Windows XP Pro on Poweredge 860

Question

I have three poweredge 860s that we are using for a distributed processor farm. I don't need server os on these so I would like to use XP Pro. I have slipstreamed the Raid drivers into the win xp installation and have gotten as far as the window setup gui. But then the machine goes into spontaneous reboot with bluescreen. I can't read the bluescreen to determine what is causing the issue. I have looked for other drivers on the support site that I might need to slipstream in but nothing stands out. I have the quad core processors in these (buying servers was cheaper than buying desktops and I needed to mount these in a rack anyway), could the quad core be the problem?

Does anyone else have any experience with this type of install? I realize that XP is not supported on Dell servers, but I really don't want to spend almost 3 grand for server os.

Thanks for any ideas or help that you can offer.

Update: I have slipstreamed the chipset, backplane and video drivers as well. The machine still goes into spontaneous reboot. Even in safe mode command prompt only.

Message Edited by tripler79 on 05-02-2007 11:55 AM

jcha129 · Answer

HI      I want to install windows xp on the power edge 860 as well, can you tell me how to install the windows xp on the machine? thank you for your time. I would like to know how to slipstream the drivers into widows CD, and what driver do i use?   I have a look on support page, it has driver for video card, network card, and SATA controller for windows 2000, should i use them?   Thank you for your time

baptist · Answer

Hi,   I had the same problem with the restarting. The following worked for me. Use an XP CD that came with an older dell PC and use that to install it, then change the product key to a valid one.

jcha129 · Answer

Thank you for your reply, I think the new problem will be . where to get the dell XP CD.

Travan · Answer

Try using the Windows Server 2003 drivers found on the service and diagnostic utilities from Dell.

Travan · Answer

What raid drivers are you using?

tripler79 · Answer

I have yet to try a Dell system disk.  The servers are currently working and I can't take them down for maintenance yet.  I have already tried the Server 2003 drivers that came with the Poweredge and no dice.  The box just goes into spontaneous reboot with XP.  I really think that this may have something to do with the quad core processors and windows xp.  Maybe there is something special that Dell does with the chipset that a vanilla XP disc doesn't like.    The hardest part about this deal is having to slipstream xp disc after xp disk.  The servers don't have a floppy drive so I can't load the RAID drivers from one.  I have to slipstream them in.  Then if the install fails, or the machine goes into spontaneous reboot, I have to guess on what is missing or wrong and slipstream another disk.  Very time consuming.   I do have a usb floppy drive but the windows xp installation doesn't want to recognize it.    Anyone have any other thoughts?  I thought of Linux but then I have to convince my boss to buy another version of the rendering engine just for the linux boxes.

tripler79 · Answer

The windows 2000 version of the Dell SAS5/IR that I got with the poweredge.  i actually slipstreamed both the windows 2000 and the windows 2003 drivers into the package so theoretically, XP chooses the most appropriate one.  The install goes fine.  It is in the final reboot after the install is finished that it goes into spontaneous reboot.  Usually right after the XP splash screen.  I can't even boot into safe mode.

Travan · Answer

I found that the machines would spontaneously reboot on my nic drivers. Try just using the 2003 drivers and see what happens.

PowerEdge OS Forum

Windows XP Pro on Poweredge 860

Was this post helpful?