ESXi and HP dc7800p convertible minitower

[BamesJond]

Hello,

want to apologize firstly if this question have been discussed inumerable times in this community, but I still want to present my problem.

Obviously I am trying to install a ESXi on a Hp dc7800 convertible minitower. As far as I have understood some people have been able to successfully install ESXi on this system, or maybe it's just several versions of a HP dc 7800p machine. Anyway, I get stuck on the "no media to install ESXi image on " part. I have checked storage options in BIOS and set SATA to raid (not more options than that), and I have been moving the cable to different ports on the motherboard but no avail.

Is there any pointers I have missed anywhere?

[Mr_Lazy]

Hi!

Move the harddrive SATA-cable to the last Sata connection (light blue) on the motherboard

[BamesJond]

Hi,

yes I got it working just about now. Had to change the SATA setting to IDE in bios, not raid, and then change the hardisk drive boot order in bios too. Under hard disks, the internal raid was set above the hard disk STmany_funny_numbers in boot order. I moved the actual hardisk above the internal raid, stil kept SATA emulation to IDE and in installed. So now I have placed an order for a INTEL1000 PRO NIC so I can actually use the box 😮

[AndyP123]

Thanks! This solution fixed the same problem on a HP dc7800 Small Form Factor

Why is the connector important?

Why does the light blue one work?

[awood123456]

I was able to run the installer the ESXi 3.5 update 3 by changing the SATA connection to SATA4 instead of SATA0 (and leave the SATA Emulation to IDE).

I was able to install ESXi 3.5 Update 4, but I had to move the SATA connection back to SATA0, but I then also had to change the SATA Emulation to RAID.

However, now that I have Update 4 installed, it doesn't like the onboard NIC (Intel® 82566DM Gigabit Network Connection)

[maishsk]

AFAIK the On-board NIC has never worked on any of the versions of ESX3i - I always use an external NIC (Intel Pro 1000 MT)

Systems Administrator & Virtualization Architect

[awood123456]

Yeah, I seemed to have figured that out. I was able to borrow one until my parts supplier is able to order one in for me.

Thanks.

[gio1981]

hi , i have tried evrithing in this page but i am still having the pink screen when i try to install esxi

can someone give some new idea

Thanks

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Welcome to the VMware Community forums. What's the exact PSOD error that you're getting? Can you include a screen shot or the text from the first few lines of the error?

[gio1981]

I have tried to install esxi using update 3 & 4, version with or without HP Management Components, the problem is that esxi cannot find any disk.

The image i have it like is the one posted here http://communities.vmware.com/thread/190191 (no place on disk to dump data). I have tried to change from IDE to RAID, to move the sata cable from SATA0 to SATA4.

But every time i have the same pink screen

Thanks

gio

[Dave_Mishchenko]

Take a look at these and if you still have a problem could you post the PCI id for the storage controller? Also you'll want to use the regular install CD.

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Hardware_support.php

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/find_PCI_ID.php

http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/ESXi_install_to_IDE_drive/ESXi_install_to_IDE_drive.php

[maishsk]

Exactly how are your disks connected to the motherboard in your dc7800

To which colored slot?
Maish

Systems Administrator & Virtualization Architect

[awood123456]

Installing ESXi Update 4, I had to ensure that my primary SATA drive was connected to SATA0, and that in the BIOS settings, the SATA Emulation was set from IDE to RAID.

[gio1981]

Hi everybody

I have solved the problem but i still doesn't have found a reason.

First the sata controller of my hp dc7800 is the intel 82801IR, looking at the list at page http://www.vm-help.com/esx/esx3i/Hardware_support.php, seems that it is not supported by esxi.

I have tried to install esxi update 3 moving the sata cable from SATA 0 to SATA 4 and setting IDE in Bios. Results pink image with no disk found

I have tried to install esxi update 4 moving the sata cable from SATA 4 to SATA 0

and setting RAID in Bios. Results pink image with no disk found

Finally the solution i found is to have 2 GB of Ram on my machine and leaving RAID and hard disk connected to SATA0, i have try successfully a 80 GB hard disk of Seagate.

Thanks to everybody

gio

[Dave_Mishchenko]

If you have some time could you reproduce the error and get a screen shot of the PSOD. It'll be helpful to others who have the same problem.