Here we gonna explain how to install a Windows 7 on a HP Proliant ML310e Gen8 V2 Server.
Installation of Windows 7 on this server came to a “little” problem. This specific model have a Smart Array B120i RAID Controller, that don’t comply with Windows 7. When we try to install the server with Windows 7 and RAID=0 (Hard Disk Drives in Mirror Mode), the installation complete and after the restart the Windows don’t start. It just restarts itself over and over again.
Here is link for download for SATA RAID Driver for HP Proliant ML310e Gen8 V2 for Windows 7 x64:
Maybe gonna be of use for someone.
The installation with Windows 7 we complete with RAID Controller -> OFF.
This is a bit problem when you need a RAID 0 (Hard Disk Drives in Mirror Mode). In other case when you don’t need RAID mode, the installation of Windows 7 complete without problem.
Here we gonna explain how to disable RAID Controller in BIOS.
You Enter in BIOS (SETUP) with pressing of F9 Button. This is the BIOS main screen:
Here select System Options from the menu, as shown on the picture, and from the new window popup select SATA Controller Options:
Selecting that option from the menu will give us a new popup window:
Here we select the option Embedded SATA Configuration, and here is shown a warning: Enabling RAID will result in data corruption on existing SATA drivers. Please backup all drives before enabling this feature.
In our case that doesn’t mater because the server is new and there is no data on the hard drive. But in a case when the server was installed before and now is reinstalled, there must to backup the data because with this operation all the data from the hard drives will be lost.
On the next menu there are three options:
- Enable SATA Legacy Support
- Enable SATA AHCI Support
- Enable Dynamic HP Smart Array B120i RAID Support
Here we select the first option in a case we need to install Windows 7 OS.
The second option is for AHCI Support, but during the installation we need to provide the AHCI driver.
The third option is for RAID Support, what in this case don’t do the job.
After selecting the first option, we exit from the setup by pressing F10.
The server restarts and during the boot we need to press F11 for boot Menu.
In the boot menu we select the bootable device from who we install the Windows 7. In our case that is CD-ROM.
After that the installation of Windows 7 is done like on a PC.
It’s a bummer that they won’t supportWin7. I was hoping to deploy it for NVR and use RAID 1. I guess you get for what you pay. Not willing to upgreat to better controller or pay for server OS. Thanks for the article/info.
RAID=0 (Hard Disk Drives in Mirror Mode) ?
Raid 0 is not mirroring, it’s striping
Raid 1 is mirroring, but you need 2 drives to do it.
Anyway thanks for the guide, I will attempt to load windows 7 on my new MicroServer (it has a B120i Smart array controller)
Dave
Yes Dave, thank you for your suggestion. That is correct.
please i need the drivers for machine hp proliant ml310e gen8
can you help me
thanks
Thanks a million for the tip. It sure saved the day for me!
verrrryyyy goooooooddd . tnx
Thank you for this guide. It really help.
Alphaplusng
Very helpful. Now can install Ubuntu Server….
How do i install the b120i drivers please?
Thanks, it worked in Windows 10 too
Hello,please driver. Thanks
Thanks a load…
There’s also the issue of USB 3.0. It needs to be configured to USB 2.0 for installation and use of USB devices during boot time.
I spent more than a day looking for windows 7 drivers, found over a hundred posing to be legit, but to say the lease; there isn’t one available….
BIOS Legacy is just the way out!
Thank you Tome Trajkov
You are great, thank you!