PowerEdge 2900 Problems

Question

I downloaded the Installation and Management CD from Dell's website and tried to use it to start the setup of the PC, I recieved an error about the system having no bootable devices.  I went into the raid controller menu and initialized the drives, and tried again still the same message, where else can I go from here, I've tried a normal initialization a fast one, it has 4 HDD's and is suppose to be in a RAID 5 with the extra for redundancy.  Any ideas would be great.   Thanks

Dennis Smith · Answer

Can you read the contents of the CD on another system?  Did you set the cd drive as the first boot device?

redcloud007 · Answer

Yes, all that is fine.

Dennis Smith · Answer

Do you get the same error when you press F11 during POST and try to boot from the CD?  Do you have another 2900 to swap CD roms?

burhan012 · Answer

Dear Smith, How can i download the ISO of Dell Power Edge 2900 Installation CD?

DELL-Manfred W · Answer

Hi burhand012 Here's a link for you to download the Installation and Server Management CD:- www.dell.com/.../DriverFileFormats Let us know how it goes.

theflash1932 · Answer

Manfred ... just out of curiosity, why did you give him the link to ISM instead of the much-more-up-to-date SBUU or SMTD?

I would recommend (as long as you have a DVD drive) that you use these:

If installing 2003:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/2684/DriverDetails/DriverFileFormats?DriverId=NF1CT&FileId=2731102793

If installing 2008:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/2684/DriverDetails/DriverFileFormats?DriverId=68RWT&FileId=2731101038

DELL-Manfred W · Answer

Hi theflash1932 I was assuming burhand012 wanted a CD format. Cheers!

theflash1932 · Answer

Ok ... I usually assume DVD format, but I suppose there is no right or wrong answer.

burhan012 · Answer

Hi DELL-Manfred W,

I downloaded the file and burnt on CD but when i boot the server from the CD it goes to first page then shows the media error also what is that big floppy disk name (Ultarium Cleaning Cartridge) for? I don't where the CD was not written correctly or the software problems

DELL-Manfred W · Answer

Hi burhan012

Did you burn the downloaded file directly into the CD or did you burn as ISO image?

I would suspect the Ultarium Cleaning Cartridge is the cleaning media for your tape drive, it is for you to clean the tape drive when necessary.

burhan012 · Answer

The same error given to me..........

burhan012 · Answer

I burn as ISO image but there was an error 'unable to determine the boot device. Drives may not be initialized. Initialize using the BIOS utility, or check if the disks are connected properly.' Please let me know ur direct contact email i will send the print screen of that u can analyze it.

DELL-Manfred W · Answer

hi burhan012 This is my email manfred_wong@dell.com Looking forward for your email.

theflash1932 · Answer

First, make sure you have downloaded all the parts, if using the DVD ISO for SMTD.

Second, make sure you burn the image to CD/DVD using software designed to create CD/DVD media from ISO files (you cannot simply copy the file to the disk). You can use ISO Recorder, CDBurnerXP, or in Windows 7 just right-click the ISO and Burn Image to CD/DVD.

Third, make sure that the BIOS boot order has CD/DVD/optical listed first and is enabled.

theflash1932 · Answer

Please post the outcome of behind-the-scenes steps.

PowerEdge HDD/SCSI/RAID

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