PowerEdge R510 Windows 2012 R2 upgrade fails

Question

With Windows Server 2008 R2 at end of life, we're attempting to upgrade our R510 server to Windows Server 2012 R2. The server functions exclusively as a SQL Server (also version 2008 R2). After disabling all SQL Server-related services we attempted an in-place upgrade, but are receiving a SYSTEM THREAD EXCEPTION NOT HANDLED screen just about a minute after the server begins the actual upgrade work after rebooting.

The only change to hardware we've made from the original configuration was adding a PERC 6/E controller from a previous server to preserve access to an attached storage device, but that controller appears to be supported in WS 2012 R2.

OS installation isn't really my area of expertise, so if anyone would be so kind as to point me to where I might need to look to figure out why this isn't working, I'd very much appreciate it. Thank you.

Joel at HdLCC · Accepted Answer

If anyone runs into the same issue, we were able to resolve it by removing the PERC 6/E controller for the duration of the Windows Server upgrade process. The controller was added back in once the upgrade was complete without any issue.

Thanks again to those who provided ideas.

DiegoLopez · Answer

Hello Joel at HdLCC!

Do you think it might be a hardware error? Have you seen something in the hardware logs that might look like an error? Is the firmware updated?

You can try to discard a hardware error by looking into the logs and making sure firmware is updated.

You can also check the windows event log to see if you have any error message. At least you will be able to see if it is hardware or software.

Regards.

theflash1932 · Answer

Did you update all firmware and drivers prior to the upgrade?

Joel at HdLCC · Answer

Thanks for the ideas, Diego,

The hardware log shows the message "A runtime critical stop occurred" for each upgrade attempt, but there are no other errors shown there. Nor are there any errors in the windows event logs at the time of the installation failure.

I've updated my BIOS and firmware for the disk controllers. BMC and Unified Server Configurator firmware also appear to be up-to-date.

Thanks again for taking the time to suggest some ideas, but the lack of detail in the hardware log error message makes it tough to know what to try to move forward.

Best Regards,

Joel

Joel at HdLCC · Answer

Thanks Flash,

I updated to the latest version BIOS and firmware for the two drive controllers before attempting the upgrade. BMC and Unified Server Configurator firmware were already up-to-date.

I'm unclear on what to do about our Broadcom network adapter, a Broadcom BCM5716C NetExtreme II, according to the OMSA. On the Dell Support site, many of the other BCM-prefixed adapters are now listed as using the QLogic drivers and firmware, but this particular adapter is not listed among those. The latest driver I found for that specific hardware is the one it's using, from May/June 2013. Do you think I should attempt to use the newer QLogic drivers/firmware?

Thanks again for the ideas,

Joel

PowerEdge Hardware General

PowerEdge R510 Windows 2012 R2 upgrade fails

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