news:23gp31pi8sir38cr74vthu1hu041g62bll@4ax.com...
> Hi.  I just bought a Dell PowerEdge 2400 for $150 in a bankruptcy sale
> here in the U.S.  The bankruptcy trustee told me that it was a "stock"
> server w/no add-ons.  The server has one 533 MHz PIII CPU w/room for
> another CPU, and has 256 MBs of ECC SDRAM.  It also has 3 SCSI HDs and
> a RAID key installed.  The NOS is Windows 2000 Server.
>
> What the trustee did *not* have, however, was the admin password (or
> any other password for that matter).
>
> A friend is using his ERD Commander from work to build me a
> "locksmith" boot CD so that I can find out what admin password was
> being used and boot the machine.  However, he needs to know what other
> drivers to add to the CD to make it bootable for the system as
> configured.
>
> I looked at Dell's PowerEdge 2400 support site and didn't find it all
> that useful.  The specifications said that 2400s have both Adaptec
> 7880 and 7890 integrated controllers on the MB.  Does that mean it
> needs both set of drivers to boot?  I looked on Adaptec's Web site and
> didn't find a listing for those controllers.  Do they go by any other
> name, model, or other designation?
>
> Is there anyone out there familiar enough with PowerEdge 2400s to tell
> me whether 2400s need any other drivers or files besides the Adaptec
> driver(s)  to boot using a bootable CD?  Specifics would be great,
> especially where to get the drivers.
>
> Initially, I thought about wiping all the HDs and installing a more
> up-to-date NOS from scratch but the server didn't come with a
> PowerEdge 2400 CD (or CDs) for reinstalling the NOS or the system
> manager and any other PowerEdge 2400-specific software from Dell.  My
> thinking was to preserve all of the server-speciific software and Dell
> server management tools by discovering the admin password, booting
> into the machine, and then upgrading to Windows Server 2003, since I'm
> not sure that Server 2003 would properly identify the PowerEdge 2400
> hardware during the installation routine when installing from scratch
> (or configure itself properly for the hardware even if it detected
> it).
>
> Finally, the server is pretty noisy.  The trustee warned me about that
> before I bought it.  I'd like to replace both of the 120mm fans inside
> the server with newer (and hopefully quieter) fans.  Do I have to buy
> replacement fans from Dell (in other words are server fans specific to
> the server manufacturer?)  or can I buy replacement fans from any
> manufacturer?  Any recommendations on which brand of fan to buy and
> how much a good replacement fan should cost?
>
> Any help would be most appreciated.

"Black Adder" <h***@home.com> wrote in message
news:423cf924$0$254$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
> Dell servers come with a server companion CD which contains the RAID /
> SCSI drivers.  It will then prompt you for your Windows CD during
> installation.
>
> I'm suprised someone would sell you a server without wiping the
> contents from it.
>
> <LightLady110> wrote in message
> news:23gp31pi8sir38cr74vthu1hu041g62bll@4ax.com...
>> Hi.  I just bought a Dell PowerEdge 2400 for $150 in a bankruptcy
>> sale
>> here in the U.S.  The bankruptcy trustee told me that it was a
>> "stock"
>> server w/no add-ons.  The server has one 533 MHz PIII CPU w/room for
>> another CPU, and has 256 MBs of ECC SDRAM.  It also has 3 SCSI HDs
>> and
>> a RAID key installed.  The NOS is Windows 2000 Server.
>>
>> What the trustee did *not* have, however, was the admin password (or
>> any other password for that matter).
>>
>> A friend is using his ERD Commander from work to build me a
>> "locksmith" boot CD so that I can find out what admin password was
>> being used and boot the machine.  However, he needs to know what
>> other
>> drivers to add to the CD to make it bootable for the system as
>> configured.
>>
>> I looked at Dell's PowerEdge 2400 support site and didn't find it all
>> that useful.  The specifications said that 2400s have both Adaptec
>> 7880 and 7890 integrated controllers on the MB.  Does that mean it
>> needs both set of drivers to boot?  I looked on Adaptec's Web site
>> and
>> didn't find a listing for those controllers.  Do they go by any other
>> name, model, or other designation?
>>
>> Is there anyone out there familiar enough with PowerEdge 2400s to
>> tell
>> me whether 2400s need any other drivers or files besides the Adaptec
>> driver(s)  to boot using a bootable CD?  Specifics would be great,
>> especially where to get the drivers.
>>
>> Initially, I thought about wiping all the HDs and installing a more
>> up-to-date NOS from scratch but the server didn't come with a
>> PowerEdge 2400 CD (or CDs) for reinstalling the NOS or the system
>> manager and any other PowerEdge 2400-specific software from Dell.  My
>> thinking was to preserve all of the server-speciific software and
>> Dell
>> server management tools by discovering the admin password, booting
>> into the machine, and then upgrading to Windows Server 2003, since
>> I'm
>> not sure that Server 2003 would properly identify the PowerEdge 2400
>> hardware during the installation routine when installing from scratch
>> (or configure itself properly for the hardware even if it detected
>> it).
>>
>> Finally, the server is pretty noisy.  The trustee warned me about
>> that
>> before I bought it.  I'd like to replace both of the 120mm fans
>> inside
>> the server with newer (and hopefully quieter) fans.  Do I have to buy
>> replacement fans from Dell (in other words are server fans specific
>> to
>> the server manufacturer?)  or can I buy replacement fans from any
>> manufacturer?  Any recommendations on which brand of fan to buy and
>> how much a good replacement fan should cost?
>>
>> Any help would be most appreciated.
>
>

