OptiPlex 755 Raid problems - Can't access CTRL i

You can't boot from the hard drive now. You'll have to boot from the Linux CD/DVD.

You probably need to run BIOS setup (reboot and press F2). Change the SATA Operation setting to RAID Autodetect/ATA or to RAID Autodetect/AHCI, depending on what Linux requries. Save the change and exit setup.

NOTE: Since this was RAID0 and one drive failed (was wiped),you've lost everything on both drives, so you may need to disable the SATA1 port where the second RAID drive is connected by disabling that SATA port in BIOS setup too before you can install Linux.

When you've installed Linux, you can re-enable the other drive and reformat it so you can use it for storage or backup.

 

I appreciate your response.

I've disabled the offending drive but I can't boot from the USB. I also can't get into the BIOS setup.

I've changed the SATA operation to both RAID Autodetect/ATA and RAID Autodetect/AHCI.

Is there an alternate way to get into the BIOS setup besides pressing F2? I've even tried making errors on purpose so that it would prompt for F2 but it will resolve to F12.

Hopefully somebody knows of a work around.

Thanks

I appreciate your response. I've disabled the offending drive but I can't boot from the USB. I also can't get into the BIOS setup. I've changed the SATA operation to both RAID Autodetect/ATA and RAID Autodetect/AHCI. Is there an alternate way to get into the BIOS setup besides pressing F2? I've even tried making errors on purpose so that it would prompt for F2 but it will resolve to F12. Hopefully somebody knows of a work around. Thanks

I'm confused! :emotion-7:

If you can't get into BIOS setup, how did you change SATA Operation, as you said?

You can reset BIOS to factory defaults by removing the motherboard battery:

1. Power off, unplug
2. Press/hold power button for ~15 sec
3. Open case and remove motherboard battery
4. Press/hold power button for ~30 sec
5. Reinstall the battery (right-side-up!)

To boot from a USB device, it probably has to be connected before you power on. Then power on and press F12. Look for boot options on that screen. It's also possible -you-ll have to check the manual- that booting from USB is not enabled by default. So after you reset BIOS to the defaults by pulling the battery, you'll have to go into BIOS setup to enable USB boot and then use the F12 menu for a 1-time USB boot. 

And you'll need to  do some homework to find out how your version of Linux handles installation of SATA drivers. XP can't natively use SATA drives until the SATA driver is added during the XP installation. Later versions of Windows don't have this problem and automatically install the SATA drivers. I have no idea how Linux handles the SATA drivers.

 

Thanks for your reply.

I can get into the boot setup screen and that allows me to choose what to boot to and so force but I need to get into the BIOS screen to braek the RAID setup. Until that happens I have nothing to boot into.

It's a long story but I should have disabled the raid in the BIOS before I tried to install.

I have tried removing the battery to reset CMOS no avail.

I am now trying to boot into DOS with the Rufus bootloader. I may be experiencing problems because of Dell's naming convention in regards to their BIOS names. AN .exe file need to have 8 characters and "-" can't be one of them.

 I tried to refresh the BIOS in DOS using 0755_A19 instead of 0755-A19 and it's not having it.

I'm going to poke around the 'net some more. Perhaps someone here can offer a solution?

I'm totally lost.

How did you manage to change SATA mode to RAID Autodetect/ATA if you didn't get into BIOS setup? Please answer this question.

Are you confusing "BIOS" and "BIOS Setup"? They're exactly the same thing. So if you reboot and immediately tap (don't hold) F2 a few times, it should open BIOS (setup), even if you only see the F12 option displayed on the screen.

I suspect if you attempt to change BIOS settings any other way than by opening it with F2, unless you're a real expert, you're going to turn this motherboard into a useless brick.

Did you disconnect the SATA cable and power cable from the drive 1 remaining from the RAID?  You probably need to do that at this before you can go any further. As for the other drive (drive 0) did you wipe that drive and reformat it?

Can you boot from a bootable CD or DVD?  

