T3600 Solution for upgrading to Windows 10 (PERC driver)

Question

Hi, is there finally o workaround regarding upgrading a T3600 to Windows 10 (also, futureproof)? I'm stuck on Windows 7. I tried the 'switch from HDD to SATA socket' solution suggested elsewhere, but it proved disastrous: the system took literally hours to boot and was nearly frozxen all the time and I had to force reboot. Thanks in advance.

bradthetechnut · Answer

https://www.dell.com/community/PowerEdge-HDD-SCSI-RAID/Install-Windows-10-Pro-on-PowerEdge-R240-with-PERC-S140/td-p/7404074

System configuration isn't mentioned, so hopefully this helps.

Win10 Pro DVD newegg

Win10 Enterprise options

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-ca/000138442/installing-windows-10-on-a-precision-workstation-tx600-system-equipped-with-a-single-hard-drive-attached-to-a-perc-h310-raid-controller (?)

baskak · Answer

Thanks! Here's the system config: https://pastebin.com/R7SSksSy, sorry about that. I'll try to check the links for applicability.

bradthetechnut · Answer

Link says 'page not found.' Fresh install using DVD on blank HDD/SSD is typically the way to go and the easiest.

baskak · Answer

It's the comma!  https://pastebin.com/R7SSksSy

bradthetechnut · Answer

You're right about the comma. I still had to delete the comma when tapping on the link.

Thanks for all the info. I should've also been more specific. I was mainly interested in the SSD/HDD setup and if RAID.

You mentioned Perc, but I couldn't tell if you have a RAID setup and what level of RAID, unless I missed it.

So here's a weakness - I've never loaded a RAID setup, just fresh installs on single blank HDD's/SSD's.

If you're not using RAID, you shouldn't have any trouble updating to Win10 on the boot drive. If you do have RAID, I don't know if it uses just one drive for a boot drive. As in unplug all other drives, then load on boot drive, then plug the rest of the RAID back in.

And if there's RAID, one of our other experts should really chime in.

baskak · Answer

Okay, found some more notes from my attempts.

The Storage-Controller_Driver_9F51R_WN_3.7.4.1004_A03.EXE IRSTe driver installation file that can be found here: https://www.dell.com/support/home/pl-pl/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=9f51r installs driver version 3.7.0... (arrggghhhh!)

The Storage-Controller_Driver_HXT48_WN_3.8.0.1111_A04.EXE driver installation file that can be found elsewhere claims it's for versionass from T3610 only, but T3600 is mentioned somewhere. It installs the 3.8.0.1108 version of the driver.

Unfortunately, this doesn't help the case. Windows 10 is reverted to Windows 7 after upgrade due to boot error.

baskak · Answer

Hi, sorry for delay.

I don't know much about RAID, I have to say. I've got one 512GB HDD. Do I have RAID?

One of the original threads about problems upgrading is here (including "switch to SATA" pseudo-solution): https://www.dell.com/community/Windows-10/Precision-T3600-Windows-10-upgrade-issues/td-p/4730441

This thread seems to be erased: https://www.dell.com/community/Desktops-General-Read-Only/T3600-Windows-10-Upgrade-Problems/td-p/5002611

There's some general esotericity on SAS/PERC here: https://www.dell.com/community/Enterprise-Client/Dell-Precision-T3600-T5600-how-do-I-add-drives-to-the-other-4/td-p/4016271

This is supposedly the official solution: https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000125335/precision-workstation-t36x0-t56x0-and-t7600-systems-need-a-controller-driver-upgrade-before-windows-10-upgrade

It requests installing 3.7.4.1004 ,A03 (or newer) IRSTe driver before updating Windows. However, the newest driver listed at the download page given is 3.7.0.1093, A03. There are some more HDD-related downloads listed, though.

bradthetechnut · Answer

The mention of PERC is why I thought you might have RAID.  RAID sees 2 or more drives as 1. So, now that I'm at a loss... Hi @speedstep, Any ideas for installing Win10 on a T3600?

speedstep · Answer

F6 Mass storage drivers are REQUIRED for windows to see the drive to install on.

http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02643190M/1/T3600-win7-A08-3M9TH.CAB

7ZIP must be used to extract the CAB contents after you move the file to the My Documents folder.

https://www.7-zip.org/download.html

WINDOWS Vista 7,8,10,11 all use these drivers for the BIOS RAID on for INTEL RST OPTANE Etc. PERC has further setup required BEFORE installing OS done in the bios press CTRL+R to access the BIOS Configuration Utility.
Setup raid container and pre format the drives marking each one with a signature. Which is why when one fails you must re do low level format with the raid controller before a drive will rebuild from degraded. Its not a ronco set and forget one click one reboot and you are done and its not a sound byte.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000178991/

Turn on your workstation and press CTRL+R

to access the BIOS RAID Configuration Utility.

Press CTRL+N until the Ctrl Mgmt screen appears.

https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000136372/

Precision Fixed Workstations

T3600 Solution for upgrading to Windows 10 (PERC driver)

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