Restore W2K server to a different hardware (smartarray controller)

[didocus]

Hi!
The old server Compaq DL380 (smartarray controller - RAID5)
died.
The new replacement server - Compaq DL380 G3 (smartarray controller 5i).
We have a ghost image and a full backup of the old server.
When I transfered the ghost image to the new server it starts booting and crashes (blue screen).
I tried to replace the driver through recovery console -it did not help.
Do you have any ideas how to change the driver. The old server was Schema Master, Global catalog, Print, file, Exchange 2000 server (Exchange native mode), DNS, WINS, DHCP server.

I am thinking about making a parallel installation on the same server in folder WINNTNEW and trying to modify the registry of the original (loaded from the ghost image)installation.

Any ideas and suggestions will be greatly appreciated!

Thanx!!!

 

[Jpoandl]

Here is the only method that I have found that can do this (without third party products)

1) Use NTBackup and backup the old system (including system state)
2) Build Windows 2000 fresh install on the new DL380.
3) Restore the old OS on top of the OS on the new DL380 using NT backup. Restore everything (including system state) to the exact same location.

However, do NOT restore the Winnt\system32\drivers (You do NOT want to restore anything inside the DRIVERS folder.)

You may not want to restore these files either
„X C:\boot.ini
„X C:\NTLDR
„X C:\NTDETECT

4) After the restore is complete, re-apply the Compaq SSD's
5) reboot
6) login and perform an in-place upgrade of Windows 2000. This will all Windows 2000 to re-detect the new hardware. Also, it will clear all indications of the old system but keep all of the settings properly.
7) Re-service pack the server and re-SSD the server.

That's it...

-hope this helps..


Joseph L. Poandl
MCSE 2000

If your company is in need of experts to examine technical problems/solutions, please check out

http://www.NJCOMPUTERNETWORKS.com

(Sales@njcomputernetworks.com)

 

[ricpinto]

This is my idea but never tried it b4:

After restoring from ghost image, insert the same win2k server cd to reinstall the OS. During the installation start up you have the options by pressing F6(?) to install the smartarray controller 5i)driver, from there continue the installation.

 

[didocus]

Thanx!

I checked a lot of options on Internet but it seems that the only viable one is Joseph's proposal.
Unfortunately I don't have a backup from the old server, only a ghost image.

Here is waht I did. I started a new installation. When prompted F6 I installed the specific driver for the new smartarray 5i Controller. Then I chose new installation instead of repair. Then I was presented with the option to chooise the installation folder. The setup detected the previos installation and asked me again if I wanted to repair it.
I chose R - repair the installation. (I tried before choosing repair when I was asked the first time and it did not work). After about half an hour the repair was done.
Everything seemed fine except the Exchange.
I reinstalled SP3, SP3 for exchange but it did not help.

Any ideas about it?

I am thinking about starting all over again and using a parallel windows installation to modify the registry key for the drivers plus adding the new drivers.

 

[ricpinto]

Your post number 1:
Qoute1:
We have a ghost image and a full backup of the old server.
When I transfered the ghost image to the new server it starts booting and crashes (blue screen).

Your post number 2:
Qoute2:
Unfortunately I don't have a backup from the old server, only a ghost image.

------------------------------------------------
Notice the highlighted words above, it seems like you're contradicting yourself. Anyway, whether you'll agree or not, you did what i suggest. My humble suggestion again, redo what you've done, there's a data corruption along the process. Doing it again will maybe undo the error.

 

[ReddLefty]

I had a Compaq Array driver changed on me once by one of my juniors and it was giving me an inaccessible_boot_device. Since I didn't want to reinstall everything, I did the following and it worked great... although this was on an NT 4.0 Server, so I'm not even sure the upgrade option will be available...:

Start the installation of Windows Server but select UPGRADE (not repair). The upgrade will not play with your registry. If you use an original CD, it will bring you back to the original service pack on the CD.. after you boot, you might get driver errors, but reinstall the latest service pack right away.

Follow the steps to install your RAID drivers (F6 at boot up) too... you still need that.

But you might want to use this as a last resort... at the time, it was MY last resort and it worked...

 

[ReddLefty]

Well, reading another message has confimed that Windows 2000 still has the "u"pgrade option.

Also, when I posted that last message, I did mean upgrading your current Windows 2k with the Win2K CD... in fact, your actually downgrading service packs, but it will force the hardware change to commit during the upgrade... namely your RAID device.

"In space, nobody can hear you click..."