Solved 1st Build - Major help needed

[ChrisPbass]

I was thinking about doing that w/the SSD. The rest of the bays are a cluster though. My only option for more than 2 HDs (excluding SSD) is too put them in the 2 5.25" bays. I guess that's not a big deal but I will have to buy adapters.

 

[gregrocker]

Where is the screenshot for Disk Management - Post a Screen Capture Image?

 

[ChrisPbass]

There is no screenshot because I haven't done it yet. Got totally stumped last night when I couldn't fit the drives into their bays because they would RAM (get it) into the memory sticks.

 

[gregrocker]

Get the hardware sorted first, then we can deal with it.

 

[ChrisPbass]

1. Disconnect SSD
2. Connect DVD and Spinner
3. Boot UEFI - DVD / Gparted
4. Format small partition on spinner 1
5. Shut down
6. Plug in spinner 2 (This was actually the one w/the OS)
7. Delete 100mb partition
8. Partition 100mb
9. FAIL to format last partition on spinner 2
10. Reboot w/SSD plugged in
11. Set BIOS to SSD in the boot position

There is 1 more partition on spinner 2 but Gp refuses to partion. It simply fails, immediately.

However...it booted to the SSD w/both spinners attached! Probably shouldn't be excited but I went through so much cr@p w/the other board that this seems like a great accomplishment.

The other drives came up like I had plugged in a USB stick. I've never seen that.

SSD asked to reboot.

Everything seems fine though the SSD does seem to boot slower. Maybe that will be different the next time. Obvously the OS was doing something since it asked to reboot.

The 1 partition on spinner 2 doesn't want to format in Disk Management.

So
Disk 0 - SSD - 1 partition
Disk 1 - 3TB - 3 partitions 60gb/2040gb/694gb (this is the result of win home server formatting at install)
Disk 2 - 3TB - 3 partitions 100mb/2047.90gb/745.52unallocated

I will mess w/the partitions but I want to make sure I get what I need first. I think I simply reformat Disk 2 completely to deal with whatever is going on w/that last partition.

 

[matts6887]

Yea I didn't go the ssd route because they don't have the size I want yet in ssd where they do in a regular hard drive plus the ss drives are still too pricey for my pockets

 

[ChrisPbass]

Yea I didn't go the ssd route because they don't have the size I want yet in ssd where they do in a regular hard drive plus the ss drives are still too pricey for my pockets

I dig. This 64gb Sandisk was $55-60. Still sort of unnecessary for a server like this but I just 'discovered' SSDs and was freaking out at how fast they are. So I figured it could be the OS and the big spinners can store everything. Still....not necessary at all. Total overkill

 

[ChrisPbass]

So I can basically nuke Disk 2. It had the OS on it and has no data that I need.
Format it using GPT?

 

[TVeblen]

So I can basically nuke Disk 2. It had the OS on it and has no data that I need.
Format it using GPT?

Yes, if it contains nothing you need then that would be a good idea.

An even better idea would be to WIPE that drive. I believe GParted has that functionality. This is where you write all zeros to the entire drive. Do it overnight, as it takes about 6 hours on a 1TB drive.

Then I suggest running the hard disk manufacturer's diagnostic software on the drive.
The fact that it would not format the last partition could be due to a bad file table (and that would be fixed in the wipe), or it could be the drive is headed south. The test will give a clue to which it is.

If the SSD is formatted GPT then you are free to format the spinner GPT.
If the SSD is formatted MBR then the spinner must be MBR.
The reason is that W7 must be installed on the disk that is formatted GPT in a UEFI system with mixed format hard drives.

 

[Britton30]

Chris you PMed to ask what I wanted of you. Replying to this or at least acknowledging it would be a start. Also the DM snip as has been requested a few times, describing it is of no help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...nt-post-screen-capture-image.html#post2261610

 

[ChrisPbass]

Chris you PMed to ask what I wanted of you. Replying to this or at least acknowledging it would be a start. Also the DM snip as has been requested a few times, describing it is of no help.

http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorial...nt-post-screen-capture-image.html#post2261610

Replying to what???? This thread is getting nice and long due to all my replying!
Win is installed on the SSd.
All 3 HDs are in DM but 1 of the HDs has a partition that doesn't want to play nice.
I was going to take TVeblen's advice but I'll cap DM first.

 

[Britton30]

Click the word "this"?

 

[ChrisPbass]

000

 

[ChrisPbass]

A couple of points. Greg's tutorial should answer all questions on a fresh install for Windows 7.

Only connect the SSD during install.

The Windows 7 installer will do the alignment for you, no need for the diskpart dance.

""""

Yes, I saw the link and clicked on it. Still, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to say
I followed the advice. What am I supposed to say?

 

[TVeblen]

Hey Chris... what happens when you try and create a New Volume in that unallocated area in Disk Manager? (Right click inside the area)

 

[ChrisPbass]

properties or help.

Dskchk it? Does dskchk work on unallocated? Seagate disk utility?

 

[gregrocker]

It looks correct.

 

[ChrisPbass]

I'm disk checking the HD.

 

[ChrisPbass]

So I can basically nuke Disk 2. It had the OS on it and has no data that I need.
Format it using GPT?

Yes, if it contains nothing you need then that would be a good idea.

An even better idea would be to WIPE that drive. I believe GParted has that functionality. This is where you write all zeros to the entire drive. Do it overnight, as it takes about 6 hours on a 1TB drive.

Then I suggest running the hard disk manufacturer's diagnostic software on the drive.
The fact that it would not format the last partition could be due to a bad file table (and that would be fixed in the wipe), or it could be the drive is headed south. The test will give a clue to which it is.

If the SSD is formatted GPT then you are free to format the spinner GPT.
If the SSD is formatted MBR then the spinner must be MBR.
The reason is that W7 must be installed on the disk that is formatted GPT in a UEFI system with mixed format hard drives.

Does this mean that IF there is only 1 GPT disk in the system then it must be the OS disk?

 

[gregrocker]

I dont' think the partition's GPT unless you know different, since there's no EFI partiiton for old Win7 so it wouldn't have booted. Check this by right clicking on the panel which says Disk 2 to check which it offers to convert to: If GPT then its already MBR.

And yes, I would wipe Disk 2 with Diskpart Clean Command from your Win7 Elevated Command Prompt. Then if you want GPT convert it using the link above.

This removes the old boot code so it can't ever interfere, and prepares the HD best for repartitioning in Disk Mgmt. Partition or Volume - Create New