Mr_Smartepants

And it doesn't fit in slot 2 card slot.

Then why not put it in Slot 1?  Slot 1 is the x16 slot and should work fine.

Installing on the EX490 is blind, having no graphics output.  I do know that when I tried to install the first time it failed (alternating red/aqua activity light) though after pulling the drive the partitions were set up as I posted earlier.  I then deleted the partitions and tried again, but this time I added a $WinPEDriver$ folder to the root of the USB stick with the install media.  Into that folder I put the drivers for the Intel/Silicon-Image SATA controllers and the Realtek LAN drivers.  Then everything worked perfectly.

$WinPEDriver$ folder info: http://support.micro....com/kb/2686316

I do have a spare OCZ Vertex2 120GB SSD to try but the stupid HP drive sleds don't allow 2.5" drives easily.  I'll try to get an adapter to fit in there.

In my posting Installing Windows Home Server 2011 on a SSD in a HP MicroServer N40L I noted that MAX works in

 

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

 

as long as:

 

NOTE: If the SSD is bigger than 104GB you will have to change “WindowsPartitionSize=” from “MAX” to a number less than 104132 – “MAX” will not work if your SSD is bigger than 104GB!

 

So, your HDD or SSD has to be less than 104GB for MAX to work otherwise you'll need to set "WindowsPartitionSize=" to a number less than 104132 -- else your response file will not work.

@Joe, I'm not saying that you're wrong, but I had a completely different experience when I installed 2011 on my EX490.  I didn't use an SSD, but I used an old 160GB Seagate to test on and the installer used the entire 160GB drive.

Quoted from this M$ page: http://technet.micro...-install-2.aspx

WindowsPartitionSize

(Optional) Specifies the size in GB of the system partition. The size must be in the range of 20480 MB to 102400 MB. A value of MAX can be specified. If not specified, a value of 61440 MB is used. If the specified value is MAX, the Windows partition uses the entire disk.

[WinPE]
InstallSKU=SERVERHOMEPREMIUM
ConfigDisk=1
CheckReqs=0
WindowsPartitionSize=MAX
 
[InitialConfiguration]
AcceptEula=true
ServerName=SomeServerName
PlainTextPassword=ThisPasswordIsWeak
PasswordHint=ThrowMeABoneHere
Settings=All

AFAIK, there isn't a way to have WHS2011 use the whole drive. 

Sure you can.

Just create a cfg.ini file at the root of the install media with the following contents at a minimum:

[WinPE]
ConfigDisk=1
WindowsPartitionSize=MAX

More info:

http://technet.micro...-install-2.aspx

http://forum.wegotse...ni-answer-file/

If you're trying to extend the C: partition after the OS is installed, just pop the system drive in another machine and use disk-management to delete any D: partition and extend C: to use the rest.  I don't think you can extend the C: partition of the system disk while the OS is running.  You need to use a 2nd system to do it safely.

You would be better off to buy that case and a corsair CX430 PSU for less after rebates

you lost me or am I missing something?

Not cheaper, better.  That HEC PSU looks to be garbage.  ANY name-brand PSU would be better than that.