Our company was donated 2 similar server systems. At first glance they are exactly the same. For this topic we will call them Server 1 and Server 2. I am trying to install Windows Server 2008 on both of them. Here is where I stand at the moment. I tried to install Server 2008 on Server 1 but it kept freezing at the Windows is loading files screen. I decided to skip Server 1 for now and move on to Server 2. The installation went smoothly on Server 2. I went back to Server 1 to try it again, still the same problem. I decided to swap the hard drives from Server 1 to Server 2 to get a good copy of Windows Server on both hard drives. That idea worked. I now have Windows server on both sets of hard drives. However, I tried to startup the Server 2's hard drives running on Server 1's system and Windows will not boot. I have tried to reinstall Windows Server but it still freezes at the Windows is loading files screen again. I have tried removing all PCI cards I do not need. Also I have tried to boot by taking out pairs of memory sticks hoping that there might be some bad memory that isn't allowing me to install Windows Server. If you need any more clarification or if you have some questions please let me know. Please help me.

Hi, I would like to suggest you update the BIOS and the hardware firmware first. After that, I would like to suggest you try to install Windows Server 2008 from USB flash to bypass the optical drive. For the detailed steps, please refer to the following article: Installing Windows 2008 via USB thumbdrive http://jesscoburn.com/archives/2007/10/15/installing-windows-2008-via-usb-thumbdrive/ Regards,Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

The System only has a cd drive so I am curently using an external USB DVD drive. Both servers are exactly the same yet one will not allow me to load any windows files.

Little update: I am running HP ProLiant DL380 G3 Servers, 12GB RAM, 200GB HDD, Dual Core 3.06GHz Each, Windows Server 2008 32-bit. These two servers will not be our main server. These will just be running ftp and other programs.

Hi, I would like to confirm that have you tried my suggestions posted above and what is the current situation? Regards,Please remember to click Mark as Answer on the post that helps you, and to click Unmark as Answer if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread.

I don't think Server 2008 is supported on a DL380 G3. Given the tasks they will run I'd leave them Server 2003. I'd flash the system rom to latest, then boot the SmartStart preinstallation environment to prepare server for operating system installation and lastly install the latest PSP for Server 2003 Systems ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade Diskette for HP ProLiant DL380 G3 (P29) Servers http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&prodNameId=3288130&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-UNITY-I21979 HP SmartStart CD x32 http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&prodNameId=3288130&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-d7672226b6284520b9e292b9bd ProLiant Support Pack for Microsoft Windows Server 2003 http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareDescription.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&prodNameId=3288130&swEnvOID=1005&swLang=8&mode=2&taskId=135&swItem=MTX-2c6582e3c0d344adb69377f22d Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Hi, I would like to confirm that have you tried my suggestions posted above and what is the current situation? Regards, Please remember to click “Mark as Answer” on the post that helps you, and to click “Unmark as Answer” if a marked post does not actually answer your question. This can be beneficial to other community members reading the thread. Thank you Arthur for your responses. I have made it to hp's website here: http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/SoftwareIndex.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&prodNameId=3288130&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&swLang=8&taskId=135&swEnvOID=1005#12212 However I have been unable to figure out how to install the BIOS update when I cannot get into windows to run the executable files.

Installation: Obtain a formatted 1.44 MB diskette. Download the SoftPaq to a directory on your hard drive and change to that directory. The downloaded file is based on the SoftPaq number. From that drive and directory, execute the SoftPaq file: SP28809 [ENTER] When prompted, place the formatted 1.44 MB diskette into a diskette drive to create diskette. After the diskette is created, you may delete the downloaded executable file. For installation instructions refer to ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade Instructions in the text file. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Installation: Obtain a formatted 1.44 MB diskette. Download the SoftPaq to a directory on your hard drive and change to that directory. The downloaded file is based on the SoftPaq number. From that drive and directory, execute the SoftPaq file: SP28809 [ENTER] When prompted, place the formatted 1.44 MB diskette into a diskette drive to create diskette. After the diskette is created, you may delete the downloaded executable file. For installation instructions refer to ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade Instructions in the text file. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows] Edit. I just read the instructions and you need to have an OS running on the server to run the update which I cannot.

I'm not sure that's possible. I think you should boot from the floppy once created to flash update the firmware. The disk I just created from sp28809.exe was bootable. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Just tried booting that file and the screen goes blank with a white cursor a couple lines down on the left side. Also, I tried to install Server 2003 and I get a similar freeze when it is loading windows files.

Just tried booting that file and the screen goes blank with a white cursor a couple lines down on the left side. Also, I tried to install Server 2003 and I get a similar freeze when it is loading windows files. It sounds like a memory failure issue.. I would run some diagnostics on the RAM to determine which sticks are bad. Now I don't exactly know for sure if Memtest86 has been updated to support more than 4GB but I would try removing some RAM to see if it installs with one DIMM. Also, you could try swapping the optical drive to see if that is the source of failure. If its the optical drive, give it a good cleaning with a DVD Cleaner and try updating the firmware on it. Alternatively, try a series of diagnostic tools that can help determine the problem. http://www.ubcd4win.com/downloads.htm This is obviously hardware related... so the ball is now in your court to determine where the failure happens. Since you have some known-good parts. It makes it kind of easier and less costly to determine the faulty equipment source. Since its HP, you may be able to download some diagnostic software from their website. HP Support - Drivers and Downloads Steve Kline Microsoft Certified IT Professional: Server Administrator Microsoft Certified Product Specialist Microsoft Certified Network Product Specialist Red Hat Certified System Administrator This posting is "as is" without warranties and confers no rights.

Believe it or not but I have ran diagnostics test (found no issue), swapped all hard drives, swapped all memory sticks, removed all unnecessary peripherals and still no luck. Could it be a cpu issue?

Are you sure it is booting from the floppy? You may need to enter RBSU (probably F9 key) and change boot order. Here's more on flash update. HP ProLiant Servers - Updating the Server Firmware ROM http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=316529&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&objectID=c00719376 How are you installing OS? Easiest method is to boot from the SmartStart preinstallation environment to prepare server for operating system installation. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Did you execute the file to create the floppy (as opposed to copying the file to floppy)? Are you sure it is booting from the floppy? You may need to enter RBSU (probably F9 key) and change boot order. Here's more on flash update. HP ProLiant Servers - Updating the Server Firmware ROM http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=316529&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&objectID=c00719376 How are you installing OS? Easiest method is to boot from the SmartStart preinstallation environment to prepare server for operating system installation. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Did you execute the file to create the floppy (as opposed to copying the file to floppy)? Are you sure it is booting from the floppy? You may need to enter RBSU (probably F9 key) and change boot order. Here's more on flash update. HP ProLiant Servers - Updating the Server Firmware ROM http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bizsupport/TechSupport/Document.jsp?lang=en&cc=us&taskId=110&prodSeriesId=316529&prodTypeId=15351&prodSeriesId=316529&objectID=c00719376 How are you installing OS? Easiest method is to boot from the SmartStart preinstallation environment to prepare server for operating system installation. Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows] When I execute the file it is asking me to install or extract, I am suposed to extract it onto the floppy right?

Softpaq v2.01 diskette creator should run and prompt for license aggreement, then creates bootable floppy disk. What is the file name? Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

Softpaq v2.01 diskette creator runs and creates the bootable floppy. What is the file name? Should be sp28809.exe Regards, Dave Patrick .... Microsoft Certified Professional Microsoft MVP [Windows]

I have figured out the solution to this problem. In the advanced section of the BIOS there is an OS selection tab. The selection was set to Other and not Windows Server. It was as easy as that. Thank you all for trying to help me out.