| Author |
Message |
Guest
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 Posted:
Mon Oct 24, 2005 1:58 am Post subject:
Perlplexing issue |
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I recently got two Dell PowerEdge 4350 (Dual P3 500/512MB PC100/3 Power
Supplies) that use the Adaptec AIC-7860 SCSI controller. They were
both in working order and willing to boot CDs until very recently when
they suffered a power failure. However, the problem is not a fried RAID
controller or other piece of system hardware as they will both boot the
OSs installed on the hard drives (I was going to format them last week
but ran into this). The SCSI BIOS does its thing, comes up, says press
CTRL-A etc... and detects my 3 hard drives (IDs 0-2) and my tape drive
(id 6) then proudly states that it has installed the SCSI BIOS. Next up
it runs again, for channel two which hosts my "NEC CD ROM:453". It
scans and detects my NEC but promptly states after it finishes its scan
that the SCSI Bios failed to install! I'm utterly perplexed, I've tried
messing with nearly every setting in the SCSISelect utility for both
channels to no avail. I'm rather convinced it's not an issue with the
system BIOS (not that I could do anything about it if it was, the
university auction that sold these left BIOS system passwords on them)
nor the OS (as one has a partial linux install and the other Windows
2003 Server (the latter of which I don't have passwords to) that boot
just fine off the HDs but can't access the CD drive. Any ideas? Thanks,
--Alexander T. Berghage |
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Erzsm
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:19 am Post subject:
Re: Perlplexing issue |
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<aberghage@gmail.com> wrote in message ...
| Quote: | channels to no avail. I'm rather convinced it's not an issue with the
system BIOS (not that I could do anything about it if it was, the
university auction that sold these left BIOS system passwords on them)
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It may not be what is going on, but looking closely at the BIOS first would
be a good idea.
(Both 4350's are giving the exact same problem after a hard power cycle?)
At the very least, you'll flush out those (unknown) system passwords,
anyway.
Flushing out the system password shouldn't be difficult. Look on the
mainboard for a jumper. Often they are labeled "CMOS Clear".
All the docs for the 4350 are on Dell's site. I'm sure this is covered in
them.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/Sslimphr/en/index.htm
BTW: Those 4350's are pretty cool. I've been wanting to add dumb file
dumpsters (for media stuff) and have been looking at older (read "cheap")
rackmounts such as the Compaq ProLiant series and these Dell PowerEdges.
Low profile, headless, RAID, hot-swappable drives, dirt cheap (minus large
HDD's, anyway), ect. Whats not to like...? |
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Folkert Rienstra
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 24, 2005 3:51 am Post subject:
Re: Perlplexing issue |
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<aberghage@gmail.com> wrote in message news:1130101112.025937.117970@z14g2000cwz.googlegroups.com
| Quote: | I recently got two Dell PowerEdge 4350 (Dual P3 500/512MB PC100/3 Power
Supplies) that use the Adaptec AIC-7860 SCSI controller. They were
both in working order and willing to boot CDs until very recently when
they suffered a power failure. However, the problem is not a fried RAID
controller or other piece of system hardware as they will both boot the
OSs installed on the hard drives (I was going to format them last week
but ran into this). The SCSI BIOS does its thing, comes up, says press
CTRL-A etc... and detects my 3 hard drives (IDs 0-2) and my tape drive
(id 6) then proudly states that it has installed the SCSI BIOS. Next up
it runs again, for channel two which hosts my "NEC CD ROM:453". It
scans and detects my NEC but promptly states after it finishes its scan
that the SCSI Bios failed to install! I'm utterly perplexed, I've tried mes-
sing with nearly every setting in the SCSISelect utility for both channels
to no avail.
|
Of course, as it is perfectly OK.
CDRoms are never incorporated in BIOS, so the bios doesn't load if that's
the only drive.
| Quote: | I'm rather convinced it's not an issue with the
system BIOS (not that I could do anything about it if it was, the
university auction that sold these left BIOS system passwords on them)
nor the OS (as one has a partial linux install and the other Windows
2003 Server (the latter of which I don't have passwords to) that boot
just fine off the HDs but can't access the CD drive.
Any ideas? Thanks,
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Nothing to do with bios not loading.
> --Alexander T. Berghage |
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PeterD
Guest
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| Posted:
Mon Oct 24, 2005 5:54 pm Post subject:
Re: Perlplexing issue |
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On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 22:19:15 GMT, "Erzsm" <nospam@nowhere.ever> wrote:
| Quote: | BTW: Those 4350's are pretty cool. I've been wanting to add dumb file
dumpsters (for media stuff) and have been looking at older (read "cheap")
rackmounts such as the Compaq ProLiant series and these Dell PowerEdges.
Low profile, headless, RAID, hot-swappable drives, dirt cheap (minus large
HDD's, anyway), ect. Whats not to like...?
|
I run five 4250's (2-U rack) here. One is my personal work station
(dual processor, 2 GB RAM, etc.) and they are great generally. A bit
touchy WRT PCI cards, but generally solid.
One nice thing about the 4250 is there is an IDE interface (used for
teh CD drive) that one could perhaps use to install a big IDE drive in
the fifth bay. |
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PeterD
Guest
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| Posted:
Tue Oct 25, 2005 6:54 pm Post subject:
Re: Perlplexing issue |
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On Mon, 24 Oct 2005 08:54:12 -0400, PeterD <peter2@hipson.net> wrote:
| Quote: | On Sun, 23 Oct 2005 22:19:15 GMT, "Erzsm" <nospam@nowhere.ever> wrote:
BTW: Those 4350's are pretty cool. I've been wanting to add dumb file
dumpsters (for media stuff) and have been looking at older (read "cheap")
rackmounts such as the Compaq ProLiant series and these Dell PowerEdges.
Low profile, headless, RAID, hot-swappable drives, dirt cheap (minus large
HDD's, anyway), ect. Whats not to like...?
I run five 4250's (2-U rack) here. One is my personal work station
(dual processor, 2 GB RAM, etc.) and they are great generally. A bit
touchy WRT PCI cards, but generally solid.
One nice thing about the 4250 is there is an IDE interface (used for
teh CD drive) that one could perhaps use to install a big IDE drive in
the fifth bay.
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And of course, that was supposed to say 2450 not 4250... <g> |
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