Setup was unable to format the partition. The disk may be da

[Dups.]

I have this Compaq Proliant 8500R server. I have 4 bus slots for 4 scsi drives. I have two 10k, 18.2 gb wide ultra3 SCSI drives and two other identical drives but 15K.

Now with the two 10k scsi drives, one in bus0 the other in bus1 I performed a system wipe with a utility diskette. Cleared nvram, arrays etc. I then reboot the server. I use the Option ROM Configuration for Arrays to setup a Raid 1 (0+1) array. That worked fine. It then proceeded to boot off my win2k3 cd and I was able to install the OS without a problem.

Now I decided to add the other two scsi drives and build a second raid 1 (0+1) array so that I would have C:(apps) d:(data). SO I turn off the server. Slide in the two other scsi drives. The system detects them but send me into this menu to select my OS. This is an older menu because Win2k3 is not an option. Unfortunatly I cannot exit without making a selection. SO i selected windows 2000 and it continued. Windows 2003 loading screen appears and all looks good. Then BAM Blue screen stop error (I didn't write down the error unfort). So I take out the two scsi drives that I was trying to add and decided to see if I could simply boot up like I had previously with only the two original scsi drives. It goes up to the Windows 2003 loading screen but then goes to a blank screen forever.

At this point I decided ok fine I'll just reinstall the whole thing. So I repeat the same steps. Wipe the system with utility diskette. Install off the win2k3 cd. I get to the setup where it asks what partition I want to install on? I select the only partition there and format with ntfs file system. It says formating and then the progress bar goes from 0 to 100% in literally 4 seconds. Then I am prompted with the following screen.


Setup was unable to format the partition. The disk may be damaged.

Make sure the drive is switched on and properly connected to your computer.
If the disk is a SCSI disk, make sure your SCSI devices are properly
terminated. Consult your cmoputer manual or SCSI adapter documentation for
more information.

You must select a different partition for Windows to continue press enter."

I have searched the internet with this error and it seems to be pretty common but there does not seem to be a direct fix for it. Or I can't find one anyhow. Most people that have this problem have an IDE hdd though. I saw a few with a scsi drive. Most of them confirm that the disk is indeed not damaged as it can be read and used for other purposes.

Someone did mention maybe press f6 at the setup when it asks for SCSI drivers when installing win2k3 but I did not have to do that previously. So why would I need it now? And how on earth did I manage to previously install win2k3?

Anyhow, any suggestions are welcomed. Lemme know if you need more info. I am fairly new to hands on with SCSI drives. I mean I read up on them and stuff but have little hands-on knowledge at the moment.

[Zaelath]

I'd start by confirming the drive is not bad in another machine; format it NTFS (not quick) should be a good test.

Windows usually won't even see the drive if you don't have the drivers on the boot CD, so yes it's likely you don't need a boot disk.

SCSI termination is another thing, but given the variance in how it works with different kit, not getting into that. Read the manuals for your specific hardware.

[Dups.]

I know the drives are ok because I prefviously had Windows 2003 installed on it. I am able to format the drives using a utility off a boot diskette.

It just seems to suddenly be during the Windows 2003 setup that it cannot format the damn thing.

It can see the disk no problem. Tells me the size of it and all.

[Sylvus]

I'm not familiar with Win2k3 (I'm assuming you're talking about Server?), but I had problems with XP not recgonizing drives. I ended up having to make a slipstream disk (search here or on google) with SP 2, and everything worked just fine.

It seems that Windows didn't have the proper drivers for my drive when it originally shipped.

Not sure if that will help you, but good luck.