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63331
August 17th, 2008 23:00
Installing Windows 2003 Server on Precision T5400
I have spent many frustrating days trying to get Windows 2003 Server loaded on a Dell Precision T5400. Through searching some postings on this forum, Microsoft and some other technical sites I was finally able to get it to load last Friday afternoon. I am sharing what I have found in the hopes that I can save some other person(s) the grief I went through.
The primary symptom symptom I was getting was the very helpful (NOT) message from the windows loader (on the blue screen of death) with the words "STOP 0x0000007B" followed by an error message indicating that I probably had a virus on my system. When this happens the whole system locks up and all you can do is power it down.
I took the following steps to get Windows 2003 Server to load. I am not sure if all were necessary but in the end it worked - that is what counts!
1) Upgraded the system BIOS to A03 (Dell update T5400A03.EXE)
2) Upgraded the system SAS 6/ir Controller BIOS (Dell update BR171950.EXE)
3) During the load process I had to F6 and specify my own SATA drivers (downloaded SAS 6/iR driver for Windows 2003 Server (Dell update R165736) to a floppy (worked fine from a USB floppy drive).
4) As a precaution I deleted all the existing partitions on both drives.
5) Changed the BIOS settings for RAID detection (F2 at startup) under Drives / SATA Operation from [RAID Autodetect/AHCI] to [RAID Autodetect ATA].
I hope this helps.
COMStevens
11 Posts
0
August 18th, 2008 11:00
The problem is the Intel AHCI mode of the optical drives.
Change it to ATA Mode and you can install server 2003, xp and so on...
Another (better) resolution:
Integrate the intel matrix storage driver in the Windows Server 2003 installation cd.
Dipesh Dedhia
2 Posts
0
February 13th, 2011 23:00
Above all steps doesn't help at all.
I have found with new solution, refer the below procedure:-
How to install Windows Server 2003 on Dell Precision T5400?
1. Install internal Floppy Drive and Internal DVD Drive. (External Device not supported)
2. Download intel 621xESB/632xESB SATA AHCI Raid Controller Driver.
3. Go to bios and change to ATA Raid.
4. Then boot from Windows server 2003 DVD / CD then press F6.
5. After entering you will get Specify driver = S, Enter to continue.
6. Then press S and select Intel intel 621xESB/632xESB Sata Raid Controller Driver.( Not to select SATA AHCI Controller drivers)
7. Then run setup. All is over.
unityjon
1 Message
0
March 20th, 2014 05:00
the link above to the driver no longer works, i realise this is a very old topic but in these austere times i have been asked to convert an old t5400 (Bios A04) into a server using server2003 :emotion-6:
Can anyone (DELL ? ) provide an active link to this driver or a suitable one that i can put on a USB key as we dont have floppy drives anymore.
thanks
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
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March 20th, 2014 07:00
Windows Server 2003 is not supported on Desktops.
2003 Drivers are the same as XP Drivers.
http://ftp.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/precision-t5400.html
F6 Drivers CANNOT BE INSTALLED via usb key.
First of all, you must disable AHCI mode in your BIOS setup and turn your SATA disk controller into ATA compatible mode.
The following USB floppy disk drives are included in the Txtsetup.sif file and are therefore supported for use during Windows XP installation:
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/916196
http://www.intel.com/support/chipsets/imsm/sb/CS-029958.htm
Description:
Unable to install the AHCI or RAID driver using the F6 installation procedure because the system does not have a floppy drive.
Solution:
Use one of these methods to resolve the issue:
Downloads:
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology F6 Driver Diskettes
Related Topics:
Beginners Guide: Slipstreaming a Windows XP* Install CD with Service Pack 2*
Slipstreaming Windows Easy*
This applies to:
Intel® Rapid Storage Technology (Intel® RST)
JimboManiac
16 Posts
0
January 3rd, 2015 06:00
First off, I would sure like to thank everyone that has posted to this thread as well as starting it also, as I purchased [actually feel like I stole it] > http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/servicetag/7438PJ1/configuration off ebay back last March for I think 184.00 shipped, as the fellow was not smart enough to describe it properly. Since then, I have been "Jonesing" to get it not only fired up, but I have never even plugged it in yet to see if it even works. It also had a V4800 vivideo card which back in the day was 150.00+ also. I thin dropped another 28.00 for 8gig more of ram a week later.
Sad, it's just been sitting...but I have grabbed a kb/op-mouse as well as needed cables and monitor over the past 4 months, and ready to "have some fun"
2nd? I am sure gonna miss my "Best Buddy" I am using now, and has been on pretty much 24/7/365 since I bought him back in 1/2007 which is Mr. 1300 > Dell PowerEdge 1300/600 dual CPU fully maxed out to 1 gig of ram and still has the 9.1 SCSI as the only drive. :-)
3rd)
Here to please clarify a few things please, and that is?
a) From reading internal and external floppy (this does not have an internal) and what is needed to ?? REALLY "" get the drivers on, SpeedStep has listed External Floppy references and OP [original poster] says Internal
Can External USB with the type listed by SS be used? If not, best Internal to use for T5400 please? [as none installed] OR?? No way to simply USB the drivers?
THANKS!!
Final note, is one of the other drawbacks that I had read or found that also was the fact of AUDIO-Sound card etc...This was after a lot of readin, and I guess in the wrong places...as a chess buddy of mine in Poland came back within minutes when I told him my problem = SIIG in which I have just ordered, so I sure hope it works... :-)
Final-Final note-question?
Reco/suggestions for a Dell Equivalent to my HP ProBook 6550b with i5 Quad Core. I have never owned a Dell Laptop.
Thanks all!! And will update here once I know what I need or if I need to get a floppy, as well as how the Monster Mash ends up.
Jim
speedstep
11 Legend
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47K Posts
0
January 4th, 2015 15:00
Most Internal Floppies work fine for F6. ONLY the ones Listed work fine for USB floppy.
You cannot use a flash drive it has to be a USB Floppy.
XP Drivers are Server 2003 drivers
Intel® Matrix Storage Manager
Vista Drivers are server 2008 Drivers
WIN7 WIN8 Drivers are Server 2012 Drivers.
Sound is Disabled by default in server 2003 as is directx videoThis is explained in detail here,
http://www.msfn.org/win2k3/
You can eval server 2008 free.
http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=8371
Please refer to the Windows Server® 2008: System Requirements and Installation Documentation. We suggest that you print this document before downloading the software.
1.0
6001.18000.080118-1840_x86fre_Server_en-us-KRMSFRE_EN_DVD.iso
6001.18000.080118-1840_amd64fre_Server_en-us-KRMSXFRE_EN_DVD.iso
1/27/2009
1.8 GB
2.5 GB
This software is for evaluation and testing purposes. Evaluating Windows Server® 2008 software does not require product activation or entering a product key. Any edition of Windows Server 2008 may be installed without activation and evaluated for an initial 60 days.
If you need more time to evaluate Windows Server 2008, the 60 day evaluation period may be reset (or re-armed) three times, extending the original 60 day evaluation period by up to 180 days for a total possible evaluation time of 240 days. After this time, you will need to uninstall the software or upgrade to a fully-licensed version of Windows Server 2008.
If you wish to extend the initial evaluation and testing period, please go
here and follow the instructions.