Server 2003 strange disk space issue.

[starscream]

The strangest thing happened today and has me completely stumped...

I set up the 3rd new Dell Poweredge this month today. All of them installed great using the Dell installation CD and I set the C: partition to 30gig and the D: partition to over 200gb. Anyway. I use C for system and some system software.

I had the whole server setup and went to install .net 2.0 and it said only 266mb of drive space on C: was available! So I went to my computer and sure enough, the C: drive is only a total of 5gb! How can this be when I set it in the dell utility before I installed windows to 30gb?

So then I right clicked My computer and manage and then disks and in there it shows the C: partition as 30gb???

What has happened here and how can I get my fill 30gb without formatting the partition as I will lose 4 hours work.

Anyone seen this before?

Fingers crossed it is a simple fix!

[Geoff]

You need to use a w2k3 SP1 CD for sanity to be restored.

[starscream]

but it be cleaner to wipe and start again or should i use a system restore. I have never restored server 2003, what's the procedure.... don't understand how this has happened it is bizarre, never seen this happen before on any computer ever! The computer management console says 30gb clear as day yet windows sees the 4.7gb grrrrrr arrrrghhhhhhhhh

[Geoff]

You need to start from scratch.

[User3204]

Nah, nuke and pave !

[starscream]

Have started fresh twice and it made no difference. I tried different variables each time but no luck.

Rang Dell today about the issue as I have set up 2 other server identical to this using identical settings and CDs and had no problems. The guy at Dell said he has only ever had one other person with this issue and they got around it by using a Server 2003 CD with SP2 integrated as it is something with the Windows RAID drivers. Apparently if I set up the server manually rather than using the Dell server installation CD again using an integrated sp2 server 2003 CD it will fix the issue too.

So I am busy now trying to figure out how to slipstream SP2 into my Server 2003 CD. I have done this with XP including all updates but finding it more difficult than XP.

[FN-GM]

backup the C drive reinstall Windows 2K3 and restore the backup

[starscream]

ah it's ok bud, I didnt have much installed plus I'd like to start from scratch so I know it's fresh.

Think I got the integration right, I'll post my results incase anyone else has a similar issue.

If this doesn't work then a Dell enginner is going to come out and slap me.

[FN-GM]

i can't understand why it has done

[starscream]

Dell probably only test their servers with integrated SP2 so when s Server 2003 gold user comes along all hell breaks loose!

[GrumbleDook]

Nope, they test it with 2003, 2003 SP1, 2003 SP2, 2003 R2 SP1, 2003 R2, SP2.

They also test them with various distros of *nix and some they test with Server 2000, XP and Vista too.

[DMcCoy]

And how much RAM does it have?

[starscream]

1 gig.

Well if they did test it correctly then I wouldn't have this problem.

I have tried integrating SP2 into Server 2003 but when I use it with the Dell OpenManage Server Assistant installation it doesn't work. Says the CD is damaged.

Is there any way I can get a hold of a Server 2003 with SP2 CD? Our LEA says they only have pre-sp2 official VLM CDs. I am deperate! Can anyone ISO theirs for me or something?

If I can't source a CD or integrate SP2 properly then I'll have to try a manual install using the SP2 integrated W2k3 CD that won't work in the Dell software.