400SC HDD Configuration Issues

Question

Help...

I recently received my two 400SC's. I'm having issues that I shouldn't have and haven't had in the past.

Issue One (2.4HT)

Goal:
Single HDD on IDE 1. Factory CD-Rom (Master) and CD-RW (Slave) on IDE 2

Issue Overview:
The system BIOS (A04) does not recognize all of my hardware and won't boot from Primary Master

What I've Done:
I upgraded the BIOS from A03 to A04. I was able to load my OS from the CD-Rom by simply Pressing F1 when the system didn't see a boot device. The OS is loaded, configured and working without issues, once I get the thing to boot.

Issue 1.1:
I have IDE 1 configured the way the server arrived from Dell. Single HDD on IDE 1, Jumped to CS, plugged into the BLACK connector on the cable. This is the way it came from the factory. When I go into the BIOS and look at the HDD Configuration, both SATA are OFF, I see "Unknown Hardware" for IDE 1 Primary and OFF for IDE 1 Secondary. It does not see the device as a HDD. When trying to boot the BIOS screen hangs and then says it does not see a boot device. If I Press F1 it will boot Windows.

I have:

·

Set Primary IDE 1 HDD Jumper to Master -- Unsuccessful

·

Set Primary IDE 1 HDD Jumper to Single Drive -- Unsuccessful

·

Restored Default Jumper to Cable Select -- Unsuccessful

·

Removed Jumper from drive (works with WD HDD) -- Unsuccessful

·

Plugged in the second 80 Pin connector on the ribbon cable with each of the above options -- All Failed

What do I do now?
The server will only boot off of the CD-Rom or the HDD after pressing initially failing to see the HDD and requiring me to press F1 to Continue.

Issue 1.2:
I want to add a CD-RW to my system for easy storage of user files. I have added the Drive to the second 5.25 bay, below the factory CD-Rom, and plugged it in to the IDE cable and the Power. I have set the Factory CD to MASTER and the second CD to SLAVE. When I boot the computer the BIOS (A04) sees the Primary as "UNKNOWN DEVICE" and doesn't see the second CD. The Bios shows IDE 2 Secondary as OFF.

Now once I get the system to boot into the OS, the OS sees the device and uses it. This isn't a major problem, but it is an issue for me.

I have:

·

Set Primary IDE 2 CD Jumper to Master; Secondary Jumper to Slave -- Unsuccessful

·

Set Primary IDE 1 HDD Jumper to CS; Secondary Jumper to CS -- Unsuccessful

What to do now?

Issue 2 (2.8HT)

Goal:
Configure IDE 1 with HDD and CD Rom; configure IDE 2 with single HDD.

Issue Overview
: The BIOS (A04) does not see the CD rom as Secondary on IDE 1.

What I've Done:
I have moved the Factory CD Rom to the secondary position on the IDE 1 and installed a second HDD as Primary on IDE 2. The system will Boot to the IDE 1 Primary HDD, but when trying to boot from CD, the BIOS doesn't know one is installed.

Issue 2:
I have successfully installed a second HDD in the server as the Primary device on IDE 2. To get the BIOS to recognize this, I had to remove all jumpers from the drive. It is a WD HDD. The BIOS would not see the HDD when configured to Master or CS. I have moved the factory CD-Rom to the Secondary position on IDE 1. After doing this, I had to remove the Jumper from the HDD for the BIOS to see the drive and boot from it. When in the BIOS exploring the Drive Configuration, it does not see the CD-Rom installed as the Secondary device on IDE 1. When looking at BOOT options, the BIOS displays (Not Installed) next to the CD-Rom option.

The OS is successfully loaded and does see the CD Rom. However in the even of system failure and recovery, I cannot recover from a CD. This is a major production issue with our server. The HDD on IDE1 is not jumperless and the CD Rom is set to SLAVE. If I apply the Jumper on the WD HDD to Master, the system will not boot and will not see the HDD. If I move both jumpers to CS, the system will not boot and will not see the devices.

