High Level Format for Dell 2300 PERC RAID

[250LWB]

My apologies if this is not the appropriate forum - if not, if someone would please point me to the correct one . . .

I have a Dell 2300 server with a RAID 5 setup using the Dell internal PERC. A former employee, in their concern over passing along a copy of the OS to another department, did a low level format (initialization) of the drives in the array. In doing so, they blew away the PERC management software as well.

If I attempt to install Win2k server, even using the F6 option to load the PERC drivers, the Win2k setup program does not recognize the array, saying there is no fixed disk to install the OS to.

I am assuming this is because the array has not been high level formatted and partitioned. Since the PERC management software is no longer on the drive(s) I have no way of running it.

How can I high level format and partition the array so I can get my OS installed?

Thanks to all in advance,

Dan

 

[NickFerrar]

You should be able to configure the array at the PERC BIOS level. If you've done that and F6 + adding the correct drivers still doesn't work then somethings wrong somewhere. The alternative is to use a Dell Server Assistant setup CD which will install the correct drivers - you can't download ISO images for these as far as I know so if you don't have one you won't have this option.

 

[NHSeacoaster]

Hi,

I don't believe there are server assistant cd's for the PE-2300 available anymore from Dell. However, you should be able to find all the relevant drivers on their website.

PERC2-WS2K3-632A00.exe should be what you need...

Mike