14 replies to this topic

[Gnomatic]

Hello, everyone. Noob here.

I'm trying to install WHS 2011 on a 60GB OCZ Solid 3 SSD. The installation fails at disk check every time, despite the answer file values I've tried. Here's what I've done so far in my attempt to get this to work:

1. Created a WHS 2011 USB install key as described here.

2. On the root of the WHS usb install key, a cfg.ini answer file was created, as read here. I tried a couple different values.

[WinPE]
ConfigDisk=1
CheckReqs=0
WindowsPartitionSize=MAX

-and-

[WinPE]
ConfigDisk=1
CheckReqs=0
WindowsPartitionSize=30000

3. Disconnected all drives except for the SSD in the whs box, and inserted the WHS usb install key into a usb port. Bios is set to boot from usb, and system is powered up

4. I know the WHS installer is trying to use the answer file because

a) the line "Processed=true" gets added to the cfg answer file after the installation attempt, and
b ) When set to MAX, two partitions are created on the disk, a 100mb system reserved partition and, a single primary partition that spans the rest of the
available space on the drive(55.80gb). When the WindowsPartitionSize in the cfg is set to 30gb or "30000", three partitions on the drive are created: one 100mb system reserved partition, one 29.30gb, and a third 25.5gb partition(I know this because after install fails at diskcheck, I unplug the ssd from my whs box and plug it into my desktop to see if/what partitions were created)

5. Here's the logs created by the whs installer when it fails:

a) For the cfg "MAX" value, I get

[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] Launching Windows Setup
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Setup Collecting User Data -------------------------------------------
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultLanguage
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: No value supplied, using default value AUTO
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultKeyboard
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultLocale
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultTimeZone
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultServerName
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: No value supplied, using default value Server
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] WARNING: Unable to verify computer name availability due to network error 2136
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for Drivers
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for InstallDisk
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Using UI specified value
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionType
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: MBR firmware detected
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: GetFirmwareEnvironmentVariableW indicated required partition type 1 (Status: 1)
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionActive
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionFormat
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for MSRPartitionType
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionID
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: No value supplied, using default value AUTO
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionSize
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: No value supplied, using default value 61440
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] INFO: Calculated pre system partition remaining space as: 59916574720
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] ERROR: Specified partition size is too large to support a data partition, maximum possible is: 46900 MB (Alternatively, use MAX to span the whole disk)
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] ERROR: The value chosen for this setting is invalid
[TRACE] UIBackend::Launch : Exited (0x80004005)
[9/18/2011 12:09:53 AM 2f4] Failed to launch Windows Setup

b.) and for the 30gb value in the cfg ("30000")

[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] Launching Windows Setup
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Setup Collecting User Data -------------------------------------------
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultLanguage
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: No value supplied, using default value AUTO
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultKeyboard
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultLocale
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultTimeZone
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for DefaultServerName
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: No value supplied, using default value Server
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] WARNING: Unable to verify computer name availability due to network error 2136
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for Drivers
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for InstallDisk
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Using UI specified value
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionType
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: MBR firmware detected
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: GetFirmwareEnvironmentVariableW indicated required partition type 1 (Status: 1)
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionActive
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionFormat
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for MSRPartitionType
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionID
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: No value supplied, using default value AUTO
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionSize
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: No value supplied, using default value 61440
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] INFO: Calculated pre system partition remaining space as: 59916574720
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] ERROR: Specified partition size is too large to support a data partition, maximum possible is: 46900 MB (Alternatively, use MAX to span the whole disk)
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] ERROR: The value chosen for this setting is invalid
[TRACE] UIBackend::Launch : Exited (0x80004005)
[9/17/2011 11:46:00 PM 2ec] Failed to launch Windows Setup

I'm no expert in reading install logs, but it appears the WHS installer is not fully being controlled by the cfg answer file. It doesn't skip the disk check and fails there everytime. However, the installer writes the "Processed=true" line to the cfg answer files, and the ssd does indeed get formatted according to the values in the cfg answer file.

I know by reading here and elsewhere many others have had success installing whs onto and SSD, some of even smaller capacity than mine, so I don't understand why its not working for me.

Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks

ps. my whs specs

i5-2400
8GB Gskill Ripjaws 1600MHz DDR3
Gigabyte GA-Z68MA-D2H-B3
OCZ Solid 3 60GB for OS
15TB of data drives to add once install is finished

[jmwills]

I thought the install called for a minimum of a 160 gig drive? I know the OS is actually created with a 60 gig partition but the systems needs more space.

[fredp1]

Have a look at this topic. http://homeserversho...-work-correctly
The main thing I've noticed is to use SystemPartitionSize instead of WindowsPartitionSize.

