Stupid Question - Probably a Simple Answer 1

[tteknos]

I am attempting my first netware install on a Dell Poweredge 1300. I am installing version 4.11. I am using "The Complete Guide To Netware 4.1" for assistance.

A seemingly simple install isn't going so well. I tried installing a couple different ways. 1. Starting up with netware boot disk, and then accessing CD-Rom, and running install. Also did the same with a Win98 startup disk. Either way it prompts me for what language i'd like to install this in, then the next screen is just a black screen with a cursor, it goes no further. So i decide to try to boot from the hard disk, and try it like that. Can't get the thing to boot to the hard drive. Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Ted Teknos

 

[sobak]

Make sure in the config.sys you have...

Buffers=20
Files=20

I would think if you booted from the Netware Boot Disk it would already have those lines installed but the boot disk may have been changed (like all of my boot disks). Try that then update us with a status...

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[TheLad]

Also, make sure the HDD does not have any existing partitions on it (maybe with the exception of your DOS partition which should not be the entire size of the disk as there will be nowhere for the NetWare partition to reside) -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[tteknos]

Well I changed Buffers=10 Files=10 to Buffers=20 Files=20 in config.sys. It made it so it reboots now as soon as I tell it the language to install in. Also, I do not have any partitions currently. I even removed the dos one. So I can be sure i'm not going about this wrong, can you tell me how you go about making a netware boot disk? The netware book i'm using didn't make alot of sense when it talked about creating one, so i'm sure that I did something wrong. Thanks again.

Ted Teknos

 

[sobak]

Here is what I would do....

Sys a floppy drive with Dos 6.x then create a basic boot disk to load the CDRom Drivers and a little cacheing for the installation. After the installation I would remove the normal dos files and just mount the CD in Novell if I needed it. Here is the contents of my config.sys and Autoexec.bat files that I use on all my production systems, keep in mind these are not complete files, just what I think you can use to install Netware....


CONFIG.SYS

DEVICE=A:\DOS\SETVER.EXE
DEVICE=A:\DOS\HIMEM.SYS
LASTDRIVE=M
DEVICE=A:\DOS\MTMCDAI.SYS /D:MTMIDE01
DOS=HIGH
FILES=20
BUFFERS=20

AUTOEXEC.BAT

A:\DOS\MSCDEX.EXE /D:MTMIDE01
A:\DOS\SMARTDRV.EXE

These files are just taken from my dos section of my config and Autoexec, booting up on my Dell PowerEdge servers with this type of config gives me no problems with booting into the install program.

If you maintain using the boot disk and not create a DOS partition on your HDD, make sure you remove the DOS CD Drivers and SMARTDRV file, this has been known to cause some issues.

Also make sure you boot disk does not have any viruses on it, I've never known the install program to reboot the system after selecting the language. Let us know if this helps you out...

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[tteknos]

Well I don't mean to sound like an idiot, but what you told me is the thing that the book said, which is what i'm having trouble doing. I'm a new generation computer guy, meaning that I don't know DOS at all. When you say "Sys a floppy drive with Dos 6.x then create a basic boot disk to load the CDRom Drivers and a little cacheing for the installation" I have no idea how to do that. I mean when you say sys a disk, i'm assuming you mean format /s to make it bootable. But as far as loading CDRom drivers and a little cacheing, and basically almost everything you said, i'm lost. Sorry to be a pain, but I just can't seem to get this darn boot disk going. Thanks again for the good info.

Ted Teknos

 

[sobak]

Opps, sorry :>)

Okay step by step, I need to know if you have a DOS 6.x disk. You can sys from 95/98 but I think those DOS versions cause problems when trying to install Novell. That may be why your system is rebooting when you attempt to install. Dos 6.x is our goal for this boot disk. If you don't have one I might be able to zip one up for you and e-mail it to you. Let me know what you'd like to do.

david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[tteknos]

No sir I do not have any dos disks. If you could email a zip to me at tteknos@ihccorp.com I would really appreciate it. Also, I'm wondering why making a boot disk is so complicated for netware. I mean you purchase the software, and in order to install it you have to have old dos disks laying around? Maybe it's me, but that just doesn't seem logical =). Well again, I thank you for your time and assistance.

ted

 

[sobak]

No problem, you have to remember, Netware 4.11 came out before Windows 95 so creating a boot disk on a Windows 3.x system was no problem since Windows ran on top of DOS. Netware 5.x was released during the Windows 9x and 2000 time and you can now boot from the CD's. Back in the time of NetWare 4.11 most people could make a boot disk on their own systems then take it to the server and boot into DOS. Just a show of technology evolution..... david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[TheLad]

Jeez, these 'New Generation' techbots .... Bill Gates has a lot to answer for with his pointy-clicky systems! -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[tteknos]

Haha. Hey now. Us new generation guys aren't all that bad. Since we haven't experienced the older stuff as much as you "old" people, we tend to keep a more open mind when troubleshooting, and tend to come up with more creative and better solutions to things. Just not in this case =)

Ted

 

[sobak]

Old....New doesn't matter as long as we have forums like this to complement our skills. Heck for every old piece of software I know like the back of my hand, there are about 10 new packages that I'll spend hours on trying to configure X-). These forums make me look like a "GOD" to my users and managers and I really appreciate that when it comes to raise time :-0. This is one of the best forums on the web and I just love it here

"TheLad" you must have the same love-hate relationship with Bill as I do.....You love to hate him I have to say that without his "Window-ful" product I would probably be out of a job. Anyway, Ted, glad to be of assistance and hope you guys have a wonderful day...... I'm off to battle viruses, hackers and viralhackers B-) david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[TheLad]

I just keep watching my MPEG of when Bill Gates and his buddy were demonstrating USB Plug and Play and Windows 98 blue-screens in a big way ....

"So that's why we're not shipping Windows 98 yet?" says Bill, Ha Ha Ha !!! -----------------------------------------------------
"It's true, its damn true!"
-----------------------------------------------------

 

[sobak]

LOL I remember that, I don't work for my current employer..... I work for Bill
david e
*end users are just like computers, some you can work with...others just need a simple reBOOTing to fix their problems.*

 

[tteknos]

Whoah. TheLad, you seriously have that mpeg? Could you please email it to me? tteknos@ihccorp.com. I'd appreciate it bud, =)

Ted