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 10:04:56 -0500, "Pen" <nospam@nospam.com> wrote:

>Complete Dell poweredge docs are available here;
>http://support.dell.com/support/systemsinfo/documentation.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs&~cat=12&~subcat=89
>Drivers are available here;
>http://support.dell.com/support/downloads/index.aspx?c=us&cs=19&l=en&s=dhs
>
>"Black Adder" <h***@home.com> wrote in message
>news:423cf924$0$254$61c65585@uq-127creek-reader-03.brisbane.pipenetworks.com.au...
>> Dell servers come with a server companion CD which contains the RAID /
>> SCSI drivers.  It will then prompt you for your Windows CD during
>> installation.
>>
>> I'm suprised someone would sell you a server without wiping the
>> contents from it.
>>
>> <LightLady110> wrote in message
>> news:23gp31pi8sir38cr74vthu1hu041g62bll@4ax.com...
>>> Hi.  I just bought a Dell PowerEdge 2400 for $150 in a bankruptcy
>>> sale
>>> here in the U.S.  The bankruptcy trustee told me that it was a
>>> "stock"
>>> server w/no add-ons.  The server has one 533 MHz PIII CPU w/room for
>>> another CPU, and has 256 MBs of ECC SDRAM.  It also has 3 SCSI HDs
>>> and
>>> a RAID key installed.  The NOS is Windows 2000 Server.
>>>
>>> What the trustee did *not* have, however, was the admin password (or
>>> any other password for that matter).
>>>
>>> A friend is using his ERD Commander from work to build me a
>>> "locksmith" boot CD so that I can find out what admin password was
>>> being used and boot the machine.  However, he needs to know what
>>> other
>>> drivers to add to the CD to make it bootable for the system as
>>> configured.
>>>
>>> I looked at Dell's PowerEdge 2400 support site and didn't find it all
>>> that useful.  The specifications said that 2400s have both Adaptec
>>> 7880 and 7890 integrated controllers on the MB.  Does that mean it
>>> needs both set of drivers to boot?  I looked on Adaptec's Web site
>>> and
>>> didn't find a listing for those controllers.  Do they go by any other
>>> name, model, or other designation?
>>>
>>> Is there anyone out there familiar enough with PowerEdge 2400s to
>>> tell
>>> me whether 2400s need any other drivers or files besides the Adaptec
>>> driver(s)  to boot using a bootable CD?  Specifics would be great,
>>> especially where to get the drivers.
>>>
>>> Initially, I thought about wiping all the HDs and installing a more
>>> up-to-date NOS from scratch but the server didn't come with a
>>> PowerEdge 2400 CD (or CDs) for reinstalling the NOS or the system
>>> manager and any other PowerEdge 2400-specific software from Dell.  My
>>> thinking was to preserve all of the server-speciific software and
>>> Dell
>>> server management tools by discovering the admin password, booting
>>> into the machine, and then upgrading to Windows Server 2003, since
>>> I'm
>>> not sure that Server 2003 would properly identify the PowerEdge 2400
>>> hardware during the installation routine when installing from scratch
>>> (or configure itself properly for the hardware even if it detected
>>> it).
>>>
>>> Finally, the server is pretty noisy.  The trustee warned me about
>>> that
>>> before I bought it.  I'd like to replace both of the 120mm fans
>>> inside
>>> the server with newer (and hopefully quieter) fans.  Do I have to buy
>>> replacement fans from Dell (in other words are server fans specific
>>> to
>>> the server manufacturer?)  or can I buy replacement fans from any
>>> manufacturer?  Any recommendations on which brand of fan to buy and
>>> how much a good replacement fan should cost?
>>>
>>> Any help would be most appreciated.
>>
>>