The disk has been wiped clean by virtue of attempting to install Linux on it and it won't allow me to boot anything.

The Boot setup screen and BIOS screens are two different screens. The boot screen will allow changing the drive config but I need to access the BIOS screen to break the RAID.

The problem is that the GRUB installer on Linux will only install on one disc and it needs to install on both. This is not an uncommon problem.

The only thing I need is to know what the command prompt for Dell's 0755-A19 BIOS which is the current one install on CMOS.

If I can get the correct DOS command I can flash it and be on my way. The command is likely 0755-A19 XXXXXX in AUTOEXEC with XXXXXX being some random phrase.

Most manufacturers list what and is but I can't seem to find Dell's. I was able to create a boot stick on a USB and it shows as C:

Thanks

The Boot setup screen and BIOS screens are two different screens.

I understand that, but why can't you press F2 to open BIOS setup?  You said you changed the SATA Operation settings but that can only be done in BIOS setup, so how did you do that if you can't open BIOS setup?

Even if you can flash a new version of BIOS, do you know what the default setting for SATA Operation is? The manual doesn't say, so you may still end up with a setting that enables RAID.

 

Thanks for your response.

I only mentioned that I changed what I could in the boot setup to answer another posters question.

You are right of course I need to get into the BIOS. I can't do that however.

I'd like to reflash the BIOS so that I can change the settings.

All I need are the DOS commands typically used in a Foxconn motherboard.

Specifically a  0GM819

Each manufacturer typically uses a specific set of commands, like the following:

Flashtool	Syntax	Example command
ASUS BUPDATER.EXE (v1.12)
Backup:	bupdater /o[FILENAME]	bupdater /oOLDBIOS.ROM
Update:	bupdater /i[FILENAME] /pc /g	bupdater /iNEWBIOS.ROM /pc /g
Info:	No blanks behind the parameters /i and /o ! /pc seems to be the downgrade parameter ? /g is unknown to me, but is recommended in conjunction with / pc in the ASUS manual
AMI AFUDOS.EXE (v2.41)
Backup:	afudos /o[FILENAME]	afudos /oOLDBIOS.ROM
Update:	afudos /i[FILENAME] /pbnc	afudos /iNEWBIOS.ROM /pbnc
Downgrade:	afudos /i[FILENAME] /nr /pbnc	afudos /iNEWBIOS.ROM /nr /pbnc
Info:	No blanks behind the parameters /i and /o ! /nr = don't check ROM ID (e.g. for downgrade) /p and the following parameter: b = Program Boot Block n = Program NVRAM c = Destroy System CMOS
AWARD AWDFLASH.EXE (v8.22a)
Backup:	awdflash [FILENAME] [/ ...]	awdflash OLDBIOS.BIN /pn /sy
Update:	awdflash [FILENAME] [/ ...]	awdflash NEWBIOS.BIN /py /sn /cc /cd /cp /R
Info:	/cc = clear CMOS after Programming /cd = clear DMI after Programming /cp = clear PNP(ESCD) after Programming /py = program Flash Memory /pn = don't program Flash Memory /sy = save the old BIOS to: "OLDBIOS.BIN" /sn = don't save the old BIOS /cks = Show Update Binfile Checksum /R = reset System after Programming
PHOENIX PHLASH16.EXE (v1.4 Build 57)
Info:	PHLASH16 has too much parameters to list them here (use command: phlash16 /?). You can also use the command: phlash16 which shows an easy-to-use settings menu.

Does anyone know what I need to reflash this Foxconn 0GM819 ?

How did you manage to change SATA mode to RAID Autodetect/ATA if you didn't get into BIOS setup? Please answer this question.

I changed it in the Boot setup.  I can't access the BIOS. In Dell speak, I can enter F12 but not F2.

Are you confusing "BIOS" and "BIOS Setup"? They're exactly the same thing. So if you reboot and immediately tap (don't hold) F2 a few times, it should open BIOS (setup), even if you only see the F12 option displayed on the screen.

