"Thanks very much for your help. I have seen the driver link you referred me to previously. However, although its format is "hard drive," its installation instructions still refer to the individual driver exe needing to be transferred to a floppy. Is it incorrect? And if so, how would I approach running the update before the OS install?"
No, it is not correct. When that file is run, it will unzip/extract the files into a folder on your computer (C:\dell\drivers\R227150). Those files can then be transferred to floppy, CD, USB, etc. to be loaded with the Load Driver link in 2008 R2. The floppy version is restricted to floppy media only (honestly, I don't understand why they still use the "floppy" format, since the "hard drive" version will work for floppy media as well). Don't be afraid to give it a shot and see.
"You say that the RAID must be configured before booting to the OS DVD."
This is true. Since you already have it configured and an OS installed, you don't necessarily need to delete/recreate the array at this point. Since the PERC does not support non-RAID, they have to be configured before Windows is capable of seeing anything.
It is also true that 2008 R1 does have the drivers built-in, but Microsoft removed them from the 2008 R2 media as it dropped native support for miniport drivers, so adding the drivers is necessary in 2008 R2 with a PERC 4 controller.
"The drivers for 2008 are set up correctly - so I don't understand what I could reconfigure using Ctrl-M that would affect things. "
As I just said, because RAID is already set up, you don't need to do any more configuring (you didn't mention that an OS was already installed with RAID already configured - in the event it had not been configured, it WOULD make a difference whether it was set up or not).
Let me focus what I've said into steps you can follow - I have done this dozens and dozens of times:
Download the driver I linked to above.
Run and extract the files.
Copy 6 extracted files to USB key.
Put USB key in, boot to Windows DVD.
When Windows says it can find no hard drive to install to, click link in bottom-left of screen that says Load Driver.
Browse to your USB drive and select the driver listed there.
You should then see the existing partitions; delete them and create desired C: partition (minimum 20580MB or entire disk).
There are multiple formats for the drivers ... you want the "hard drive" version for OS installs (if you don't have a floppy drive/disk). The floppy version is set up to write the files to a floppy disk; the Update Package for Microsoft Windows is designed to be run/installed inside the OS. The link above says PERC 4e/DC, but check the Applies To section, as it lists all 4e controllers.
Keep in mind that you MUST configure RAID in CTRL-M BEFORE booting to the OS DVD or you won't see any drives, even with the correct driver.
Another alternative to the driver situation above is to use SMTD (Systems Management Tools and Documentation), Dell's OS installation utility, which guides you through setting up RAID and installing all needed drivers along the way.
Sorry. Those things didn't seem relative to the situation. I need driver files for a PERC RAID controller that will work on Win 2008R2 for a Dell 1850. The files are needed for the OS to recognize the RAID controller, so they need to be added during install. The drivers are available on the Dell site as exe files, which are supposed to create a series of floppy images for the driver install. I don't have a floppy drive - or a floppy disk - anywhere. I want to be able to place the files that are in the floppy images on a USB stick or CD to use for the install. However, the Dell exe simply complains that I don't have a floppy drive and thus won't unpack the files. I just need a way to unpack the files from the Dell exe without a floppy.
Thanks very much for your help. I have seen the driver link you referred me to previously. However, although its format is "hard drive," its installation instructions still refer to the individual driver exe needing to be transferred to a floppy. Is it incorrect? And if so, how would I approach running the update before the OS install?
You say that the RAID must be configured before booting to the OS DVD. The catch is, the server (a refurb) came with an eval installation of Server 2008. In that installation, the RAID is already set up with native drivers. However, for an R2 installation, the new driver is required - and the driver specifically says it is _only_ for R2. I have read instructions from others for this same install that involve booting from the R2 install disc, then browsing to the driver files when the install detects no disks. According to many, this works fine - and that's what I was attempting to do. However, since the Dell file wants to create floppy images, I was stymied.
The drivers for 2008 are set up correctly - so I don't understand what I could reconfigure using Ctrl-M that would affect things. The drives are configured correctly for 2008. The driver just needs to be updated for R2, which one would normally do during installation.
Perhaps I'm being dense - and I really appreciate your help - but I still can't see how to proceed in my particular scenario.
The files extracted as you said, and I'm sure the install will be fine.
Just to let you know: my search on the Dell site had turned up different files for the same driver. And in the ones I found, the "hard drive" version had exactly the same info as the one you referred me to: will extract to floppy, etc.
However, when I attempted to use it (this was before my original post), it turned out to be an installer, not an extractor.
The contradiction between the various docs, and the fact that none of the files on the page I was directed to would actually extract files to your hard drive, left me not knowing how to proceed.
