question

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

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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

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

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.

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@DSPatrick wow, thank you. I have done this all before on wiped laptops, but not in this way. I am downloading:

• Intel Chipset Device Software
  

• Intel Management Engine Components Installer
  

• Intel I210/I350/X540/X550/X710 NIC Driver (this is down as network, not chipset)
  

• Intel Manageability and Security Status Application

I was going to install each one and see if it gets me any further. I am worried that these are down as for W10.
When I click on: https://www.dell.com/support/home/en-uk/drivers/supportedos/precision-3450-workstation?ref=oscompatibility
it only lists the ones below - do you think that means I am on a hiding to nothing or it is worth running the Windows 10 ones?
BIOS
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.4
Ubuntu 20.04 LTS
Windows 10 64-Bit LTSC 2019
Windows 10, 64-bit
Windows 11

Again, thank you so much for your help.
Jason.

Intel Chipset Device Software

Its this one you'll need at a minimum.

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OK, that moved it on a notch, the "Intel-Chipset-Device-Software_J9FFX_WIN_10.1.18634.8254_A15 (1).EXE" ran and installed and the install notes came up and I could see that the OS was supported.

I then tried the "Intel I210/I350/X540/X550/X710 NIC Driver " & "Intel Management Engine Components Installer" and both failed with a "This platform is not supported".

I haven't tried "Intel Manageability and Security Status Application".

But still don't have a NW - in Device mgr I still have "Ethernet controller" under "other" with an exclamation.

Should I go hunting for older OS installers (and from where)?
You are already on my "beer" list. Jason

I was coming rapidly to that conclusion. As this is really just a temporary fill in while we get another Server from Dell. What would be the implications (if you know) of reverting back to the W10 Dell install and then installing and W2012R2 VM with Exchange 2013 standard on it?

We need to spin this up as we have a poorly Exchange server actually on a full Dell server. This was just to get prove some things while we wait for a new server to arrive.

Is there a restriction on connections etc?

I really thank you for your help and think it is time to throw in the towel on trying to get the Old OS on the metal.

Regards,
Jason

Is there a restriction on connections etc?

Technically it shouldn't be a problem, legally probably not so much.

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