7 replies to this topic

[chipmunk07003]

I purchased Windows Home Server about 3 months ago with the intention of installing it on a home-built server. I am having problems with the installation of WHS and I have, to date, found no solution to this issue. I have researched various sites online and have found there are others who are having /have had the same issues but I have seen no solution. I have contacted Microsoft Technical Support, have called them nearly daily for the past three weeks with no result except very long waits on hold (up to five hours) and being transfered from help desk and department to help desk and department, the best result being told that Microsoft will get back to me.

My machine is a SuperMicro server other board purchased from Newegg with on-board video and two Intel Gigabite Ethernet connections. I have 8 Gig of RAM, a 64 Gig Crucial M4 SSD (per suggestion from Microsoft Technical Support with an article on how to install on the drive) or either a 250 Gig SATA drive or a 1000 Gig SATA drive (which I had tried before the SSD suggestion), and an ASUS SATA DVD.

I have attempted installation directly from the OEM DVD and from an 8 Gig USB stick. I created a cfg.ini file by directly copying the various versions of the file that I have found on-line, placing it on both the USB install and on a seperate USB for the DVD install. I get the same results. It also will not install on the 250 Gig SATA with an error of either 31 and 0x80004005 or -1073741819 and 80004005. On the terabite drive i get as far as maybe 35 - 38% unpacking of files before the installation exits with no reason given in the install log. I do not get blue screens.

I am interested in installing on the 64 Gig SSD or the 250 Gig SATA drive.

This is a copy of my cfg.ini:

[WinPE]
InstallSKU=SERVERHOMEPREMIUM
ConfigDisk=1
CheckReqs=0
WindowsPartionSize=MAX


[InitialConfiguration]
Language=en-US
Locale=en-US
Country=US
Keyboard=00000409
AcceptEula=true
AcceptOEMEula=true
PID=xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx-xxxxx
ServerName=Server
PlainTextPassword=Passw0rd
PasswordHint=Hint
Settings=All

The installation starts, goes as far as the blank gray screen just prior to copying and expanding files, then exits.

The setup log first says that my hardware meets the minimum requirements for Home Server, and the details regarding my computer, then gives me the following error messages:

[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionID
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionSize
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] INFO: Calculated pre system partition remaining space as: 63917350912
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] ERROR: Specified partition size is too large to support a data partition, maximum possible is: 50716 MB (Alternatively, use MAX to span the whole disk)
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] ERROR: The value chosen for this setting is invalid
[TRACE] UIBackend::Launch : Exited (0x80004005)
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] There was an error launching unattended setup.
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] Getting the reason for the failure.
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] Failed gathering data provided via the unattend file
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] starting the ui mode to show the error page since there was a failed attempt to run in unattended mode
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] Initializing common controls
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] Done initializing common controls
[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] Displaying the wizard

To repeat, I get the same log whether I try installing from the DVD or the USB.

Is there something in the cfg.ini file that needs to be added/deleted/ or changed? Is there some other file on the installation media that needs adding or changing? I tried changing the minimum requirements entries in the SERVEHOMEPREMIUM.def file, as suggested in one source, to no avail.

My research online, on various homserver forums, had told me that others are experiencing the same problem. What have they done to resolve this issue? I have been unable, to date, to find the answer.

Bill

[KesterHouse]

Hi ho, Chipmunk, and welcome to WGS!

I just wrote a very long 2 part tutorial that I believe may help address some of your issues. Part of the reason for putting that all together is because like you, there's lots of questions about this stuff on the 'net, but not many viable answers specific to this situation. Have a look at the tutorials for more details, but here's what I think is happening with your system:

First, I'd suggest sticking with the DVD to run the install, but also use a separate USB stick to hold the CFG.INI file. Running install with this method is likely leading to the current errors, but that's because you've kind of mixed together CFG.INI parameters that are required for an unattended install with those that are not needed at all in this situation. This seems clear to me based on some of the errors from the install log:

[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] starting the ui mode to show the error page since there was a failed attempt to run in unattended mode

Second, and I wasn't sure about this when writing the tutorials but based on your install logs it's now clear, it appears that you MUST have a second hard drive in the system when running with a CFG.INI file that has the WindowsPartitionSize parameter set to MAX.

[5/4/2012 6:48:32 PM 2fc] ERROR: Specified partition size is too large to support a data partition, maximum possible is: 50716 MB (Alternatively, use MAX to span the whole disk

That error is telling us that the installation process can't create a data partition on the install disk, and wants some extra space . It gets confusing because it says you may use the MAX parameter (which is what you're doing), but it's not telling you that in order to use that, you need a second disk available on which the installation process can create the data partition.

Again, based on the error logs, it looks like it will install successfully with just the 64 GB SSD installed if you set the WindowsPartitionSize parameter to 50716 (just over 49 GB) so that it has enough space available to create the 100 MB system image partition, and then create a D: partition in the left-over space.

To get this working, I suggest trying the following:

Use the Installation DVD as you have been, but don't try and run the installation in unattended mode. Merely use the USB to control the placement and size of the system partition. I'd do the install with the SSD and the 250 GB HDD installed in the system. For the CFG.INI file in this situation, it should only contain 3 lines of text:

[WinPE]

InstallDisk=0

WindowsPartitionSize=MAX

You may want to look at part 1 of my tutorial for instructions about how to verify how the SSD is seen by the system (either as Disk 0, or Disk 1), otherwise you should be good to go.

