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Server 2016 installation on Dell r720

Hi,

I am trying to get an install of server 2016 Standard on a Dell R720. From what i understand that OS install is not supported. Can this be done?

During my attempt i have ran into a message that reads:

"A media drive your computer needs is missing. This could be a DVD, USB or Hard Disk driver. If you have a CD, DVD, or USB flash drive with the driver on it, please insert it now.

Note: If the installation media for Windows is in the DVD drive or on a USB drive, you can safely remove it for this step."

Thank you
Troy

PowerEdgeTech

Your media is probably bad. I would suggest downloading and/or burning/creating the media again.

You might, just in case, try the chipset drivers to see if it really can't talk to the SATA controller for the DVD.

You could also install via USB (if you get the same message, it is definitely media).

Phy2015

ASKER

i just download and tried the evaluation version of Server 2016 and got the same error message. Is there an update for Server 2016 that will allow an install of Server 2016 using the Lifecycle installation method?

PowerEdgeTech

You need to update the LCC to support 2016:
http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/4/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverId=XTPX4&fileId=3581736037&osCode=WST14&productCode=poweredge-r720&languageCode=en&categoryId=LC

Did you try USB? or just DVD?

Phy2015

ASKER

I have just tried DVD's.

Phy2015

ASKER

Wouldn't this be all i need to install Server 2016 on an r720?

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverID=0C0KH&productCode=poweredge-m610

Phy2015

ASKER

Sorry that driver appears to be for an m610. Perhaps this is the one I need.

http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/04/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverID=0C0KH&productCode=poweredge-r720

Or does this driver need to be applied after the OS is installed?

PowerEdgeTech

No, that can be used, but it manually supplies the drivers. The iDRAC/LCC update actually updates the firmware and and loads newer drivers for deployment directly from LCC.

You could also use SMTD (Systems Management Tools and Documentation) instead of LCC.

Installing directly from OS media is usually the easiest when installing a newer OS, but in your case it sounds like you'll need an additional driver (chipset usually). Installing from USB would bypass the need for chipset controller drivers for the DVD drive.

From a Command Prompt:

diskpart

select disk 1 //run list disk to make sure your USB is actually disk 1
clean
create partition primary
active
format fs=fat32 quick
assign //make note of drive letter for xcopy below
exit //exits diskpart

xcopy e:\*.* /s/e/f f: //assuming mounted ISO is E: and newly-formatted USB is F:
exit //exits Command Prompt

// are just informational notes and are not part of the commands (in bold)
"Mount" ISO in Windows 8 and later by simply double-clicking the ISO file

Phy2015

ASKER

During xcopy i get a "File creation error - the parameter is incorrect" message when trying to copy the install.win file

Phy2015

ASKER

The file is 4.8Gb

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Phy2015

ASKER

Yes the file was too large for fat32.

I actually used this link:
http://itproguru.com/expert/2016/05/create-bootable-windows-server-2016-usb-thumb-drive-for-installing-os/
which appears to be the same instructions on the link from PowerEdgeTech.

Thank you for your help and steering me that direction.

Phy2015

ASKER

Thank you!

Edward Crist

I just had the same xperience. Turns out it was the USB drives I was using....i had a pack of 30GB drives from ecention and everyone would throw the drive error when booting to a Win10 install.

Tried a different brand USB and it works fine.

WEIRD!!!