PowerEdge 2300 Windows NT 4.0 Install Failure

Hi,

The "SCSI bios not installed" message is a normal informational message. The bios will only install on the first bootable media found at post. Normally this is the hard drive. When you put in a bootable cdrom, then the bios will install on that controller.

Are there any other messages after the "SCSI bios not installed"? Have you ran the Dell Diagnostics to confirm the hardware is working properly?

Dell Diagnostics for x3xx servers:
http://support.dell.com/us/en/filelib/download/index.asp?fileid=R20104
File Name:  DIAG388J.EXE

Ran the diagnostic tests (DIAG 3.88J) as suggested.  All tests through the hard drive test returned "passed" or "not applicable" until after the hard drive test was completed when the following messages were displayed:

Confidence Test - SCSI 1-0 HD 0     :Pass
Confidence Test - SCSI 0-0 CD 5     :Fail

Target not ready
(2-3A00) - Medium not present

Sense:  0x70   0x00   0x02   0x00   0x00   0x00   0x00   0x0A   0x00   0x00   0x00   0x00   0x3A   0x00  

Press any key to continue

Continuing returns to DOS screen with the message: "Fail" that momentarily appears before being replaced with the DOS prompt

The machine will boot to a floppy or bootable CD.  We can get through the first portion of the Windows NT 4.0 install but are thwarted when prompted to restart.  Shouldn't the first portion of the NT install have prepared to hard drive for the boot process?  Could there be a conflict between the CD and the Tape drive?

We have been working on this for weeks now.  Any suggestions?

I had a similar situation in that my SE drives were unbootable when I used the on board SCSI. I had to use the optional PCI SCSI card and cable, connected directly to the backplane (six drive version), and it worked. Very frustrating!

Good Luck,

Sidepipes

Hi,

The Confidence Test - SCSI 0-0 CD 5     :Fail - Target not ready (2-3A00) - Medium not present is because there was not a data CD in the drive during the test. The diagnostics then halted (default) on the first error. It is possible using the menu choices at the left side and the bottom of the screen, to configure the diagnostics to continue after a failure and also to write the report to a text file.

Are there any specific error messages from NT?

"No Hard Drive found" is an example of a common error message which is easily resolved.  

I am also attempting to install NT 4.0 server on my Dell PowerEdge 2300 

I boot the server with the three nt boot disk and have specified the Adaptec scsi controller, when NT is to the point where it should give you the option to choose which partition you would like to install on, I am receiving "No Hard Drive Found" although when I reboot the bios does show the two hard drives available, I was also able to format both drives succesfuly.

 Any idea why I am getting no hard drive found when trying to install NT 4.0?

thanks

Hi,

When using the NT 4.0 Boot diskettes, at the end of disk 2 the installation will stop and ask you to search for mass storage devices. Do NOT allow NT 4.0 to complete this search until manually loading the Scsi drivers for the Raid controller (if installed) and / or the embedded Scsi controller.

Scsi driver for NT 4.0:
File Name:  303s9a04.exe

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

ALL YOU NEED IS THE RIGHT DRIVERS.

You can get the adaptec 789X drivers from adaptec -
This driver bundle is good for 95/98/me/NT/2000
and I think its even signed.

http://download.adaptec.com/scsi/family_manager_set/fms_on_cd_v40a_sp3a.exe

The device drivers from dell or other places will cause you nothing but pain.
Windows installer will recognize this device as AIC78U2.

It works... I used it this morning on Term Serv. 4.0

Update -- August 2004: How come nobody ever emails me to say thanks??

Whimper Whimper, Wine, Wine...

Message Edited by Jeffrey Velasquez on 07-01-2004 11:18 AM