I ran into a *VERY* similar issue (exact same symptoms) when installing 2003 x64 on an IBM x460. In this case it turned out to be a driver issue and I needed to get a driver one version older than current (and oddly, it came in a folder named \AMD although the proc was Intel). Oh yeah, the other part of my issue was the server had no built-in FDD and the USB floppy had to be Lenovo-brand (anyone remember when PS/2 formatted floppies only worked in PS/2 PC's?).
Good luck, I'm sure whatever the solution is it will not be complex...just elusive! David Lum // SYSTEMS ENGINEER NORTHWEST EVALUATION ASSOCIATION (Desk) 971.222.1025 // (Cell) 503.267.9764 -----Original Message----- From: Bryan Garmon [mailto:[email protected]] Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2008 6:48 AM To: NT System Admin Issues Subject: SBS 2003 Setup Hanging - any thoughts on this one? Highpoint Technologies Tech Support doesn't open for another 3 hours - so i'm hoping someone on this list might have a suggestion on how to resolve a problem. I installed a RocketRAID 1640 controller into a Dell PowerEdge 840 Server to replace the RAID controller that shipped with the PowerEdge. The RocketRAID is now the only RAID controller in the server. I'm attempting to install Windows Small Business Server 2003. The RocketRAID built my RAID5 array successfully, I press F6 during the OS boot install process and I select the Windows 2003 Driver that I downloaded this morning from Highpoint (v 2.06s). The Windows OS recognizes the driver, allows me to format the array into the partition scheme I want, then the OS copies a few more files from the OS install CD before prompting me with the message: "Insert the disk labeled: RocketRAID 154x/1640 Controller Driver Diskette into drive a: Press ENTER when ready." F3=Quit ENTER=Continue I already have the driver diskette loaded into the floppy drive, and pressing ENTER does nothing. The disk drive light does not even light up. Pressing F3 does allow the OS install the quite but I can not get Windows setup to continue. I flashed the BIOS on the RAID controller card when I realized it was older, and so after flashing the BIOS of the RocketRAID to version 2.06s and retrying the OS install, I'm halted at the same point. Why is the OS prompting for the drivers a second time and preventing the successful installation? I have reformatted the floppy drive used to store the drivers for the OS install, I have re-dowloaded the setup files thinking maybe the file was corrupted - no change. I'm at a loss for why this is hanging. Thoughts? ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~ ~ Finally, powerful endpoint security that ISN'T a resource hog! ~ ~ <http://www.sunbeltsoftware.com/Business/VIPRE-Enterprise/> ~