I don't remember with certainty the difference between the two screens because I've never had a BIOS problem that was very complicated like this one is.

When I press F2 I get the same thing that I get if I press F12. I can say with certainty that there is no mention of BIOS anywhere on that screen. From reading posts elsewhere on the internet this is the common complaint among peole that are having the problem that I am having.

Did you disconnect the SATA cable and power cable from the drive 1 remaining from the RAID?  You probably need to do that at this before you can go any further. As for the other drive (drive 0) did you wipe that drive and reformat it?

Drive 0 can't be reformatted now. My understanding is that it can only  be used as a storage disc forever more. Unplugging it doesn't work as the BIOS expects a RAID ARRAY with two discs.

Can you boot from a bootable CD or DVD?

I can't boot anything, not an xp reinastall disc, not a recovery disc, not a virtual Box. The onl thing I can do is to reflash the BIOS if I had the DOS command prompts for the Foxconn MoBo.

I suspect if you attempt to change BIOS settings any other way than by opening it with F2, unless you're a real expert, you're going to turn this motherboard into a useless brick.

You may be right but the MoBo is now functioning as a useless brick. The procedure for reflashing the BIOS is well documented. All I need are the Prompts.

I wouldn't try this if there was a downside. The worst case scenario is having to replace the MoBo which is what I'll have to do if I don't try it.

Well, if you can't boot from a DOS bootable USB stick to flash BIOS, I don't know how you're going to do it.

Don't know why pressing F2 gives you the same screen as F12. Has a BIOS password been set? Check the manual for using the password jumper to clear it.

Is the Intel Management Engine installed?

Can you try clearing BIOS using the motherboard jumper? Check the manual for your form factor of the 755 to find the location of the jumper and how to use it.

Don't know the commands you're looking for so can't help there.

I was able to reflash the BIOS by just trying prompts that could possibly work and got lucky I guess. I have tried clearing the BIOS using the jumper before and that didn't work.

Here's where I am now. I've accessed the Management BIOS Extension and changed the password so that I could enter. I'm not sure what to do next.

I have these choices:

• Intel (R) ME State Control
• Intel (R) ME Firmware Local Update Qualifier
• Return to Previous Menu
• Intel (R) ME Power Control

I didn't research this far ahead. LOL Now that I'm over this hurdle I don't want to goof it up now.

Do you know how I should proceed?

Thanks!

I have no clue. Anything about clearing BIOS passwords or resetting BIOS to defaults?

Go to support.dell.com and fill in your Service tag info. select Software and drivers.

Find the most recent bios firmware update and copy this to the same CD or flash drive you are using to boot up.  make sure your har drives are all connected!  Once you have the correct firmware (VERIFY IT!) then proceed to remove the CMOS battery and install the Bios Jumper to reset the bios. Remove the jumper and then begin the process of rebooting to a prompt or to the bios file you just downloaded.

Next flash the bios TWICE~!!!!!!!   Once done and you see your bios from a clean reboot you can then shut down and reconnect your drives . Reboot it and then verify your fimrware. if that's ok check you disks

Are you setup for Raid 0 or raid 1?  Linix will squak if you do a raid one without an Adaptec Raid controller!

typical for Red Hat!  Linix normally does not need to use a raid controller but if you want to use RAID 1 then reboot your PC go to the drives setting and select the  RAID only choice. Plug in your clean drives.

Now using a recovery CD re-image drive 0. This will rebuild your primary 0 drive and also make a mirror image on drive 2  (not drive 1 !!!!!)  Drive 1 is always the CD/DVD rom for rebuild purposes....SMART!!!

You should be all done.....Good luck!http://www.support.dell.com/ and

Disconnect all drives and get a USB to SATA Adapter.  Clear the CMOS so that no drives are installed or present.   Erase Both Drives by booting Linux via Live DVD or USB.

Then Put one Drive back and make sure that its not seen as a raid drive.

Do the same with the other.

After Removing everything and blanking the drives Put them back.