Category: Dell
Dell PowerEdge R330, Dell PERC H730 Adapter, L2/L3 Cache error was detected on the RAID controller
The Dell PERC H730 Adapter, a 12 Gbit/s SAS controller, in a Dell PowerEdge R330 server, complained about “L2/L3 Cache error was detected on the RAID controller.” This server was using BIOS 2.16.0 in UEFI mode and the SAS controller ran firmware version 25.5.0.0018. Entering X to accept the current predicament went nowhere and nothing else […]
Read More → Dell PowerEdge R330, Dell PERC H730 Adapter, L2/L3 Cache error was detected on the RAID controllerAlert! iDRAC not responding, rebooting
I reviewed some used Dell PowerEdge R720. Yes, they’re EoL, a long time ago, but they are some really good workhorses.
Read More → Alert! iDRAC not responding, rebootingDon’t use loader_color="YES" in /boot/loader.conf on stable/11
The bootloader in recent stable/11 always gave me trouble booting the kernel due to having loader_color=”YES” in my /boot/loader.conf. Strangely enough, the same setting is harmless in recent stable/12.
Read More → Don’t useloader_color="YES" in /boot/loader.conf on stable/11
Dell Precision 5540, Windows 10 1909, and endless automatic repair cycle
Last month I created two Windows 10 1909 images for a Dell Precision 5540, one image for “naked” Windows 10 including all drivers, and another image complete with all our usual software. That laptop came with BIOS version 1.3.3, which was upgraded to 1.4.0 before any of the images were captured.
Read More → Dell Precision 5540, Windows 10 1909, and endless automatic repair cycleDell Precision 5530 boot firmware 1.8.1 almost failed to recognize USB memory stick
Today, I received a brand new Dell Precision 5530 running boot firmware 1.8.1 to be handed out to a colleague. The first attempt at booting off an USB memory stick didn’t look promising as I never saw an entry for the stick in the F12 boot menu.
Read More → Dell Precision 5530 boot firmware 1.8.1 almost failed to recognize USB memory stickDell Precision 3530 and Symantec Ghost
Be sure to change SATA Operation from RAID to AHCI in the BIOS Settings before running Symantec Ghost from a memory stick. The former setting will effectively hide your NVMe drive. Better safe than sorry, reinstate the RAID selection afterwards. Ref.: https://www.dell.com/support/article/us/en/04/sln301036/windows-10-install-with-nvme-ssd-and-sata-drives?lang=en
Read More → Dell Precision 3530 and Symantec GhostFirst attempt at running FreeBSD/amd64 12.0-BETA1
I spent the better part of the weekend upgrading my laptop to 12.0-BETA1. Three hickups has been discovered so far.
Read More → First attempt at running FreeBSD/amd64 12.0-BETA1Strange mSATA SSD behaviour on Dell Latitude E7240
One of our Dell Latitude E7240 exhibited strange mSATA SSD behaviour. Disk requests didn’t complete on time. This computer ran the A13 firmware. The case was eventually solved by upgrading to the A21 firmware executed from an USB stick as the mSATA SSD was unreliable at this point. Apparently, the A18 firmware corrected some mSATA […]
Read More → Strange mSATA SSD behaviour on Dell Latitude E7240CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED BSOD on Dell XPS 15 9550
Earlier this week, a student walked into my office with his Dell XPS 15 9550 in hand. Sometimes his computer would behave, and sometimes, during heavy load, it would die with a CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED BSOD. Dell’s own recovery DVD image was unable to restore the computer to a working order. The support personnel at Dell suggested […]
Read More → CRITICAL_PROCESS_DIED BSOD on Dell XPS 15 9550Strange storage systems at Dell
I’m in the process of readying a brand new Dell Precision 7710. I’m close to completion. The only thing I’m missing is a driver for the nVidia Quadro M4000M GPU.
Read More → Strange storage systems at Dell