Don't know why there are differing, incorrectly documented versions of the same driver, but there are.
However, you've given me the correct information, and I very much appreciate it.
Just keep in mind the differences between the floppy version and the hard drive version ... many drivers come in multiple formats, so it may come in handy to know the difference in the future. Good luck and take care.
Instructions for BOTH formats are included in the Installation Instructions for each one. Poor formatting of the Installation Instructions may be to blame. Below are the Installation Instructions from the "hard drive" format. I bolded the file name and noted what it is for; note the Instructions for the "hard drive" format is run into the paragraph of instructions above - makes it very difficult to tell that from that point to the end are actually instructions for a separate file. An easy mistake, given the formatting of the paragraphs (this is new since the redesign/rework of the drivers site a few weeks ago):
Instructions for BR227150.exe (THIS IS THE FLOPPY FORMAT FILE NAME)
Download
1. Click the Download Now link to download the file. 2. When the File Download window appears, click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
Diskette Creation 1. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file to create the diskette set. 2. Insert a blank diskette then click Continue. 3. When prompted, repeat step 2 until you reach the end of the diskette set. Label each diskette with a disk number starting from 1. 4. After all the files have been copied to the last diskette, click Finish.
Installing the Driver During Operating System Installation --------------------------------------------------------------
1. Boot the system using the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 CD. 2. When propmpted to choose the installation location, select "Load Driver" 3. Select 'Browse' and navigate to the location where you extracted the driver files. 4. A list of applicable PERC controllers appears. 5. Select the right driver for the installed controller and click on "Next" button to load the driver. 6. Continue the installation process as usual.
Installing a Windows 2008 R2 Driver When Adding a New RAID Controller ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perform the following steps to configure the driver when you add the RAID controller to a system that already has Windows installed.
1. Power down the system. 2. Install the new RAID controller in the system. Refer to Hardware Installation for detailed instructions on installing and cabling the RAID controller in the system. 3. Power on the system. The Windows operating system should detect the new controller and display a message to inform the user that the driver was not automatically installed. 4. The Server Manager screen pops up and displays the detected hardware device. 5. Right-click the new device and select 'Update Driver SWoftware'. 6. On the Update Driver Software screen, select 'Browse my computer for driver software'. The browse dialog appears. 7. Browse to the location where tyou extracted the driver files and click 'Next'. 8. Windows should install the drivers, followed by a message indicating the installation was successful. 9. Click 'Close' to finish the installation. Instructions for LSI-LOGIC_MULTI-DEVICE_A00_R227150.EXE (THIS IS THE HARD DRIVE FORMAT FILE NAME)
Download
1. Click the Download Now link to download the file. 2. When the File Download window appears, click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
Extract Files 1. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file to unzip the download package 2. Click Continue. 3. Specify the location to unzip the files. 4. Click on the OK button to extract files. After the files are extracted the message all files were successfully unzipped will appear. 5. Click the OK button to exit from the installer.
Installing the Driver During Operating System Installation --------------------------------------------------------------
1. Boot the system using the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 CD. 2. When propmpted to choose the installation location, select "Load Driver" 3. Select 'Browse' and navigate to the location where you extracted the driver files. 4. A list of applicable PERC controllers appears. 5. Select the right driver for the installed controller and click on "Next" button to load the driver. 6. Continue the installation process as usual.
Installing a Windows 2008 R2 Driver When Adding a New RAID Controller ----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perform the following steps to configure the driver when you add the RAID controller to a system that already has Windows installed.
1. Power down the system. 2. Install the new RAID controller in the system. Refer to Hardware Installation for detailed instructions on installing and cabling the RAID c
You can still find floppies at places like Staples and OfficeMax (my Staples right next door has them), and you can order them from a million different places on the Internet, including a site apparently dedicated to the stupid devices:
Keep in mind that this thread was started by someone using a system designed over 10 years ago, when floppies were (unfortunately) still very relevant, and the ONLY way (besides convoluted deployment tools) to provide a storage driver to Windows OS's. Dell doesn't provide floppy-only drivers anymore, but they didn't go back and get rid of the ones they had published either. Alternatives to the floppy-only files have ALWAYS existed.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
1
February 18th, 2012 14:00
"Thanks very much for your help. I have seen the driver link you referred me to previously. However, although its format is "hard drive," its installation instructions still refer to the individual driver exe needing to be transferred to a floppy. Is it incorrect? And if so, how would I approach running the update before the OS install?"