When install finishes (assuming it does), you'll have a SSD with the C: volume, and the 250 GB HDD will contain the D: volume with the \Server Folders pre-defined shares in place. You may then re-arrange the pre-defined shares as you see fit (using the Dashboard) to accomodate your other storage devices, RAID arrays, or even to remove the 250 GB HDD completely (which is pretty much what Part II of the tutorial is about).

Hope that helps, and looking forward to see if it does!
-Jeff K.

[Drashna Jaelre (WGS)]

Make sure you DO NOT include the "InstallSKU=SERVERHOMEPREMIUM" line. I had issues with this myself, until I removed this line.

Also, this is a WHS2011 issue, not WHSv1 (so moving there to maximize the chances of getting help)

[chipmunk07003]

Thanks for the replies, both of you.

I apologise for sticking my question in the wrong forum and thank-you for putting it in the right one. Stupid mistake on my part.

To KesterHouse: I have a question on the [Win PE] file: where you have InstallDisk=0 , would I change this to InstallDisk=1 if the 64Gig drive is drive 1?

[KesterHouse]

Hi ho,

Yes - as in the tutorial, use DISKPART or the Windows Installation process to determine how the system is seeing the disk you want to install to, then use that number for the InstallDisk= parameter.

Hope that helps,
-Jeff K.

[chipmunk07003]

Well, I tried your suggestions and I read your tutorial, which I did find informative. Unfortunately, it has not worked. I am attaching the last several lines of the setup log which indicates the error.


[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Chosen boot disk is 0
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionType
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: MBR firmware detected
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: GetFirmwareEnvironmentVariableW indicated required partition type 1 (Status: 1)
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionActive
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for SystemPartitionFormat
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for MSRPartitionType
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionID
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionSize
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Calculated pre system partition remaining space as: 63917350912
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Extending system partition over the remainder of the disk
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for WindowsPartitionExtend
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for FinalPartitionID
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: System partition set to span the disk skipping filler and final partitions
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for FillerCreationInfo
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: No filler partitions requested skipping assembly
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Creating filler partitions using XML: (null)
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for FillerModificationInfo
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: No filler partitions requested skipping assembly
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Modifying filler partitions using XML: (null)
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for InstallLanguage
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Populating internal setting from existing data
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for PID
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Getting configuration for PostInstallScript
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Skipping optional configuration, no value specified
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Setup Checking System Requirements ---------------------------------
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: Checking CheckReqs key in the ini file
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] ERROR: System does not meet minimum HDD requirements. Required 160 GB; Actual 64 GB
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: System meets minimum RAM requirements
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: System meets minimum processor speed requirements
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: System meets minimum processor core requirements
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] INFO: System meets architecture requirements
[TRACE] UIBackend::Launch : Exited (0x80004005)
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] There was an error launching unattended setup.
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] Getting the reason for the failure.
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] Failed during the system requirements check
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] starting the ui mode to show the error page since there was a failed attempt to run in unattended mode
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] Initializing common controls
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] Done initializing common controls
[5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] Displaying the wizard

I do have a question which, if possible, would resolve the error of partition size. On a USB install, I have access to the various programs and routines for setup and install, therefore I can change perameters and install options. In the \source\sku directory there is a file that has the minimum requirements listed. If I change the HDD from 160 to 60, would that resolve the error? Or, is there another way to force Windows to accept a 64 GB SSD as the system disk?

A related question: What does "CheckRegs" mean? In one version of the [Win PE] it is equal to 0. Does this check the setup.ini file and can the key be changed? and, if so, how would I do it?

Your help is much appreciated.

Bill

[KesterHouse]

[snip...]
5/14/2012 4:03:16 PM 308] ERROR: System does not meet minimum HDD requirements. Required 160 GB; Actual 64 GB
[snip...]

A related question: What does "CheckRegs" mean? In one version of the [Win PE] it is equal to 0. Does this check the setup.ini file and can the key be changed? and, if so, how would I do it?

Hi ho,

Yep, looks like I forgot all about that in the tutorial... you shouldn't need to alter the setup files - just add the CheckReqs=0 line between the ConfigDisk and WindowsPartitionSize in the [WinPE] section, and I think it'll finally work. That's "CheckReqs" with a Q, not "CheckRegs" with a G. I also neglected to mention in the tutorial that these parameters are case sensitive. Don't forget to remove the Processed=True line too.

Thanks so much for posting the logs - it's been a couple months since I did this install method and they really help! Off to make some corrections to the tutorial.
-JeffK.

[chipmunk07003]

To all: Thank you for your help.

I finally got through to Microsoft Technical Help. The gentleman was very helpful and patient but could not resolve the problem.

I also resolved the problem on my own. It turned out to be a simple hardware problem: I had memory chips on my board which, for some reason WHS did not like-- but other test installations had no problem with. I changed the chips and WHS2011 went in like a dream--quickly and with no problems.

Sometimes the simplest thing is the very last thing you think of but really should be the first.

Again, thank you.