Installing Window 2012 R2 on a modern Dell Precision Workstation - No disks seen

Jason Chapman 31 Reputation points
2021-10-28T11:41:33.293+00:00

Hi,
I am in a bit of a fix and needed to spin up another HyperV host (https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/592708/microsoft-exchange-transport-service-won39t-start.html).

Lead time on a server was far too long, so bought a precision workstation.
It has an M2 2280 x 512GB preinstalled with W10.

I need it to be running W2012 R2 on as the host.

After A LOT of messing around to work out how to get an ISO -> USB and boot when the BIOS has had legacy boot removed..... and realising that the installer will only get so far using the graphics card and then hangs (it has been a long a trying morning).

It now gets to: Standard install and custom. As I don't want it installing it in the same place as the W10, I select custom, but it can't find any of the 3 drives: the original M2, the 2TB one I have installed or the SATA 250Gb - all seen by the bios. Of course the Dell support portal won't give me relevant drivers. So what do I need to do / get?

I can see the Bios said Intel Raid (checked) or AHCI (corrected). I am thinking I should remove the Dell supplied Disk in case I really fry it, but it won't see any of the drives.
All except the dell one are fresh out of the wrapper - no formatting etc.

Help appreciated. Jason.

Windows Server
Windows Server
A family of Microsoft server operating systems that support enterprise-level management, data storage, applications, and communications.
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  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2021-10-28T18:30:08.187+00:00

    The hardware may be too new for Server 2012. Might try installing Server 2016 or Server 2019

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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  1. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2021-10-28T12:43:03.927+00:00

    You'll likely need to download from Dell the disk controller driver and load it here.

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

    144460-image.png

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  2. Jason Chapman 31 Reputation points
    2021-10-28T13:22:24.52+00:00

    Thanks, but the precision isn't really designed for W12R2, it came with W10, hence me being a bit lost.

    I have now taken out the W10 disk and changed boot to AHCI and it can now see the drives.

    Windows is installing - thanks. It will be interesting as to whether windows Update will work OK.

    JAC

  3. Jason Chapman 31 Reputation points
    2021-10-28T17:46:49.88+00:00

    Thanks for the interest, following on with the Newbie question. So now I have W2012R2 installed, BUT it has no network and probably missing a lot of other things as well.

    What should I be looking for. I am assuming (hoping) that if I can get it on the NW, that windows updates will start to fill in the missing pieces. Is this likely?

    BTW it is a Precision 3450 SFF

    I go onto the dell support and drivers website and I seem to be just going round and round in circles.

    TIA

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  4. Dave Patrick 426.1K Reputation points MVP
    2021-10-28T17:49:36.513+00:00

    Install the chipset
    https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-us/product-support/product/precision-3450-workstation/drivers

    The chipset allows the operating system to find and use devices integrated into the mother board.

    --please don't forget to upvote and Accept as answer if the reply is helpful--

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