Dell Server Bios Question / OS Install

[Easto]

I've inherited an older Dell 1800 Poweredge Tower. 2 - 3.0ghz Xeons and 4 gig of Ram, 2 x 146gb 10,000rpm Cheetahs in a Raid Config. I do not have the passwords in order to get past the login screen (SBS 2003) but that doesn't really concern me (as a note: it will boot the the Win 2003 SBS login screen). There's nothing on it that I want. I'm trying to figure out how to get this thing to install either XP or Win 7 (I think that it's too old for Win 7, hence the install problems).

In the Bios I've set it to accept OS Install, Boot to CD Rom and so far we're fine. Since I'm pretty sure this won't accept Win 7 let's stick with the attempted XP Pro install. I get to the point where everything pre-loads and then stops and tells me that it hasn't detected a hard drive. I should also mention that before the install begins and at the final screen during the bios install it's telling me that there is only 256mb Mem available. The Bios does confirm there is 4gb of mem installed. Do I need to be installing any Raid drivers during the XP pre-Install? If possible, how can I removed the Raid config and use this as 2 individual drives thus not requiring any Raid drivers for the install?

I know there may be a lot to cover here but let's start with those questions.

[Easto]

I found this article... http://www.ehow.com/how_5855398_inst...ll-server.html

My question is, how do I get/install the drivers onto a floppy? Can I use a USB flash drive? Why am I thinking I'm screwed, lol. Ultimately I would like to install the latest workable OS this thing will take (personal OS, not server).

[YeOldeStonecat]

You can try fudging the RAID controllers in XP during the initial setup...look at the bottom of the screen where it says "Press F6 if you need to install a 3rd party SCSI or RAID driver"
Feed it the floppy disk that you copied the RAID controller drivers to that you downloaded from Dells website. You'll need to go to Dells website, support, downloads, enter the Service Tag number of your server...you'll be presented with the drivers 'n BIOS available for your server. You'll have to find out which RAID controller your server has...and you can try to download the 2003 server drivers and fudge them into XP.

I'd also try Windows 7..sometimes that OS surprises me with what hardware it can support. Plus...if you need to install drivers during setup, you can use a USB drive with Windows 7. With XP.....you're stuck with a floppy drive.

Don't be surprised if XP runs like a turd on it...you may not be able to get motherboard/system drivers....and perhaps the video drivers. Shoot for Server 2003 drivers...but sometimes they just won't work. Dell didn't make drivers for Windows XP for their servers.

[Easto]

YOS - 10.4 on the downloads from Dell. I know there was a line in the BIOS for that number (can it be found anywhere else)? Also, why is it giving me the "only 256mb available" notice when trying to run both XP & 7 (as the last line in the bios load screen)?

Any suggestions as to what to do with this beast. It has redundant Power Supplies etc. Can I just wipe the drives and sell it? Is there a market for these?

As a side note, when attempting to load Win 7 everything went good up to the OS loading screen, then I got a beep and a blue screen telling me that it has shut down and that the software/hardware may not be what this machine is looking for.

[YeOldeStonecat]

The 256 megs you see many be the RAM on the RAID controller....probably as a Perc of some model.

That's an oldie...I've retired quite a few PE 1600 units...years ago!
To be honest....you might be able to get 200 bucks for it only fleabay..but then the shipping may cost more than the unit is worth...so you'll be hard pressed to find buyers unless it's local. Companies like to keep servers under warranty..3 years standard, extended to 5...or just "wing it" for the last 2 years..but once a server is over 5 years old....it's pretty useless.