netware installaion stale mate

[net1974]

trying to install nw5.1 from cd onto a new dell server...i ude the dell cd to do the necessary preliminary downloads, after which i insert the nw5.1 cd and the system reboots into dos mode but cant access the cd-rom drive, A: and C: are accessible...cant seem to make boot disks from the cd...and have just given up for somedays now....the dell support system takkes months, especially when my case coould have been solved if i had ordered the server with the NOS pre-installed

 

[TheLad]

Are you booting from floppy disk or the NetWare CD direct? If floppy, don't bother. COnfigure your BIOS to boot from CD and boot from the NetWare 5.1 CD itself. -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
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[salserocito]

I would bypass the Dell Installation part of this. As long as the server is configured correctly, that is all the Dell Server Assistant CD should be used for. All of the necessary drivers are already located on the NetWare v5.1 CDROM.

Once your Server's hardware is properly setup and configured, there are 2 ways you can do this...

First...

You should be able to boot right from the NetWare v5.1 CDROM. Insert the CDROM in the Drive and Power-on the server. It should take you right into the NetWare v5.1 installation.
If it doesn't then try the following...

1. Boot from a DOS v6.22 Boot Disk
2. FDISK and FORMAT a 100Mb DOS partition
3. Install DOS files and CDROM drivers onto the DOS partition
4. Restart the Server and boot from the C DRIVE.
5. Insert the NetWare v5.1 CD and launch SETUP.

Good Luck!

 

[SuperDaveDCF]

Sounds like the config.sys on the c: is not configured to load the cd drivers. I try to avoid the OEM software whenever possible when setting up the hardware on a new server. I then do a good ol' DOS 6.22 install to c:. Edit the config.sys to load the cd drivers and to not load himem. I've also found that the netware cd drivers can be a little flaky. Never had a problem with DOS cd drivers. You must specify the DOS driver during the install on the screen where you pick your NDS version and your server ID number. Then at the end of the gui installation section, when it is ready to copy files, be sure to browse to the drive letter of the cd as it will want to look to a mounted cd volume called nw51: by default. Good luck!!

 

[TheLad]

I always boot directly off the NetWare 5.1 CD. You should also be able to do this, but you still need a DOS system partition on your server (C but you don't need any DOS CD drivers. -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------