No, it is not correct. When that file is run, it will unzip/extract the files into a folder on your computer (C:\dell\drivers\R227150). Those files can then be transferred to floppy, CD, USB, etc. to be loaded with the Load Driver link in 2008 R2. The floppy version is restricted to floppy media only (honestly, I don't understand why they still use the "floppy" format, since the "hard drive" version will work for floppy media as well). Don't be afraid to give it a shot and see.
"You say that the RAID must be configured before booting to the OS DVD."
This is true. Since you already have it configured and an OS installed, you don't necessarily need to delete/recreate the array at this point. Since the PERC does not support non-RAID, they have to be configured before Windows is capable of seeing anything.
It is also true that 2008 R1 does have the drivers built-in, but Microsoft removed them from the 2008 R2 media as it dropped native support for miniport drivers, so adding the drivers is necessary in 2008 R2 with a PERC 4 controller.
"The drivers for 2008 are set up correctly - so I don't understand what I could reconfigure using Ctrl-M that would affect things. "
As I just said, because RAID is already set up, you don't need to do any more configuring (you didn't mention that an OS was already installed with RAID already configured - in the event it had not been configured, it WOULD make a difference whether it was set up or not).
Let me focus what I've said into steps you can follow - I have done this dozens and dozens of times:
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
February 18th, 2012 11:00
What server? What controller? What OS?
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
February 18th, 2012 12:00
Those details are always relevant.
If using the onboard PERC 4e/Si or the add-in PCIe PERC 4e/DC, you can use this driver:
http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/04/DriverDetails?DriverId=9K3D3&FileId=2731109791&DriverName=LSI%20Logic%20PERC%204e%2FDC%2C%20Perc%204e%2FDi%2C%20PERC%204e%2FSi%2C%20v.6.53.0.64%2C%20A00
There are multiple formats for the drivers ... you want the "hard drive" version for OS installs (if you don't have a floppy drive/disk). The floppy version is set up to write the files to a floppy disk; the Update Package for Microsoft Windows is designed to be run/installed inside the OS. The link above says PERC 4e/DC, but check the Applies To section, as it lists all 4e controllers.
Keep in mind that you MUST configure RAID in CTRL-M BEFORE booting to the OS DVD or you won't see any drives, even with the correct driver.
Another alternative to the driver situation above is to use SMTD (Systems Management Tools and Documentation), Dell's OS installation utility, which guides you through setting up RAID and installing all needed drivers along the way.
tmcneer
4 Posts
0
February 18th, 2012 12:00
Sorry. Those things didn't seem relative to the situation. I need driver files for a PERC RAID controller that will work on Win 2008R2 for a Dell 1850. The files are needed for the OS to recognize the RAID controller, so they need to be added during install. The drivers are available on the Dell site as exe files, which are supposed to create a series of floppy images for the driver install. I don't have a floppy drive - or a floppy disk - anywhere. I want to be able to place the files that are in the floppy images on a USB stick or CD to use for the install. However, the Dell exe simply complains that I don't have a floppy drive and thus won't unpack the files. I just need a way to unpack the files from the Dell exe without a floppy.
tmcneer
4 Posts
0
February 18th, 2012 13:00
Hello,
Thanks very much for your help. I have seen the driver link you referred me to previously. However, although its format is "hard drive," its installation instructions still refer to the individual driver exe needing to be transferred to a floppy. Is it incorrect? And if so, how would I approach running the update before the OS install?
You say that the RAID must be configured before booting to the OS DVD. The catch is, the server (a refurb) came with an eval installation of Server 2008. In that installation, the RAID is already set up with native drivers. However, for an R2 installation, the new driver is required - and the driver specifically says it is _only_ for R2. I have read instructions from others for this same install that involve booting from the R2 install disc, then browsing to the driver files when the install detects no disks. According to many, this works fine - and that's what I was attempting to do. However, since the Dell file wants to create floppy images, I was stymied.
The drivers for 2008 are set up correctly - so I don't understand what I could reconfigure using Ctrl-M that would affect things. The drives are configured correctly for 2008. The driver just needs to be updated for R2, which one would normally do during installation.
Perhaps I'm being dense - and I really appreciate your help - but I still can't see how to proceed in my particular scenario.
tmcneer
4 Posts
0
February 18th, 2012 14:00
Thanks very much for your help.
The files extracted as you said, and I'm sure the install will be fine.
Just to let you know: my search on the Dell site had turned up different files for the same driver. And in the ones I found, the "hard drive" version had exactly the same info as the one you referred me to: will extract to floppy, etc.
However, when I attempted to use it (this was before my original post), it turned out to be an installer, not an extractor.
The contradiction between the various docs, and the fact that none of the files on the page I was directed to would actually extract files to your hard drive, left me not knowing how to proceed.
