WHS won't install on the machine it was on

[Perryg114]

I can't get WHS sever original version to install. I have never had this problem before. It gives me a message Creating Volume Failed: Catastrophic failure (error code 0x8000fff). I as first though it was because the disk was bigger than 1T so I bought a 1T HD to replace the 2T HD I was trying to install it on. Well it does the same thing with the 1T HD. So what the heck is going on here? It does install a basic version of XP but it does not install the WHS part of it. Do the newer generation of hard disk require something special to run? I have had nothing but trouble with this. I also tried to clone to a new drive and it installs the OS but won't recognize the rest of the disk. It puts 20G in the boot and the rest as a data drive. I am about to pull my hair out on this thing.

Perry

 

[RampantAndroid]

You sure the error is 8000fff? You're missing a nibble (possibly a final "f" on the end?)

 

[Ketchup]

If this is the same computer it was on, I suppose my question you be, why the re-install? Maybe there is a hardware problem.

 

[vailr]

What exact version (and service pack number) of WHS are you talking about?
Were you the original install person?
XP doesn't natively know about the bios setting of AHCI mode, so: it could be that there was a floppy disc driver required during the previous working installation.

 

[Perryg114]

WHS Part number X14-19068 Power Pack 1. Yes I left an F off the end of that error code. I am having similar issues installing XP on a security camera system disk. Do you think that MS is paying disk manufactures to make disks not compatible with XP to force upgrades?

On this other computer is says it can't find install files or can't install them. Swapped out install disks and also CD ROM drives and same file errors. Formatting the disk now. Still stumped on WHS. I think the problem is when it tries to format the data partition. It installs the C drive but dies before it finishes and creates the data disk and installs the WHS part of server 2003.

Perry

 

[Perryg114]

I was able to get the XP machine to load XP by reformatting the drive and I could load it but then it crashed when I tried to load drivers. I may try to reformat with an XP setup disk on the WHS disk then try to install WHS again.

Perry

 

[Perryg114]

[TRACE] CreateVolume : Exited (0x8000ffff)
[10/17/2015 6:30:21 PM 7b0] Creating volume failed. Error 0x8000ffff.
[TRACE] Looking for template _:\qs.ini
[TRACE] Checked file C:\qs.ini, error 2
[TRACE] Checked file X:\qs.ini, error 2
[TRACE] Template _:\qs.ini NOT FOUND!
[TRACE] FindOnMedia : Exited (0x80070002)
[TRACE] FindSetupFile : Exited (0x80070002)
[10/17/2015 6:30:21 PM 7b0] MessageBox: Creating volume failed: Catastrophic failure

(error code 0x8000ffff).
[TRACE] Step_CreatePrimaryVolume : Exited (0x8000ffff)
[10/17/2015 6:32:00 PM 7b0] Windows Home Server setup failed. The error code is 0x8000ffff. Please correct the problem and reboot to restart the setup program.
[TRACE] Looking for template _:\qs.ini
[TRACE] Checked file C:\qs.ini, error 2
[TRACE] Checked file X:\qs.ini, error 2
[TRACE] Template _:\qs.ini NOT FOUND!
[TRACE] FindOnMedia : Exited (0x80070002)
[TRACE] FindSetupFile : Exited (0x80070002)
[10/17/2015 6:32:00 PM 7b0] MessageBox: Windows Home Server installation failed. Do you want to view the installation log file?
[10/17/2015 6:32:04 PM 7b0] Spawning process [notepad.exe "C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\Microsoft\Windows Home Server\logs\q_setup.log"]

 

[VirtualLarry]

You're not trying to install a WHS v1 install to an AF (Advanced Format) HDD, are you?

You need non-AF disks for WHS v1.

 

[Perryg114]

Well I did not know that there was a difference. Please explain. This is probably why I am having problems. I don't think these are 4k disks.

Perry

 

[Perryg114]

Ok as I suspected it has something to do with the hard drive. I was able to install no problem on an older IDE hard drive. The motherboard is SATA and the drives are SATA below 2T. The older SATA drives worked just fine because that is what came out of it. So what gives here.

Perry

 

[Ketchup]

What type of drive was WHS originally on? IDE? You may just need SATA drivers for the install. What motherboard is this?

 

[Perryg114]

It was on a SATA III drive WD1001FALS western digital 1T 32M SATA III drive. It worked fine with this drive. The SATA 6 drives seem to be the ones with issues. The new drive is a WD1003FZEX.

Perry

 

[RampantAndroid]

It was on a SATA III drive WD1001FALS western digital 1T 32M SATA III drive. It worked fine with this drive. The SATA 6 drives seem to be the ones with issues. The new drive is a WD1003FZEX.

Perry

Not sure if it's an option, but run in SATA3 mode and then once installed try switching over? You'd need drivers installed BEFORE switching, I think?

Did you try loading a driver during install? What is that, the old F11 option? (I haven't had to do that since WinXP on a RAID 0 array.)

 

[vailr]

I think that Virtual Larry probably gave the correct answer.
See:
https://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/desktop/hh848035%28v=vs.85%29.aspx

Note While not stressed in the preceding table, Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, and Windows Server 2003 R2 do not support 512e or 4Kn media. While the system may boot up and be able to operate minimally, there may be unknown scenarios of functionality issues, data loss, or sub-optimal performance. Thus, Microsoft strongly cautions against using 512e media with Windows XP or other products based on the Windows XP codebase (such as Windows Home Server 1.0, Windows Server 2003, Windows Server 2003 R2, Windows XP 64-bit Edition, Windows XP Embedded, Windows Small Business Server 2003, and Windows Small Business Server 2003 R2).

Conclusion: replace with a non-AF hard drive or SSD, or else (better): upgrade to a newer version of Windows.

 

[Homerboy]

Yeah. sadly to use WHS v1, you're going to run into some issues using modern hardware. I was as sad as the next person to see WHS die, but you gotta start moving on.

 

[Perryg114]

I was able to get in to install by going through the IDE port. However, when I tried to connect the drive to the SATA ports it would not boot. I am not sure why this is. I used a SATA to IDE adapter.

Perry

 

[Perryg114]

Well I finally broke down and installed WHS on a newer motherboard and it works just fine. It looks like the SATA III drives are not universally compatible with SATA I and II controllers. I tried to install that same drive on the old motherboard and it would not boot. Some sort of SATA driver issue but who will make an updated driver for a motherboard that is over 5 yrs old.

Perry

 

[bobhowell]

I too am still running WHSvr1. I just had a HDD die and removed it. So wondering just how long I can keep it alive.

Surprised to hear you replaced the MB. Did not know that was allowed by MS.

Also, as it is not supported, can you find the updates?
Does MS have them available somewhere.

 

[Perryg114]

I did not replace the MB yet but pulled the drives on my main desktop and installed in on a new drive. I will most likely replace the MB since that fixed the problem.

Perry

 

[Perryg114]

New problem is that most if not all of the current motherboards don't support XP.

Perry

 

[Ketchup]

The original WHS is far out of support, and the 2011 version will end extended support this coming April. Might as well wait and see what options are available for Server 2016 early next years. You can currently play with beta versions.