Windows Server 2012 R2 fails on PowerEdge 2850

That is not a supported OS, so we are not going to have a supported driver. If you found a driver that will work but it is being blocked because of the signature then I would disable signature verification.

https://blogs.msdn.microsoft.com/emberger/2014/04/21/windows-server-2012-r2-install-unsigned-drivers/

If I remember correctly, 2012 installs but not 2012 R2, and I no longer have one to test with. Make sure you are choosing the HARD DRIVE version of the driver and/or have extracted the contents for use during the installation.

As many have stated an inability to install it, you can probably run 2012 on this server by disabling RAID and using in SCSI mode -  you can probably write off performance concerns since you are using a server that old anyway.

I completed the RAID5 array. How do I get to create a virtual disk?  According to https://cs.uwaterloo.ca/~brecht/servers/docs/PowerEdge-2600/en/Perc4scdc/UG/bios.htm I would select Ctrl+R, however I don’t have this option when it boots. I see Ctrl+S, Ctrl+M and Ctrl+E only.  What am I missing?

Thanks

*************************************************

I decided to start fresh by creating a new Raid 5 array.  I followed the steps in www.thegeekstuff.com/2008/07/step-by-step-guide-to-configure-hardware-raid-on-dell-servers-with-screenshots/  and created the Raid 5 array.  However, when I rebooted the server I get the message No boot devices found.

When I check on the configuration of the array (Ctrl+M) I see the message: This logical drive is in Background Initialization State. It cannot be selected for desired operation.

The window above states that the Raid 5 has a Drive-State of Optimal.

Do I just need to wait and then will be able to boot normally? Or do I need to do something else so that I can proceed with the Server 2012 installation?

Thanks

Initially as part of my testing I was able to get Server 2012 installed (this was before I cleared the array.  The server had Server 2008 R2 installed and at that time I just selected an in place upgrade to Server 2012, which did work but it kept hanging with installing the updates).  Then I decided to start fresh and cleared the array and created a RAID 5 array.  However, as soon as I did that, I now get the no boot device message.

Even if I try to reinstall Server 2008 R2 it still fails at the point where a drive needs to be selected to install the OS. I don't know what specific drivers it is looking for. I tried the PERC drivers above but I get the message that " No signed drivers were available".

What specific drivers is it looking for to proceed with the installation?

Thanks

After I cleared the configuration, created a new RAID 5 array and initialized it I then went into   install the OS from a CD. As mentioned earlier I get stuck at the step where it asks for signed drivers. I checked on another PowerEdge 2850 for the PERC drivers and navigated to the Windows-Systems32-Drivers folder and copied this to an external drive.  I thought since the two servers are identical that when I got to the point where it asks for signed drivers that it would accept the drivers from the duplicate PowerEdge 2850, however it still fails and states it hasn’t detected any signed drivers. Any idea on why this is happening?

I also tested by closing out of the installation and chose the “Repair option” so I could get to the command prompt. I ran diskpart and entered list disk, however it only listed the USB attached optical drive. It does not detect the RAID 5 array. 

I rebooted the server and relaunched the Server 2012 installation DVD to get to the repair option again to go back into the command prompt. I ran diskpart again and this time it doesn’t detect anything and returns with a “There are no fixed disks to show? What am I doing wrong?

I was able to use the Dell Systems Build and Update Utility at the link

https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=5gd6p&oscode=lhs64&productcode=poweredge-2850.

I  now see Disk 0 Partition 1 OEM (Reserved) and Disk 0 Partition 2 with 400GB of space on which I would plan to install Server 2008 R2.  This is great, however I get the message: "Windows cannot be installed to this disk. Windows needs the driver for device [RAID Controller]. Click "Load Driver" and load the required device driver.

I went to support.dell.com entered my service tag number, selected Windows Server 2008 R2 for the OS and enter Raid in the Keyword field.  I know I have LSI Logic Perc 4e/Di, v.522A, A15, however, regardless of the version I download, which in my case should be RAID_FRMW_WIN_R126663, when I save this to a USB and connect it to the server it states that "No signed device drivers were found. Make sure the installation media contains the correct drivers and then click OK".  

If these drivers are directly from Dell's site, why are they not be recognized as signed?  I did check on the .exe and do see Dell's digital signature but it isn't recognized.  

Do you what I need to do for the driver to be recognized so it can be installed and I can continue with the installation?

Thanks

@Vallee18​ Were you ever able to successfully complete the install?  We have several of these old servers we'd like to use for development, but would like to upgrade to 2012.  Thanks for any input you might have.