Unable to install windows server 2003 on Dell Precision WorkStation 490
Hi Experts,
I just bought a new 500GB HDD and i'm trying to install server 2003. While booting off the cd and going through the setup Windows gives me a message that no hard drives are found. I then put in a window XP cd and XP doesn't have any problems seeing the drive. Does the hard drive needs to be formatted first so windows 2003 can see it?
I just bought a new 500GB HDD and i'm trying to install server 2003. While booting off the cd and going through the setup Windows gives me a message that no hard drives are found. I then put in a window XP cd and XP doesn't have any problems seeing the drive. Does the hard drive needs to be formatted first so windows 2003 can see it?
Jei-Kanchanawong
Is this an IDE or a sata drive? What version of windows 2003 is this? Standard, R2?
ASKER
Its sata drive and its 2003 Enterprise.
Get the drivers for your SATA controller and put them on a floppy. Use the F6 to use a driver option while booting Windows 2003.
Your SATA controller/drive is not being recognized.
Your SATA controller/drive is not being recognized.
ASKER
ok, so XP can recognized and pick up the sata drivers but 2003 can't? Is that what you are telling me?
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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XP cannot either. You might be able to put the drive or SATA controller in ATA or Compatability mode, otherwise, you can get the 2003 driver for the 5000X chipset from Intel's website (assuming you are not using a SAS or PERC RAID controller in your 490).
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17883&ProdId=3151&lang=eng
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?agr=Y&DwnldID=17883&ProdId=3151&lang=eng
Have you checked all BIOS settings? Is there anything SATA related? I'd make sure that the right sata ports are active and that BIOS is detecting the drive while disabling and IDE and sata ports without a drive on them.
The fact that XP can detect the drive and 2003 can't is just wierd.
The fact that XP can detect the drive and 2003 can't is just wierd.
What service pack on XP are you using? Some newer XP dell install disks can detect sata drivers. If you have a floppy disk Id go with Matt's recommendation and put the sata drivers on a disk to install.
As you can only use a floppy disk ... if you you do not have a floppy drive, then use nLiteOS.com to integrate the 2003 driver into your install media.
If you are trying to install Windows Server, is it ok to presume that you have a RAID controller in the system? If yes, you need to get the drivers for the RAID controller before you will be able to detect the drives.
Othewise, like the other experts suggested, the data drivers - these would be for the controller and not the drive itself.
Othewise, like the other experts suggested, the data drivers - these would be for the controller and not the drive itself.
ASKER
i just went with xp sp3 and had no issues.
For Dell Precision 490, I found that the Intel Matrix Storage Manager, v.5.7.2.1003 A06 drivers worked best for a fresh Windows 2003 R2 install. Copy files to floppy and F6 during Windows setup, as usual. For my setup, I used the first AHCI driver in the list.
Found here:
http://downloads.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/precision-490-dt.html#Serial%20ATA
More specifically:
http://downloads.dell.com/SATA/R126479.EXE
Found here:
http://downloads.dell.com/Pages/Drivers/precision-490-dt.html#Serial%20ATA
More specifically:
http://downloads.dell.com/SATA/R126479.EXE