So I finally picked up the parts to form the beginnings of an unRaid server... something I've been wanting to do for far too long as I have some 2K plus movies that need a better way to access.

 

Went with the AsRock 880GM-LE mainboard and Sempron 145, 1GB ram for now.

 

However, hard drives are still on the expensive end, and I'll wait another month or three to see if prices start trending down (everything I have lying around the house I could use are smallish PATA drives that aren't worth fooling with).  I wanted to know if my system/USB combo would boot fine, and figured I might could get used to the unRaid environment and Linux in general.

 

However, when I boot the system (and it does appear to boot from the flashdrive) it gives a short unRaid boot menu, starts to boot, and then perhaps 10-15 seconds later spontaneously reboots before I can even see whatever it is flashing up on the screen.

 

So newb question... is this the expected behavior when no HDD is installed in the system?  A quick search of the forums and through the FAQ didn't seem to say, I'm guessing because unRaid without HDD's is so pointless that no one has bothered to boot that way.

So I finally picked up the parts to form the beginnings of an unRaid server... something I've been wanting to do for far too long as I have some 2K plus movies that need a better way to access.

 

Went with the AsRock 880GM-LE mainboard and Sempron 145, 1GB ram for now.

 

However, hard drives are still on the expensive end, and I'll wait another month or three to see if prices start trending down (everything I have lying around the house I could use are smallish PATA drives that aren't worth fooling with).  I wanted to know if my system/USB combo would boot fine, and figured I might could get used to the unRaid environment and Linux in general.

 

However, when I boot the system (and it does appear to boot from the flashdrive) it gives a short unRaid boot menu, starts to boot, and then perhaps 10-15 seconds later spontaneously reboots before I can even see whatever it is flashing up on the screen.

 

So newb question... is this the expected behavior when no HDD is installed in the system?  A quick search of the forums and through the FAQ didn't seem to say, I'm guessing because unRaid without HDD's is so pointless that no one has bothered to boot that way.

No, it is not normal. 

 

unRAID will boot with no drives.

 

Have you run the memory test from the boot menu?  I would suspect it will tell you if the motherboard and memory are set up properly.

 

Most BIOS will automatically set the memory "timing", "voltage" and "clock speed" automatically.  Most will get it right for your specific make and model of memory strips, but some do not. 

 

If you select the memory test from the boot menu and let it run overnight, it will tell you if the memory is working properly.

 

Only after you prove it it is working can you go forward.

 

Joe L.

Ah.  Then I'll do the memory check and report back afterwards.  Thanks. 

OK, it's been running the mem check for 12 hours now, all tests passed without error.  I'll let it keep running for now... will probably be out of town over the weekend.  Assuming this continues to check out without error, I'll post when I return with any other useful info and see if we can figure out what's going on.

OK, it's been running the mem check for 12 hours now, all tests passed without error.  I'll let it keep running for now... will probably be out of town over the weekend.  Assuming this continues to check out without error, I'll post when I return with any other useful info and see if we can figure out what's going on.

OK, that is a very good first step.  Needed to get that out of the way though...  post again when you return.

Ok, just got back into town. Looks like 77 hours running the memtest, 207 passes with no errors. Rebooted, let it start unraid.

 

I get the loading bzroot, lots of dots, perhaps ten seconds later it says ready. Then a second or three later I see a brief flash of what looks to be some text and a blue rectangle on the upper half of the screen then immediate reboot. Flash lasts only a few frames, not long enough to make out any of the text. I've tried several times.

 

Mainboard and processor above. Using latest stable unraid, 4.7 right?, trial version, sandisk cruzer 4gb. PS is corsair builder 430cx. All default mobo settings, timings, voltages for now.

 

Can't think of what else would be useful info. Suggestions for where to start troubleshooting?

 

sent from galaxy s2 using tapatalk

Do you have another USB drive?  Try loading unraid onto a different/new usb drive... the unraid image could be corrupt and that's why its not loading properly.

 

If you don't have another USB drive, try formating (without quick option) your current one and reload unraid.  if that still doesn't work I would try running another OS (another version of linux from a LiveCD and see if it can boot).

Do you have another USB drive?  Try loading unraid onto a different/new usb drive... the unraid image could be corrupt and that's why its not loading properly.

 

If you don't have another USB drive, try formating (without quick option) your current one and reload unraid.  if that still doesn't work I would try running another OS (another version of linux from a LiveCD and see if it can boot).

You might also verify your initial download of unRAID was successful and without corruption. 

(re-download it, or, verify its MD5 checksum)

OK, I'll check out the USB stick, format and redownload if I have to.  Not sure if I have another USB stick laying around but I'll look.  Hadn't tried another OS because of lack of HDD... didn't think about a live CD.  If I get repeated failures after verifying the USB shouldn't be a problem I'll try that.

 

Thanks.  I'll report back.

Huh, weird.  So I reformatted and reinstalled unRaid on my USB, no change.  Found an old 256MB USB, formatted and installed unRaid, no change.  Figured at this point it was clearly my hardware causing problems.  Before posting again, I figured I'd make a final attempt to ensure everything was seated properly and as default as possible to aid in debugging, so I first went into the BIOS and did the "reset to default settings" thing.

 

Well, that seemed to work a charm.  I guess my mobo either intentionally or unintentionally shipped with non-default BIOS settings (as I hadn't changed anything).  Some "stock" performance profile, perhaps?

 

In any case, now I can start playing around and learning so I can ask even more dumb questions!  Thanks for the assistance.  Sorry it was such an obvious problem.