Windows Home server help!!

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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Hello everyone,

I recently put together a REAL old computer for my server. I bought a Seagate 1TB sata hd, and a PCI sata controller. Now... how can I install windows home server on the 1tb hd? I think it would need drivers for both the SATA controller and SATA HD right? Also, I don't know the mobo name /model.

Sata controller link:
http://www.newegg.com/Product/...x?Item=N82E16815124022

It's not detecting the hard drive connected to the Sata controller.

This is the message I get:
"hard drive capable of hosting windows home server was not found. would you like to load additional storage drivers?"

I found out my mobo, ASUS a7v
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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You're going to need the driver for your SATA controller for Server 2003. The driver is here.

You'll have to put the driver on a floppy disk and into a floppy drive when the Server 2003 installation program asks for them. If you don't have a floppy drive, you'll need to attach one. You MIGHT get away with a USB floppy drive, but your older motherboard/BIOS could be an issue with that.

It's been a while since I installed WHS, but, presumably, you hit the "F6" key VERY early in the install to tell it that you will be loading additional drivers during the OS install process.
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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when I boot from "usb zip" it saids Remove Disks or other media. press any key to restart. I am tryign to install the drivers with usb.
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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I tried putting a xp disc and hitting F6 and couldn't install the drivers.
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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Ok, I somehow went through the proccess of installing WHS to my HD. But I am not able to boot my satacontroller stuff.

I did something bad too, I can't even boot my XP home edition disc anymore. It saids something abou DISK FAILURE, press enter key to restatr.
 

RebateMonger

Elite Member
Dec 24, 2005
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Originally posted by: bX510
when I boot from "usb zip" it saids Remove Disks or other media. press any key to restart. I am tryign to install the drivers with usb.
Neither XP nor Server 2003 (Windows Home Server) will accept drivers from a USB memory stick during the OS install process. You can only use a floppy drive.

Edit:
I apologize for the slip earlier. I meant to say "F6", rather than "F2". "F2" initiates an ASR System Recovery, which is also something that requires a floppy disk, but is FAR from what you are trying to do. I had "F2" on my mind because I was installing XP on a hard drive this afternoon and stared at the screen too long. I suspect that my of "F2" steered you in the wrong direction, and I apologize for that.
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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Ok... so is there anyway I can install it without a floppy? I have NO floppies at home.
 

MichaelD

Lifer
Jan 16, 2001
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On an old motherboard it's highly doubtful you can install an OS from a USB stick. You will either need a floppy drive OR you will need to slipstream the SATA controller/card's driver into your OS installation CD. It's needs to be on the CD so that when Windows Installer boots and takes a hardware inventory of what's attached to the motherboard, it recognizes the SATA as a device that it can install to.

For slipstreaming drivers, nLite works fantastically for Windows XP and I'm sure it works for Server 2003 as well; I slipstreamed PCI-E RAID card drivers into my 2K3 CD a few months back.

nLite does have a learning curve, but just for slipstreaming SATA drivers it's dead-simple to use.

Or just go buy a $10 floppy. :)
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
29,553
430
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If your Mobo has a floppy header get a Floppy (it is less than $10). If you do not have a space in the case to install the floopy open the side and put the floopy drive on with the case open until you finish the installation.

Otherwise you need a real SATA RAID Controller that does not need drivers (probably more expensive than a new simple computer).
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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I have a floppy drive- I don't have a floppy disk. I am giving slip stream a try atm.
 

JackMDS

Elite Member
Super Moderator
Oct 25, 1999
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Staples, office Depot, etc. have a lot of them. ;)

In any case, this might help.

http://forums.microsoft.com/Wi...stID=1774267&SiteID=50

Do not be tempted to use any thing else with nLite.

Quote from the link above.

NOTE: nLite has many more features than demonstrated here, some WILL break your WHS installation. This tutorial is only meant to demonstrate how to slip in the drivers and write a new bootable ISO. YMMV
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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Ugh, I am doing something wrong here. It goes through install screen with the SATA HD (which is connected to sata controller) for WHS and then it restarts and goes through the same procedure again! I went and installed XP on a 40gb PATA hd and i found otu my mobo is ASUS a7v. Can anyone give me further help?

I think my computer doesn't know how to boot the sata controller.
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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I read reviews and this card has problems with BIOS boot. DAmmit!

Recommend me one guys
 

bruceb

Diamond Member
Aug 20, 2004
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You can always try the old standy by methods .. Go into the BIOS and set the Hard Drive to IDE Compatibility mode until the installation is done. Then install your SATA Drivers and change the BIOS back to SATA for the Hard Drive .. will usually work
with most mobos
 

bX510

Golden Member
Feb 11, 2006
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Something isn't right. I loaded XP fine on the 1tb harddrive, but when I try to load windows home server, it doesn't work. When it prompts me to install additional drivers, I try to install the windows server 2003 sata controller drivers, but it fails! leading me to this prompt again- the first hard disk is not suitable..... must be 65gb or more.

I think there isn't drivers for Windows Home Server yet... It's just not installing the drivers for the SATA controller.

here's the page where I get my drivers from:
http://www.promise.com/support...39&category=all&os=100

I put it on my floppy.
 

dclive

Elite Member
Oct 23, 2003
5,626
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For the sake of everyone else, including those who took time to help you, can you take a few minutes and write out a well-written description of exactly what you did to fix the problem?