Reinstalling Windows 7 with a Dell Perc8 H310

Question

Hello!

I'm new to this forum so please be gentle :3

I'm having some trouble installing Windows 7 on a Precision machine with the Dell Perc8 H310 (rebranded LSI) RAID controller. I deleted the whole RAID configuration and created a new one being exactly the same. The RAID setup is as follows: 1 SSD in a group for itself in RAID 0 (connected to the raid card) and 2 500GB hard drives in a group with RAID 0.

This is what I did and where I got stuck:

I boot up from the Windows 7 installation USB stick that we have. When I get to the part for partitioning and formatting I have to load a driver. Then I install windows normally until it reboots like normal through this process. However, I don't want the computer to boot from the USB again, but for some reason the system can't find a bootable drive. the Raid controller is set as default boot device, but "No Boot Device Found. Press any key..."

Is there something I've missed or done wrong with the RAID config?

Thanks

-A

brokeh · Accepted Answer

I figured out the problem. Win7 Enterprise is not supported by the drivers. Had to go with the original DVD that came with the PC, which is Win7 Ultimate.

Anyways, thanks for the help!

Best regards,

Bokeh

DELL-John C · Answer

Hi Brokeh,

I believe it's because you may have just used the PERC H310 .exe that was downloaded when trying to load the driver, however this will not work.

Please download one of these versions on a functioning system, depending on whether you are installing Windows 7 32-bit or 64-bit:

64-bit install: ftp://ftp.dell.com/Browse_For_Drivers/Desktops/Precision%20Workstation/Precision%20T3600/SAS%20RAID/Driver/Windows%207%2064-bit/

32-bit install: ftp://ftp.dell.com/Browse_For_Drivers/Desktops/Precision%20Workstation/Precision%20T3600/SAS%20RAID/Driver/Windows%207%2032-bit/

Run the file and then go to the folder that you specified when unpacking (usually C:/Dell/Drivers) - find the H310 folder and copy the contents to a USB drive if possible.

Try to install Windows 7 and then when prompted to load the driver, please use the unpacked driver that's copied onto your USB drive. That should resolve the issue for you.

Any problems, please let us know!

ftp://ftp.dell.com/Browse_For_Drivers/Desktops/Precision%20Workstation/Precision%20T3600/SAS%20RAID/Driver/Windows%207%2064-bit/

brokeh · Answer

Hi again

I notice that the file I originally used was different from the one you linked to. Actually the 64-bit link had two files in it, I took the upper one.

Otherwise I did exactly how you explained, but I still get the "no boot device found" after first restart of the machine during the installation process for Windows 7. If I boot the USB stick again (this one containing the Windows 7 image) i end up at the beginning of the installation process for Windows 7.

I entered the interface for the RAID-controller and the SSD, which I'm installing Windows 7 on, is set to be the boot device. We have 2 of these machines (Dell Precision T3600), and nothing in BIOS nor RAID config. is different from each other. There must be something else causing the SSD not to boot windows.

-Brokeh

DELL-John C · Answer

Hi Brokeh,

I've just double-checked the drivers and you're exactly right, the drivers are for Windows 7 Home Basic and Premium, Ultimate and Professional only. If you had one of these versions, the drivers would install correctly.

I'm glad that you managed to get to the bottom of this one, if you need any assistance in future, please don't hesitate to get back in touch with us!

rdunnill · Answer

The difference between Windows 7 Enterprise and Windows 7 Ultimate is the activation. (The former uses a key server while the latter activates conventionally.) There are no architectural differences.

Locked Topics – Desktops General

Reinstalling Windows 7 with a Dell Perc8 H310

Was this post helpful?