On Sun, 20 Mar 2005 14:16:38 +1000, "Black Adder" <h***@home.com>
wrote:

>Dell servers come with a server companion CD which contains the RAID / SCSI
>drivers.  It will then prompt you for your Windows CD during installation.
>
>I'm suprised someone would sell you a server without wiping the contents
>from it.
>
><LightLady110> wrote in message
>news:23gp31pi8sir38cr74vthu1hu041g62bll@4ax.com...
>> Hi.  I just bought a Dell PowerEdge 2400 for $150 in a bankruptcy sale
>> here in the U.S.  The bankruptcy trustee told me that it was a "stock"
>> server w/no add-ons.  The server has one 533 MHz PIII CPU w/room for
>> another CPU, and has 256 MBs of ECC SDRAM.  It also has 3 SCSI HDs and
>> a RAID key installed.  The NOS is Windows 2000 Server.
>>
>> What the trustee did *not* have, however, was the admin password (or
>> any other password for that matter).
>>
>> A friend is using his ERD Commander from work to build me a
>> "locksmith" boot CD so that I can find out what admin password was
>> being used and boot the machine.  However, he needs to know what other
>> drivers to add to the CD to make it bootable for the system as
>> configured.
>>
>> I looked at Dell's PowerEdge 2400 support site and didn't find it all
>> that useful.  The specifications said that 2400s have both Adaptec
>> 7880 and 7890 integrated controllers on the MB.  Does that mean it
>> needs both set of drivers to boot?  I looked on Adaptec's Web site and
>> didn't find a listing for those controllers.  Do they go by any other
>> name, model, or other designation?
>>
>> Is there anyone out there familiar enough with PowerEdge 2400s to tell
>> me whether 2400s need any other drivers or files besides the Adaptec
>> driver(s)  to boot using a bootable CD?  Specifics would be great,
>> especially where to get the drivers.
>>
>> Initially, I thought about wiping all the HDs and installing a more
>> up-to-date NOS from scratch but the server didn't come with a
>> PowerEdge 2400 CD (or CDs) for reinstalling the NOS or the system
>> manager and any other PowerEdge 2400-specific software from Dell.  My
>> thinking was to preserve all of the server-speciific software and Dell
>> server management tools by discovering the admin password, booting
>> into the machine, and then upgrading to Windows Server 2003, since I'm
>> not sure that Server 2003 would properly identify the PowerEdge 2400
>> hardware during the installation routine when installing from scratch
>> (or configure itself properly for the hardware even if it detected
>> it).
>>
>> Finally, the server is pretty noisy.  The trustee warned me about that
>> before I bought it.  I'd like to replace both of the 120mm fans inside
>> the server with newer (and hopefully quieter) fans.  Do I have to buy
>> replacement fans from Dell (in other words are server fans specific to
>> the server manufacturer?)  or can I buy replacement fans from any
>> manufacturer?  Any recommendations on which brand of fan to buy and
>> how much a good replacement fan should cost?
>>
>> Any help would be most appreciated.
>