The service tag is 7GA68, out of warranty.  I was able to run PERC BIOS Configuration Utility - Check Consistency.  Hope the drive is still good and keep my fingers crossed!

Have done so far:

1. Flash System BIOS, Dell PowerEdge 2300 to  A14.

2. Flash Dell ESM Firmware to A40.

3. Run Dell Diagnostics for 2300 server using DIAG388J.EXE

All non data destructive steps performed.  Next investigate why there is no SCSI boot disk for NT 4.0.  This was a working NT 4.0 system.  Any suggestion or hint welcome! 

 

Gary:

Good catch on the service tag.  The correct service tag is 7G6A8 instead of 7GA68.  A typing error!

I am running all diagnostic tests, downloading latest SCSI drivers for NT 4.0. Getting ready to re-install NT 4.0.  According to PERC 2/SC, two drives(both SCSI 18 GB) are online and valid.  I booted up DOS and displayed as follow: 

c:  1             Utility

     2.     A    NTFS

     3.           Ext

Looks like the NTFS(NT 4.0) is still active! Thanks for the reply!

 

Hi snoopy51

  Service tag comes up as an optiplex system, is the server configured with a PCI RAID card?, If so move the SCSI cable to the controller embedded on the M/B and see if that controller can see the drives (make sure the primary SCSI is enabled in the BIOS). If the embedded controller sees the drives but the PCI controller does not, try reseating the card and the memory on it, (be sure to disconnect the battery on a PERC II before removing the card from the system, reconnect the battery after reinstalling the card)

Go thru POST if you have a 1x6 BP it should report a F/W version, (the 2x3 and 2x2 will not report as they do not have embedded server management) (ESM), the embedded controller should report the backplane on ID 6 when going thru POST.

DELL-GaryS

snoopy51,

  You might try a fault tolerant boot floppy to see if your boot sector got damaged, the microsoft technet will give instructions.

DELL-GaryS

Tried to re-install NT 4.0 over existing hard drive:

1.  On boot up, press F6 to add PERC 2/SC device driver.

2.  Later added added Aic78u2.sys as an additional device driver.

3.  When I just finished defined IP parameter.  NT installation crashed with irql_not_less_or_equal at

   address 8012 abcb and aic78xx.sys is from 8001 1000 and aic78u2.sys 8023 0000.

I did once without the Aic78u2.sys and got the an inaccessible_boot_device BSOD.  Now seems it is struck in aic78xx.sys.   Help!  It looks like I have a device driver problem.  What a bloody mess on hand! Help

 

 

Snoopy51,

Did you know that for servers (non SC servers anyway) you have phone support for  free even though the warranty has expired. It could be a problem with the controller that the SCSI CD ROM is on, but you have to have the CD ROM for the reinstall.

Call 800 822-8965 and one of our server technicians will assist you with troubleshooting the system.

DELL-GaryS