This post is more than 5 years old
10 Posts
0
84069
February 1st, 2016 09:00
2008R2 SP1 install doesn't get past first boot on T430 Lifecycle controller
I'm trying to run a manual install of Windows Server 2008R2 SP1 on a week-old T430 using the Lifecycle Controller. The LC is up-to-date. The T430 has a PERC H730P with 3x 2TB disks. The install media was made by burning iso for 2008R2SP1 burned to DVD. Everything looks normal through the stage where the OS installer presents available partitions for selection as the install target. I can format a partition but not specify the size. When the first partition is selected the automated several step screen appears for about 1/2 hour:
Installing Windows
That's all the information.... Your computer will restart several times during this installation.
Copying Windows files.
Expanding Windows files
Installing features
Installing updates
Competing installation
--------
The previous screen has no interaction. It finishes with "Restarting in 10 seconds but no other instructions such as removing the DVD. After the auto-reboot, I briefly see the "press any key to boot from CD or DVD." If I touch a key the OS install restarts from scratch. Letting it go leads to "No operating system is currently installed on this computer."
I've got to be missing something simple here...
theflash1932
11 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
February 1st, 2016 14:00
Yes, LCC may have done the conversion of the disk to GPT (which is reversible to MBR) during the install, but otherwise, you would have to do Repair Your Computer and do the conversion with diskpart, as I don't believe 2008 R2 converts it automatically as 2012 does.
You don't usually need to finish the background init before installing.
Bob Geoghegan
10 Posts
0
February 1st, 2016 10:00
Sorry, being new here I chose the wrong forum. Reposting under OS
theflash1932
11 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
February 1st, 2016 10:00
Is the server in UEFI boot mode? Did you convert the disk to GPT first?
Bob Geoghegan
10 Posts
0
February 1st, 2016 12:00
The server is set to BIOS boot mode. On first power-up I took a look at UEFI and secure boot. I don't recall if I tried an OS install before backing out. I don't believe I made any other changes along the UEFI path before backing out and returning to BIOS. Since then I've set the BIOS itself and LCC OS helper have been set back to BIOS mode manually. The install failures listed in the first post were the result. Since then I've used restore defaults in the BIOS and another try led to the same result.
If the disk was converted to GPT, how would I be able to tell and could it be rolled back to MBR?
Bob Geoghegan
10 Posts
0
February 1st, 2016 13:00
Maybe the path forward is to switch to UEFI boot mode and re-run the install. My memory is that I first attempted an install from the LCC using Other Operating system under the belief that I didn't have the supported 2008R2SP1 install media. I cut that install short when realizing that I'd miss out on the LCC's driver packaging and that I _did_ have 2008R2SP1 media. GPT formatting may well have been applied to the primary virtual drive.
Bob Geoghegan
10 Posts
0
February 1st, 2016 13:00
In case this helps: the RAID controller config shows both 1.8 TB RAID5 virtual disks as ready but with background initialization underway, 15-20% complete at the moment.
Bob Geoghegan
10 Posts
0
February 2nd, 2016 10:00
Thanks @theflash932
It ended up being simpler: Using the Boot manager and still with all the settings to BIOS instead of UEFI, I tried a one-time boot from the CD/DVD -- expecting to go to Repair and diskpart to change the disk format if needed. Instead the install continued from where it was. A normal WinServer2008 R2 SP1 was the result. It all makes me wonder if there's a bug in the way the LCC hands off to the 2008 R2 SP1 installer -- but that's another question.