[Solved] Pweredge 400sc

[rsokoloff]

Hello,

I have built an unRAID server on a Dell Poweredge 400sc server.

It works well with one exception. I am unable to configure the BIOS for seamless booting. It seems I must set the boot disc to Hard Drive C (the only other options are CD or FDD) and I get an error message about unavailable SATA and IDE drives. Pressing F1 continues the boot sequence and the machine boots from my USB Flash just fine.

 

If I reenter BIOS and disable all hard drives then unRAID boots fine but the unRAID manager can't find any of the hard drives.

 

I have tried just about every logical and illogical BIOS setting I can think of but can't seem to get past this.

 

Any thoughts?

 

thanks,

ron

[Johnm]

You could burn a Plop boot cd and just leave it in the CD drive.

 

The system will then boot from the CD. The plop disk will then boot the USB.

 

[rsokoloff]

Thank you; however, I have removed the CD drive and am using the space for hard drives.

[rsokoloff]

I spent a few hours on this yesterday and found the solution. It certainly worked for me and, even better, may be generic for Dell. The link is http://johnpoelstra.com/2007/11/05/dell-bios-voodoo/ but I will summarize below. Hopefully this may save someone else some time and frustration.

 

1. Enter the BIOS screen (F2).

2. Turn on:

    caps lock

    scroll lock

    number lock

 

3. Type the following:

    alt +e (clears NVRAM)

    alt +f  (resets BIOS to factory defaults)

    alt +b (hold until reboot)

 

4. Computer will rescan for IDE drives.