Dell Server Help

J

Justin

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A local bank gave me one of their image servers, it is a Dell optiplex GX1.

Now when I boot up, I get the error PXE-E61 - Media test failure, check cable.
PXE-M0F - Exiting PXE

I checked the cables to the harddrives and nothing is unplugged or loose. What could be the issue?

Note it was wiped clean by the bank, im trying to install 2000 server
 
Hmm. Did you unplug everything, shoot air in all the slots, and then plug 'em back in?
 
I know nothing about servers. That was just my general shot in the dark suggestion. :lol:
 
Sometimes people forget to clear the bios, if you put your own hard drives on there that might be the problem, but either way boot into the bios and check to make sure (with the hard drives plugged in) that they are set to boot and make sure it boots from the hard drive. I know I messed with a school test computer to turn off hard drives, CD's and USB, and it was a Dell so it might have the same settings. Just go through the bios and make sure everything is fine.


I googled the error and apperently it's a drive fail.

Here's what I read:

Make sure no other hard drives are connected.
Verify cable connection, all the way from the hard drive to the case to the motherboard.

edit: OH! check the pins on the hard drive, like the the rear of it. Make sure it's setup correctly.

edit2: check boot order too :lol:

edit3: Disable network boot from bios, you will most likely NEVER use this.
 
I will try that. I know the cover isn't on fully, like its locked in, but the top didn't snap, it overlapped. Also, I put in one of my harddrives (after i saw the error) it says Primary hard disk drive 1 not found

I have a CD for windows server in it, it should boot up to that :\ but I will try these
 
On boot up press f2,that should take you to the cmos setup screen.

From there find "boot" after that it should have a list of boot options which you can choose.

Or it will have a option leading to that.

That error however could also mean no OS is on the machine. Which is fixed by installed an OS on it. Now what OS you can use on it will vary depending on your hardware.

I know at school we have alot of optiplex machines that give a similar error when no OS is on the machine.
 
I would check the dell manual. I might add that I have a Dell Optiplex G1 and it is not a server just a desktop and very old one which has an cartrage cpu that slots into the motherboard. I don't know who it veries to yours. Plus good luck running server 2000 because it's going to slow.
 
NBK*Twitch said:
On boot up press f2,that should take you to the cmos setup screen.

From there find "boot" after that it should have a list of boot options which you can choose.

Or it will have a option leading to that.

That error however could also mean no OS is on the machine. Which is fixed by installed an OS on it. Now what OS you can use on it will vary depending on your hardware.

I know at school we have alot of optiplex machines that give a similar error when no OS is on the machine.
Click to expand...

That hasen't worked either. My server 2000 cd is in the drive, and boot has been changed to Cd and back to the drive a few times to test it, nothing worked.

Pvcomputers said:
I would check the dell manual. I might add that I have a Dell Optiplex G1 and it is not a server just a desktop and very old one which has an cartrage cpu that slots into the motherboard. I don't know who it veries to yours. Plus good luck running server 2000 because it's going to slow.
Click to expand...
I don't have the manual, the bank gave it to me.

I use Server 2000 because it does run fast on my machines and does exactly what I need it to do, minus the crap the new versions have.
 
Maybe changing the motherboard will work.

All you have to do is remove the CPU, CPU cooling fan, RAM, video card and other cards, and put it on a new motherboard which is compatible with the CPU and RAM type.

Lastly, install the motherboard back into the case, and re-attach all the cables like power, hard drives, cd drives, and on/off switch.
 
Hey froggyboy604, what motherboard will suite a cartage CPU and SDRAM, I got a Dell Opti-Plex G1. You have to look very hard to find those. I am not sure if it is the same as The Hat Tipper. But I thought I let you know.
 
I mainly use Ebay when I need to find hard to find computer parts for a cheap price online.

Maybe some of the motherboards on the Ebay results page will help you find a suitable motherboard:

http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=Dell+O ... m270.l1313

But, the prices for the motherboards are kind of high at 50 dollars which one seller is asking for the motherboard since I can probably find someone who is willing to sell me their older (2000-2003+) computer with a 800Mhz-1+Ghz CPU and 256MB+ for around 100 dollars or less.

Some second hand computer parts store and computer recycling center also sell rare motherboard for a slot PC and SDRAM.

When I volunteered at a computer recycler, I saw tons of slot cpu and SD ram motherboards which people donated on a daily basis.
 
I see. I got intrested in this topic because I know I got a G1 model. When I first got it I was surprised that CPU was a cartrage. WE don't find may computers with those. Infact that is the first on I ever seen.
 
The Hat Tipper said:
NBK*Twitch said:
On boot up press f2,that should take you to the cmos setup screen.

From there find "boot" after that it should have a list of boot options which you can choose.

Or it will have a option leading to that.

That error however could also mean no OS is on the machine. Which is fixed by installed an OS on it. Now what OS you can use on it will vary depending on your hardware.

I know at school we have alot of optiplex machines that give a similar error when no OS is on the machine.
Click to expand...

That hasen't worked either. My server 2000 cd is in the drive, and boot has been changed to Cd and back to the drive a few times to test it, nothing worked.

Pvcomputers said:
I would check the dell manual. I might add that I have a Dell Optiplex G1 and it is not a server just a desktop and very old one which has an cartrage cpu that slots into the motherboard. I don't know who it veries to yours. Plus good luck running server 2000 because it's going to slow.
Click to expand...
I don't have the manual, the bank gave it to me.

I use Server 2000 because it does run fast on my machines and does exactly what I need it to do, minus the crap the new versions have.
Click to expand...

Okay have you tried running from the disc,if yes did you install the OS?

I am just trying to clarify.

In your bios is there a option that says " disable network boot" or something similar? If so disable it and see if that fixes the problem.

Edit: http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/ban_gx1/

Sorry I didn't post sooner school has been tough these past few days lol.
 
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