Installing Windows 8.1 onto my HP ProLiant ML10v2

By: JohnStutsman

Figure 1 – Windows 8.1 Pro Installed onto my HP ProLiant ML10v2

I was impressed with how easy it was to install Windows Server 2012 R2 on my HP ProLiant ML10v2 as well as the performance of the ML10v2 as described in Parts 1 through 6 of Setting up my HP ProLiant ML10v2 for the first time. I wanted to see if installing Windows 8.1 Pro would go as easily. I was not only pleasantly surprised by the ease of installing Windows 8.1 but apparently my ML10v2 is ready to upgrade to Windows 10 Pro.

Downloading the most current HP Service Pack ProLiant version 2015.10.0 and the most current B120i driver CP024079.exe were instrumental in the ease of my success. (Note: the HP Service Pack ProLiant (“SPP”) is an “Entitlement Required” Application so I needed to register my ML10v2 warranty or link it to my HP Support Center Profile.)

Unless otherwise stated all ISO files I ran in iLO4 attached to my ML10v2 as virtual image files CD ROM/DVD and folders were attached as virtual folders

Ran HP Service Pack ProLiant (“SPP”) ISO file in Automatic Mode to make sure all firmware was up to date

Ran SPP in Interactive Mode and selected HP Smart Storage Administrator (“SSA”) to create a Logical Drive (“LD”) that I can load my OS (i.e. Windows 8.1 Pro update) onto

Created LD01 with 1 Samsung Pro 840 SSD in RAID0

Left remaining 4 HDDs and 1 SSD unallocated

Shut down the machine

Next I did the actual Windows 8.1 Pro installation

Attached Windows 8.1 Pro x64 update (“W8.1”) ISO

Attached folder containing B120i Driver I extracted from CP024079.exe with 7-Zip

I Signed in using a Local Account to make it easier for me to run SPP later (I could always add a MS account later)

I selected “Later” for the Windows 10 update so as to focus on the Windows 8.1 installation, YMMV – NOTE: When I went to Windows Update to begin downloading important Windows 8.1 updates I had to go under “Optional Updates” and deselect the Windows 10 update – Unfortunately, every time I went to Windows Update the Windows 10 Update was again selected so I would have to deselect it again. I found a solution at the SuperSite for Windows – I uninstalled update KB3035583 and then hid it as specified at http://winsupersite.com/windows-10/how-stop-windows-10-upgrade-downloading-your-system
I next:
- Changed screen resolution (personal preference YMMV);
- Ran NETPLWIZ (personal preference YMMV – for the first few days there will be a lot of reboots so this is just a time saver for me);
- Set Time Zone (personal preference YMMV);
- Enabled Hyper-V (personal preference YMMV – this will be in my home lab);
- Reboot;
- Set Computer Name (personal preference YMMV);
- Reboot;
- Began running recommended Updates – multiple reboots;

Finally, I opened SPP in Windows so I could run HP Smart Update Manager (“HPSUM”)

When all Windows 8.1 updates are done then I attached SPP and ran HPSUM in Windows to update &/or add missing Drivers including SSA

In Windows 8.1 ran SSA to set-up additional LD’s

Figure 2 – Device Manager before HPSUM Execution

Figure 3 – HPSUM Deployment Done

Figure 4 – Device Manager after HPSUM execution

Figure 5 – HP Smart Storage Administrator (“SSA”) display of the Three Logical Drives – SSA was executed from SSA App in Windows 8.1 Pro after HPSUM

Figure 6 – iLO4 Health Summary Information

Figure 7 – iLO4 Temperature Profile while fan speed was at 6%

Figure 8 – iLO4 Device Inventory

Figure 9 – iLO4 Storage information showing the three Logical Drives off of the B120i Dynamic Smart Array Controller as well as location of Physical Drives associated with each Logical Drive

Figure 10 – iLO4 Firmware information after HPSUM

Figure 11 – iLO4 HP Software Information after HPSUM

Figure 12 – System Information

VIDEO 1 – How I Installed Windows 8.1 Pro on my HP ProLiant ML10v2

In conclusion, I really like the quality and performance of the ML10v2 and the ease of installing Windows 8.1 Pro.

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As-Built (I named my Computer: USS Papago):

HP ProLiant ML10v2 Gen9
Xeon E3-1220v3

32GB Unbuffered ECC RAM KVR16E11K4/32

Logical Drive 01: OS drive – 1 x Samsung 256GB 840 Pro SSDs in RAID0 on HP Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID Controller – 1 x Icy Dock EZConvert Air – mounted in Slot 1 of 4 drive main cage – Port 1 SATA III (6GB/s)

Logical Drive 02: HyperV VMs – 1 x Samsung 256GB 840 Pro SSDs in RAID0 on HP Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID Controller – 1 x Icy Dock EZConvert Air – mounted in Slot 2 of 4 drive main cage – Port 2 SATA III (6GB/s)

Logical Drive 03: Data drive – 4 x WD 5TB SE HDDs (WD5001F9YZ) in RAID10 on HP Dynamic Smart Array B120i RAID Controller – ports 3-6 SATA II (3GB/s) – two mounted in Slots 3 & 4 of 4 drive main cage – two mounted in 5.25” bays using 5.25” to 3.5” adaptor brackets (I used the existing SATA cable that had gone to the optical drive for 1 5.25” bay plus another 18” SATA cable I had in stock from previous projects for the 3.5” HDD in the other 5.25” bay)