHS running on the OS drive, and had 2 additional data drives. I have downloaded the restore disk from a link posted in the other thread.

2)

3) Yes, everything is detailed in the first post of this thread.

 

[Ketchup]

You may want to ask the friend how he/she set it up if the installer doesn't work.

 

[MongGrel]

You may want to ask the friend how he/she set it up if the installer doesn't work.

+1

 

[GoodEnough]

Installer doesn't work b/c the Acer does not get detected on the network.
The hard drive is blank, so how does the original config. matter?

 

[Steltek]

If it isn't getting an IP address, you have some other (probably hardware) problem that isn't resolved. Since Acer's install process depends upon getting that network IP address for the server, you can't go any further until you determine why it isn't getting that IP address from the router.

Further, since this in essence a headless server, it will be VERY difficult to troubleshoot without that debug board that I linked in one of your other threads on this subject. The basic hardware isn't that complex - an atom-based PC motherboard - it is just that you don't have video to be able to see what is going on and what might be failing.

From what I understand, the motherboard has a PCIe 1x slot but the placement in the case doesn't allow anything to be installed in it. If you have access to a PCIe 1x video card, you might be able to pull out the motherboard and troubleshoot it on a piece of cardboard or antistatic bag.

 

[Ketchup]

Good suggestions by Steltek. So GoodEnough, when the Acer is powered on, does your router show that it is giving it an IP address?

Also, the service manual I linked in one of your other threads about this issue has the debug codes, too see if the system itself it reporting an issue.

 

[GoodEnough]

How do I check if the router is giving the server an IP address?
Also, I have no idea how to read debug codes. It's a headless server.

When I connect the ethernet cable, I get no light whatsoever.
Even when the server and router are both powered on.

 

[Ketchup]

1. Log into your router and you'll have a page called "attached devices", or something similar.

2. Again, read the manual. There are blinking light codes, and the manual will tell you what each code means.

 

[Ketchup]

Also, out of curiosity, where did you get the ISO for your device? When you look at the DVD your burned it to, does it look like there is a Windows OS on it?

 

[GoodEnough]

I connected the Acer to the router, and powered it up. My attached devices page does not show the Acer server. This was fairly predicatable, as the router faceplate does not illuminate the #2 port that it's plugged into. And the clear RJ45 jacks are not lit up.

 

[GoodEnough]

Downloaded the ISO from some link I found here. Not sure what to look for in the file system, but when booted from DVD, it ran a utility page, so I assume it's legit. It simply could not find the server on the network, so it never attempted to restore WHS.

 

[Ketchup]

The acer page inducates you run the dvd from within the OS on one of the network computers.

 

[GoodEnough]

Yea, I did that.
Still not sure you read the first post in this thread?

 

[Ketchup]

Yea, I did that.
Still not sure you read the first post in this thread?

I have several times. And you only mention booting off the DVD you burned.

I would like a link to the ISO you downloaded so that I can see what all is on it.

 

[Steltek]

I have several times. And you only mention booting off the DVD you burned.

I would like a link to the ISO you downloaded so that I can see what all is on it.

Ketchup is right. If you are booting the network machine using that DVD, you aren't following the instructions. I'm also concerned that you aren't running the correct recovery software. The server would have come with an Acer disc to use to reinstall the OS. Since it is actually an OS reinstallation disc, they won't offer it for download from their website - you'll probably have to purchase it if you don't have the one that came with the server.

I presume that you power cycled the server and pressed a paper clip into the recovery pinhole on the back of the server?