I have:

·

Set Primary IDE 1 HDD Jumper to Master; CD set to Slave -- Unsuccessful

·

Set Primary IDE 1 HDD Jumper to Single Drive (No Jumper), CD set to Slave-- Unsuccessful (Will Boot HDD)

·

Restored Default Jumper to Cable Select -- Unsuccessful

Again, this system will boot, however it is not ready for production with this issue. Is there a way to RESET the BIOS in hopes my multiple configuration options have confused it. I have 2 PowerEdge 400SC's and I have boot issues with both of them. The BIOS, in my opinion is the issue as I have followed every instruction I can find for Drive Jumpers. System 2 (2.8HT) must have the Second HDD on IDE 2 by itself for performance of the applications we are running.

Dell, I am looking for customer support here. I have not phoned Dell's 800 Support Number because I don't have time for someone to have me try all of the options I have previously tried. If there is an approved configuration for the two scenarios above, please post them or post options I should try. With today's PnP technology, I do not believe should see these issues.

If you need additional information, please let me know.

DELL-GaryS · Answer

Jwreich,

If you need to have better performance due to S/W applications I would recommend getting the optional SCSI RAID controller with SCSI drives.

The BIOS support either 1 or 2 IDE drives on channel 1 only, the CDROM should be the master on ch 2 and any DVD or other optical drive should be the slave. You cannot mix SCSI and IDE unless you want the server to boot to the IDE.

Engineering is aware of these limitations and may address these issues in a future BIOS update.

DELL-GaryS

Jwreich · Answer

DELL-GaryS,

I thank you for your suggestion, but you are not assisting me with my issues. I understand the performance benefits of SCSI. I'm looking for help on why my FACTORY configuration (2.4HT) won't boot.

If I understood your message, I can not have a CD Rom on IDE channel 1.

"The BIOS support either 1 or 2 IDE drives on channel 1 only, the CDROM should be the master on ch 2 and any DVD or other optical drive should be the slave. You cannot mix SCSI and IDE unless you want the server to boot to the IDE. "

You discuss mixing SCSI and IDE in your post, I never mention SCSI. My IDE drives won't boot and I want to know why. My 2.4HT has the factory config. of 40Gig IDE on Channel 1 and CD-Rom on Channel 2.

With that configuration, the server will not boot to the IDE device and the BIOS doesn't know it's a HDD. The BIOS also doesn't know it a CD-Rom.

Was my original post unclear about my problem? Your response is appreciated, however I wish it addressed my issues. Do you have any suggestions on why your product is not performing the way it should?

Thanks,

Jesse

Jwreich · Answer

Well without any help from Dell Support, no surprise, I was able to resolve my issue. The MOBO in the 400SC does not have a defined BIOS reset. At least not that I can find. So I had to reset the BIOS by unplugging all IDE channels and booting the system.

Of course, the system faults and requires you go into setup. Once there I turned off all of the IDE channels. Powered off and then connected all of my drives as they should be connected and jumped the accordingly.

Powered the unit up and the BIOS faulted because the IDE's were turned off. I entered setup (F2) and set the devices to AUTO. Rebooted the system and all works great.

It appears the BIOS remembers what it wants to remember, not what is actually present in the system.

Both of my systems are now working as hoped with defined jumper settings and boot options. You CAN have a CD rom on IDE 1. You CAN have HDD and CD on both channels if you want. I still don't understand the comments by the moderator. Regardless I am happy to have the system operating as I need it to.

I am posting this for other users who may need assistance and just can't get it from Dell's customer service.

comi66 · Answer

Hi,

I just got a 400sc and i have the same problems that you had. I tried the solutions that you posted, but that did not help, maybe i missed something.:smileyindifferent:

My settings is win XP pro.All Factory hardware, no USB devices. BIOS ver A06

With the factory config. 40g IDE on Channel 1 and CD-Rom on Channel 2.

When it goes thru the post, it takes 45to 55sec, then shows the message

"primary drive 1 not found,

secondary drive 1 not found

strike f1 to continue, f2 to run setup utility"

When i go to setup under drive config it show 40G dirve and CDrom,

Then when i save and exit. Then it goes thru the post 45-55sec and back to the same message. :smileymad:

If I hit f1 to continue then its boots to Windows fine and I can see both drives fine.

Then i shut down and restart, i get the same message. When I run the diagnostics on the hard drive though it finds no problems. Please help

Thanks in advance.

PowerEdge HDD/SCSI/RAID

400SC HDD Configuration Issues

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