Windows Server 2003 Bootable CD with RAID drivers

[RAxel]

We have a Dell PowerEdge 2800 with 4 harddrives in it setup in RAID5. There is no floppy drive attached to the server.

We're trying to wipe everything and install Windows Server 2003. After putting in the OS CD and hitting 'F6' to add SCSI or RAID drivers, there's a message saying I need to insert a diskette to install the RAID drivers, which, obviously, is impossible since there is no floppy drive.

So, I've tried to make a bootable CD and tie in the necessary RAID drivers. I've found a tutorial here:

http://www.pcstats.com/articleview.cfm?articleid=1703&page=2

but it doesn't work for me. Does anyone have any suggestions on how to make a bootable CD for Windows Server 2003 that can also install the RAID drivers?

Thanks.

 

[karmic]

4 hard drives in a raid 5? there should be 3...

Do you by chance have the dell openmanage cd that came with the server? if you do, boot to it and it's all pretty much step by step from there...



~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[smah]

Yes, boot to the OpenManage Server Assistant CD & install the OS from there. (And raid 5 requires 3 or more drives).

 

[RAxel]

Thanks for the replies.

I have a question about the RAID drivers though. Will it still ask me for a diskette? How is that done? (ie, can I put the drivers on a CD or is it done some other way)

This is all new to me. Sorry.

 

[karmic]

If you use the dell openmanage cd, then no, it won't ask you for a diskette. Is it all dell hardware? Just answer the questions and it'll be fine.

Personally, I don't like doing it the "dell" way, i'd prefer the old school of booting to the windows cd, load drivers manually etc. Cleaner installation far as i'm concerned.

Good luck

~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[RAxel]

Actually, I just found a nifty little combination to make a bootable CD with RAID drivers slipstreamed into Windows Sserver 2003. Using nLite and Deepburner.

Thanks for the replies.

 

[karmic]

I'll have to check into that... thanks for the tip

~ K.I.S.S - Don't make it any more complex than it has to be ~

 

[RAxel]

Sure no problem. I was actually surprised how easy it was.

Just load up nLite, follow its instructions and tell it what to integrate into the OS, create the ISO, then use Deepburner to burn the ISO. It took like 10 minutes total.

Piece of cake.