At long last, I have upgraded from my LX195 to a EX495 that I found for a reasonable price on CL.
(This was precipitated by a catastrophic HDD failure on the LX195, but that's another story.)

The new 495 is functional now, but... didn't include recovery media. Given that a need to restore the EX495 is inevitable, can anyone here help me out with disc images of the original WHS/ MSS discs that came with this unit?

Nothing's on ebay, and after registering on HP website, it unashamedly informed me that support for my product and Serial Number expired in December of 2010. The website wouldn't even let me send them an email to ask about how to get the discs. So I don't expect much help through the "official" channels.

Thanks in advance, anyone.

Here is a recovery disk for the EX490 which will work with the EX495. Grab it while you can! http://www.ebay.com/itm/HP-MEDIASMART-S ... 4d187de842

The PC Recovery Disk you have with your LX195 will also work with your EX490 and the Client Software can be downloaded from the Server Once the Server is setup. When you run the Server Install disk the client software will be loaded onto the client you use to perform the recovery with.

I should also mention the DataVault x510 disks will work with the EX49x as well.

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

huh. How did I miss seeing that when I looked?

Thanks, a downloadable image would have been nice, but in the absence of that, I went ahead and bought one of the remaining copies from the ebay person. As I understand it, the PC recovery software is downloadable from Microsoft. Or, as you say, I should still be able to use the PC recovery disk from my LX195 if needed.

You reminded me of the client software that can be downloaded from the server once it's set up (port 55000, right?) Looking at Ebay listings for complete EX495s, there seems to be a black "media smart software" disc that is included with these units as well. Is that disc only the client software that I download from the server? or something else ?

Thx.

Yes you can use port 55000 to download the client software and you would always want to use that anyway because its the version on the server that the server would be expecting you to use. The PC or Client Recovery Software you can download from Microsoft is the most up to date version which resolves some misc issues.

Its always best to have a physical copy of the original Server Installation disk and once you get it make multiple copies of it. The problem with downloading from an unknown source is you never know exactly if your downloading something safe. Personally I think it was wrong for HP to stop issuing disk sets even if they charged a fee for them. Often people will sell their Server without the disks and then assume you can download the software from HP or Microsoft with is not exactly true.

Good Luck with your EX495, its recovery method is the same for the LX195 so if you have gone through that process before then you know it can be temperamental. Some run the Recovery Software with the client in Safe Mode with Networking to eliminate conflicts on the client end. Review the info in the following link: http://www.mediasmartserver.net/wiki/in ... _and_EX495

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

Well, I got my recovery disc in the mail today. I'm glad I now have something if I need it, but I can be just as worried about what I'm getting off ebay as something I might download from a helpful enthusiast on a forum site like this one.

Since, whatever the picture on the listing might have shown, it turns out that some random ebay person is making $25 a disc by selling me (and 9 other people, this auction,) burned copies of the recovery DVD and not factory pressed discs anyway.

So, frankly, I think this worse than just sharing the software in the first place. People strictly following the SW licence terms are allowing this cheater to profit. Since these discs are getting apparently getting scarce, maybe I should go into the SW reselling business, too, to recoup my investment...

So, I guess I'm still hoping someone's willing to share an original disc image with me, if for no other reason than for me to compare the two files to to make sure what I got is legit.

No, People strictly following the SW licence terms are doing the right thing. People like you who purchase bootleg disks are allowing this cheater to profit. If the disk are not originals then don't buy them. If you go into the SW reselling business with bootleg copies then your just as bad as this guy.

_________________
HP MediaSmart EX495 E8600 3.2Ghz CPU, 4GB ram, 8TB storage including 3TB drives in pool. WHS with Active Directory, WDS, Media Center Master, Logitech server. Office 2010 server with client add-ins.
Microsoft MVP - Windows Home Server.

I saw the listing for the Recovery Disks but never fully read the listing because they pictured an original disk and so I posted the link. Had I read the fully listing I would not of provided the link because its wrong to do such things. I firmly believe selling copies of software should be prohibited on eBay.

Next time I see a listing for disk sets on eBay I will read the full listing before I opt to post the link. One other problem with copies is you never know what your getting or if its a true and honest copy that does not contain any malicious content. This is a major concern on top of the legality of selling media you have no right to sell in the first place.

Unfortunately HP has stopped issuing recovery media for their MSS Server Products while Acer opted to resume selling their disk sets for a small fee to cover the cost of the disks and shipping.

I do build new servers and resell used servers and provide the disk sets of course and encourage those who buy from me to make multiple copies of their disk sets to protect their interests. I also keep copies on hand should they ever need them in the future but I would never contemplate selling a disk set even though it costs me money and time to produce them. It's just my way of providing support to those who purchase units from me. If a used unit came with original disks then the original disks go with the server as they are part of the server.

What really bothers me the most is when people sell their used servers without the disk sets often they will sell them separately and yet there are some who just lost them but then they post that the software can be easily downloaded and that's just wrong too. Sometimes one has to wonder if the server being sold without the disk sets has issues or might possibly be stolen as its a red flag that something may not be right but often people do lose their disks so who really knows.

_________________
Exploring the possibilities!

Migrated from WHS2011 to WS2012E: HIGHLANDER

~ Norco 4220 Enclosure
~ Gigabyte GA-990FXA-UD5
~ AMD Phenom II X4 995 3.2 GHz
~ 8 GB Corsair Vengeance DDR3 1600 (PC3 12800)
~ 3 Supermicro AOC-SASLP-MV8

@Diehard-
Pls. read the context. I was being facetious about going into the software reselling business. I'm as irritiated as anybody at paying some random dude $25 for a bootleg copy. The listing showed a factory disc in the picture, and was for a fixed number of items. I THOUGHT I was going to get one of a limited number of available authentic, factory pressed discs. An "original copy" if you will. I was not TRYING to buy copied SW and had I known that's what I would the item was for, I wouldn't have purchased. I am NOT planning to start selling burned copies of my own on eBay and have reported the item/ seller to eBay, and sent him a nasty message.

@Comp1962-
In all fairness, not only was the picture of the real disc, but even after reading the listing, the way the content was written, I took it to mean I'd be getting an original copy. "Copy" meaning, an original factory pressed copy, not a burned copy. The description said "YOU WILL RECEIVE A COPY OF THE ORIGINAL RESTORE DVD WHICH INCLUDES THE SERVER OS RESTORE " and included the disc part number.
Too bad it didn't jump out at me that he said "a copy of the original" rather than "an original copy of..."
And, you're right-- when people sell a server, they should include the software, at least anything that's not readily downloadable. I asked the guy I bought this off of about the discs, and he said he couldn't find them and suspected he pitched them when he threw out a bunch of computer stuff a few weeks before. Like other people, he thought that any new buyer could just download the software required.