Don't know why there are differing, incorrectly documented versions of the same driver, but there are.
However, you've given me the correct information, and I very much appreciate it.
Thanks once again.
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
February 18th, 2012 15:00
Just keep in mind the differences between the floppy version and the hard drive version ... many drivers come in multiple formats, so it may come in handy to know the difference in the future. Good luck and take care.
Instructions for BOTH formats are included in the Installation Instructions for each one. Poor formatting of the Installation Instructions may be to blame. Below are the Installation Instructions from the "hard drive" format. I bolded the file name and noted what it is for; note the Instructions for the "hard drive" format is run into the paragraph of instructions above - makes it very difficult to tell that from that point to the end are actually instructions for a separate file. An easy mistake, given the formatting of the paragraphs (this is new since the redesign/rework of the drivers site a few weeks ago):
Instructions for BR227150.exe (THIS IS THE FLOPPY FORMAT FILE NAME)
Download
1. Click the Download Now link to download the file.
2. When the File Download window appears, click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
Diskette Creation
1. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file to create the diskette set.
2. Insert a blank diskette then click Continue.
3. When prompted, repeat step 2 until you reach the end of the diskette set. Label each diskette with a disk number starting from 1.
4. After all the files have been copied to the last diskette, click Finish.
Installing the Driver During Operating System Installation
--------------------------------------------------------------
1. Boot the system using the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 CD.
2. When propmpted to choose the installation location, select "Load Driver"
3. Select 'Browse' and navigate to the location where you extracted the driver files.
4. A list of applicable PERC controllers appears.
5. Select the right driver for the installed controller and click on "Next" button to load the driver.
6. Continue the installation process as usual.
Installing a Windows 2008 R2 Driver When Adding a New RAID Controller
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perform the following steps to configure the driver when you add the RAID controller to a system that already has Windows installed.
1. Power down the system.
2. Install the new RAID controller in the system. Refer to Hardware Installation for detailed instructions on installing and cabling the RAID controller in the system.
3. Power on the system. The Windows operating system should detect the new controller and display a message to inform the user that the driver was not automatically installed.
4. The Server Manager screen pops up and displays the detected hardware device.
5. Right-click the new device and select 'Update Driver SWoftware'.
6. On the Update Driver Software screen, select 'Browse my computer for driver software'. The browse dialog appears.
7. Browse to the location where tyou extracted the driver files and click 'Next'.
8. Windows should install the drivers, followed by a message indicating the installation was successful.
9. Click 'Close' to finish the installation.
Instructions for LSI-LOGIC_MULTI-DEVICE_A00_R227150.EXE (THIS IS THE HARD DRIVE FORMAT FILE NAME)
Download
1. Click the Download Now link to download the file.
2. When the File Download window appears, click Save to save the file to your hard drive.
Extract Files
1. Browse to the location where you downloaded the file and double-click the new file to unzip the download package
2. Click Continue.
3. Specify the location to unzip the files.
4. Click on the OK button to extract files.
After the files are extracted the message all files were successfully unzipped will appear.
5. Click the OK button to exit from the installer.
Installing the Driver During Operating System Installation
--------------------------------------------------------------
1. Boot the system using the Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 x64 CD.
2. When propmpted to choose the installation location, select "Load Driver"
3. Select 'Browse' and navigate to the location where you extracted the driver files.
4. A list of applicable PERC controllers appears.
5. Select the right driver for the installed controller and click on "Next" button to load the driver.
6. Continue the installation process as usual.
Installing a Windows 2008 R2 Driver When Adding a New RAID Controller
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Perform the following steps to configure the driver when you add the RAID controller to a system that already has Windows installed.
1. Power down the system.
2. Install the new RAID controller in the system. Refer to Hardware Installation for detailed instructions on installing and cabling the RAID c
timmelton1
1 Message
0
August 25th, 2014 15:00
Does anyone know what year it is. What floppy.
There are no floppies!
theflash1932
9 Legend
•
16.3K Posts
0
August 25th, 2014 16:00
You can still find floppies at places like Staples and OfficeMax (my Staples right next door has them), and you can order them from a million different places on the Internet, including a site apparently dedicated to the stupid devices:
http://floppydisk.com/
Keep in mind that this thread was started by someone using a system designed over 10 years ago, when floppies were (unfortunately) still very relevant, and the ONLY way (besides convoluted deployment tools) to provide a storage driver to Windows OS's. Dell doesn't provide floppy-only drivers anymore, but they didn't go back and get rid of the ones they had published either. Alternatives to the floppy-only files have ALWAYS existed.