[WinPE]
CheckReqs=0
SystemPartitionSize=MAX

[Gnomatic]

I thought the install called for a minimum of a 160 gig drive? I know the OS is actually created with a 60 gig partition but the systems needs more space.

That is true on a default install. The purpose of creating the cfg.ini answer file file is to over ride the installer's defaults to allow a custom install. In this case, the cfg.ini file instructs the whs installer to ignore the disk size requirement, allowing whs 2011 to be installed on a disk < 160GB.

I finally succeeded, see below.

[Gnomatic]

Have a look at this topic. http://homeserversho...-work-correctly
The main thing I've noticed is to use SystemPartitionSize instead of WindowsPartitionSize.

[WinPE]
CheckReqs=0
SystemPartitionSize=MAX

I've read both SystemPartitionSize ond WindowsPartitionSize can work. Most info I've read from successful whs installs on an SSD suggested WindowsPartitionSize. Regardless, I finally got it to work.

[Gnomatic]

Well. Sometimes solutions are frustratingly simple.

In short, what I was doing wrong was not removing the USB install key after the installer copied and expanded the files on the SSD. My WHS box kept booting off the USB key after rebooting.

After realizing my stupid mistake, I tried again. This time, I removed the USB install key after the installer rebooted, and set the bios to boot from the HDD. Presto, WHS 2011 continues to install on my SSD and completes successfully.

1 beer for me!

[fredp1]

Good to hear. Enjoy the beer :-)

[ikon]

Well. Sometimes solutions are frustratingly simple.

In short, what I was doing wrong was not removing the USB install key after the installer copied and expanded the files on the SSD. My WHS box kept booting off the USB key after rebooting.

After realizing my stupid mistake, I tried again. This time, I removed the USB install key after the installer rebooted, and set the bios to boot from the HDD. Presto, WHS 2011 continues to install on my SSD and completes successfully.

1 beer for me!

I guess this is 1 argument for leaving the BIOS set to boot from the hard drive and then use the BIOS boot menu to boot up from the USB stick as needed.

[Gnomatic]

I guess this is 1 argument for leaving the BIOS set to boot from the hard drive and then use the BIOS boot menu to boot up from the USB stick as needed.

Absolutely. In hindsight, I could have avoided this trouble had I set the hard drive as the first boot device in the BIOS, and the USB drive as the second.

The system would have attempted to boot off SSD, and failed because it was a new unpartitioned drive. Next, it would try to boot off the USB drive, and WHS installer would load. Once the files were copied and expanded on the SSD, the system reboots. This time, it'd succeed in booting from the SSD, and finish installing.

Doubt I forget that next time!

[ikon]

Absolutely. In hindsight, I could have avoided this trouble had I set the hard drive as the first boot device in the BIOS, and the USB drive as the second.

The system would have attempted to boot off SSD, and failed because it was a new unpartitioned drive. Next, it would try to boot off the USB drive, and WHS installer would load. Once the files were copied and expanded on the SSD, the system reboots. This time, it'd succeed in booting from the SSD, and finish installing.

Doubt I forget that next time!

The more painful the mistake, the more we remember to avoid it next time

[ChrisCowles]

Can this logic be applied to WHS v1?

[ikon]

Can this logic be applied to WHS v1?

Can't see why not. Why not give it a try with a 'spare' drive and let us know?

[jmwills]

I don't think that v1 had the 160 gig limitation. However, I would not go with anything less than 60 gigs.

[ChrisCowles]

Can't see why not. Why not give it a try with a 'spare' drive and let us know?

I was hoping for slightly more guidance. <smile>

[ChrisCowles]

I don't think that v1 had the 160 gig limitation. However, I would not go with anything less than 60 gigs.

v1 has a 65GB lower limit. Unfortunately, 64GB is a common size but is 1GB shy of enough. If I could bypass the limit I'd probably use 32GB, since 20GB is really all the space required for the system drive itself.

I filled the top 5.25 bay of my microserver with a tray that holds a 3.5" HDD on the bottom and a slim ODD on the top. I stuck an old laptop CD/DVD in the top for software loading. The face of the 3.5 space can be removed to allow external access. If I can get WHS v1 to install in 32GB, I'll buy a dual 2.5-in-3.5 hot swap caddy (example here) for the 3.5 space. I'll fill it with a pair of 32 GB SDDs in RAID1 format. For that I need to find a cheap, reliable, bootable RAID controller that's SSD compatible and has least 2 SATA ports to fit in one of the PCI slots. I'll leave the lower 4 drives in JBOD format with WHS v1 until I have the time and inclination to move to WHS 2011, or some other OS.

Thanks for your attention and help.