R210 cannot load OS - newb questions

You can install via USB:
http://jesscoburn.com/archives/2007/10/15/installing-windows-2008-via-usb-thumbdrive/

You cannot use EXE files for drivers ... you must first run it to extract the driver files.

Thanks, my USB drive is not big enough for the OS, so I never thought about it.   I'll see if I can pick a bigger one up tomorrow.

I figured I couldn't use the .exe file directly, but trying to extract it resulted in an error that my system was not compatible, because, of course, I was trying to extract it on a different machine.

I'll report back in the morning on the USB idea.

As long as you have downloaded the "hard drive" version of the driver and are running it in Windows, it should extract the files regardless of the version of Windows or the system it is running on.

Forgive my ignorance.   What do you mean "hard drive" version?

I downloaded R210_Drivers-for-OS-Deployment_Application_W9RKT_WN32_7.3.0.10_A00.EXE

Now that I go back to the download page, I realize that the highest number is not necessarily what I want.  There are many files, with no useable description as to when they should be used.   I will start searching through them one at a time tomorrow to see if there is something specific to my need.

I'm not sure where you are looking, but if you go to support.dell.com, you will usually be offered several types of files, each designed for a different use. You will need the "hard drive" version, not the "Update Package for Microsoft Windows" version. Also, I don't know if the OS Driver Pack can be used like that or if it is only intended to be used with Dell's installation utility.

You have also been referencing the R210 as the system you are working with, but the file says R210 II. Do you have an R210 or an R210 II?

Where do you see R210 II?   The machine is an R210 and that's been half my battle is trying to navigate an extremely poor support site looking for just R210 stuff.

I'm not sure exactly which Dell.com support page I got the file from originally, but it's here

http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/poweredge-r210?s=dhs&~ck=mn

where it states it's for R210.   Seems it doesn't matter what type of operating system I specify, it comes back to that same file, even if I chose BIOS.

I've been trying to work through System Services/USC | OS Deployment.   I get asked for the source of the system drivers.  I can chose FTP (don't know of such an address) or Local Drive.  If I chose Local Drive, the only choice I get in the drop down is USB.   Even though there is a DVD drive and 2 hard drives installed.   The second, required, field on the screen is Catalog Location.   I have no idea what this is.  I assume it's the file address but as I've not been able to come up with anything other than the .exe file, it won't work.     What I need, I guess, is a way to extract the files from the .exe file, and that may mean finding a different .exe file, but from dell support, this seems to be the correct one.  I certainly am not having any luck finding any other offering.

Thanks

Shouldn't be that big of an issue to find stuff for either one ... if you go to support.dell.com and browse the systems, both are listed.  Here are the Drivers and Download pages for each model:

R210: http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/poweredge-r210

R210 II: http://www.dell.com/support/drivers/us/en/19/Product/poweredge-r210-2

That said, some of the files may be common among several server models, so some may end up pointing to the same file (systems are listed under Compatibility section).

I didn't realize you were trying to use USC - I'm not sure if it is looking for the OS Driver Pack or SUU - I don't use USC.

Unless you have a specific reason for using Dell installation utilities, you should be able to simply install directly from OS media.

So today I picked up a bigger USB drive and copied the windows 2008 server disk on to it.   Alas, even though I can set up the USB drive in the boot priority, all it does is boot to a command prompt.  All files on the drive such as setup.exe, etc, are unable to be run in DOS.

I'm not sure what's going on here ... I haven't used a DVD to install an OS for years, and I have never seen Windows media only boot to a Command Prompt.  Is there anything unusual about your 2008 media/version?  Where did you get it?  What is the exact name on the media?  If you boot to it on another computer, does it boot to the graphical Install Now screen or the same Command Prompt?  Did you follow the instructions in the link I gave you to make the installation USB?  Did you add anything else to it?

So today I picked up a bigger USB drive and copied the windows 2008 server disk on to it.   Alas, even though I can set up the USB drive in the boot priority, all it does is boot to a command prompt.  All files on the drive such as setup.exe, etc, are unable to be run in DOS.

Flash.   My only way of attempting to save face here is to refer you to the subject of this message - NEWB.

I did not properly complete the tasks on the web page you sent me for making the bootable USB drive.   I went back and did it 100% and it is now giving me a GUI and I'm on my way through the install.

Thanks!

Ha ha ... it happens to the best of us :)