Dell 32-bit Diagnostics v1246 Utility Partition Upgrade Tool. Close your browser to exit the www.support.dell.com web site. Update the Utility Partition 1.
I received a hand-me-down Dell PowerEdge 1950 server which had the hard drives wiped, removing all partitions (but the RAID config is still intact). I've been using the System Build and Update Utility to install a new OS, and have selected the option to create the Utility Partition. The problem is every time I try to boot to the utility partition, I get a message that states 'No loader.' I've found info that this problem is common when installing 2008R2 due to the Reserved partition the server install creates for BitLocker. The recommended solution is to partition all free space before starting the 2008R2 install. The problem I'm facing is that I first need to get a working utility partition created before I can partition all remaining free space.
I've tried installing Server 2008 x64 (as it was stated that the 'No loader' problem only applied to 2008R2 installs), but I still get the 'No loader' message. Any advice on how to get a working Utility Partition on this server is greatly appreciated. @ fishtail: yes, BIOS and all firmware is current. Tried an older version of SBU, but it gave a hard drive related error (guessing the SAS firmware is too new). Thanks for the suggestions! The good news is I did resolve my problem. If anyone else is struggling with this, follow the instructions in this article: The only flaw I found with the article is where he tells you run the upinit command.
He states the command to be, 'upinit -disk=0.' You actually need to put two dashes in front of each paramater: 'upinit -disk=0.' Other than that, the steps in this article are perfect. @ fishtail: yes, BIOS and all firmware is current. Tried an older version of SBU, but it gave a hard drive related error (guessing the SAS firmware is too new). Thanks for the suggestions! The good news is I did resolve my problem.
If anyone else is struggling with this, follow the instructions in this article: The only flaw I found with the article is where he tells you run the upinit command. He states the command to be, 'upinit -disk=0.' You actually need to put two dashes in front of each paramater: 'upinit -disk=0.' Other than that, the steps in this article are perfect.
I need guidance on how to deal with Dell hidden partitions which I understand contain Utility Tools. Image Creation In Window One you are given the option of choosing a partition on the entire disk drive. I take it that choosing entire disk drive means the Dell hidden partitions will be included in the image.
Image Restoration In Window Two, highlighting the HD icon (28.64 GB) means that the Dell hidden partitions will be included in the restoration. In Window Three, I am given the option of restoring a partition or the whole hard disk. Choosing the whole hard disk means the Dell hidden partitions will be restored, something which was already specified in Window Two. Window Four has the HD icon highlighted (28.24 GB) which means that the Dell hidden partitions will be overwritten by the restoration image.
Furthermore one finally sees what appears to be the Dell Hidden partitions, which I assume the green block on the far right stands for. In Window Five I am given the option to delete or not to delete all partitions before restoring. I am also told that restoration is possible only if the destination HD is empty. So really I have only one choice, which is to delete all partitions. I would appreciate someone pointing out where I may be wrong in my conclusions.
I'm sorry but I don't agree with you. This past week I had to restore my C drive for the first time using TIDesktopBackupSetB shown in Window Two.
I followed exactly the procedure as shown in this post, choosing to delete all partitions on the disk. Everything went well and I'm able to boot without any problem. Before using ATI, I was using Dantz Retrospect Express 6.0.222. Whenever I had to restore my system, I would use the Dell Reinstallation disk to a) delete all partitions, b) reformat my Hd, c) re-install WinXP HE, d) install Retrospect Express, e) access my Retrospect Backup on an external HD, f) restore my system. I've had to do this many times, first with the help of Dell tech support, finally doing it on my own. In the reinstallation process the hidden partitions would automatically be restored. Needless to say, I find ATI a breeze to use compared to Retrospect Express.
I don't see however that I've somehow deleted the Dell hidden partitions before my screen shots. To me the hidden partitions explain the difference of 28.63 GB and 28.64 GB of Window Two. I'm ready to be corrected on this if I'm wrong. Where I am confused really is whether the C drive (Pri, Act) of Window One is a C partition or a C drive. In other words, does my disk have two partitions, 1) the NTFS C partition and 2) the Dell FAT partition?
Or does the C drive partition somehow include the Dell hidden partition? Hi dld, Can you boot into the Utilities (Dell Diagnostics)?
If yes, then you do have the partition. Otherwise it is gone (this is what I suspect). Recently I played with 2 Dell Inspiron 1150s.
On one I booted with the Dell Recovery CD and deleted all partitions. I then reformatted the HD and installed XP Professional with SP-2 from the Dell CD.
The other 2 partitions (which were clearly visible in True Image) were gone. My only boot choice at that point was to boot into the OS. I could not boot into the Dell recovery partition nor into the Dell Diagnostics.
I'm sorry but I don't agree with you. This past week I had to restore my C drive using TIDesktopBackupSetB shown in Window Two. I followed exactly the procedure as shown in this post, choosing to delete all partitions on the disk. Everything went well and I'm able to boot without any problem.
Before using ATI, I was using Dantz Retrospect Express 6.0.222. Whenever I had to restore my system, I would use the Dell Reinstallation disk to a) delete all partitions, b) reformat my Hd, c) re-install WinXP HE, d) install Retrospect Express, e) access my Retrospect Backup on an external HD, f) restore my system. I've had to do this many times, first with the help of Dell tech support, finally doing it on my own. In the reinstallation process the hidden partitions would automatically be restored. Needless to say, I find ATI a breeze to use compared to Retrospect Express. I don't see however that I've somehow deleted the Dell hidden partitions before my screen shots.
To me the hidden partitions explain the difference of 28.63 GB and 28.64 GB of Window Two. I'm ready to be corrected on this if I'm wrong.
Where I am confused really is whether the C drive (Pri, Act) of Window One is a C partition or a C drive. In other words, does my disk have two partitions, 1) the NTFS C partition and 2) the Dell FAT partition? Or does the C drive partition somehow include the Dell hidden partition? I've found out how to boot to the Utility Partition.
You tap F12 as soon as you see the Dell logo on boot. It would seem I've lost by Dell Boot to Utility Partition on my Dell Dimension 2300.
However I can still do the IDE Drive Diagnostic, which just tells me what kind of drive I have. I have never attempted a ATI restore on my Dell Inspiron 1100. I have in the past deleted all partitions on this drive, reformated the drive, and re-installed WinWP using the Dell ReInstallation disk. On the Dell Inspiron 1100 I can run the Diagnostics on tapping F12. The computer then goes through a long diagnostic procedure. I went through the ATI restore steps on the Dell Inspiron 1100. I get the exact same windows as for the Dell Dimension 2300.
Nowhere do I see the Dell Diagnostic partition. The only thing I see is that green bloc as shown on Window Four. Where and how was the Diagnostic Partition on the Dimension 2300 deleted I don't know. Is the Diagnostic Partition part of the Dimension 2300 image? If so, why was it not restored? Just to clarify a couple of comments I would like to offer these comments. 1) There are no Dell hidden partitions on the drive according to the screenshots.
If they were there, they would show up when you run TrueImage. 2) Dell's hidden partitions are not really hidden.
You can always view them under Disk Management. If they are on your hard drive they will always show up there even if you don't have TrueImage running. 3) Menorcaman is correct that once you modify the master boot record of your original Dell hard drive which would have the hidden partitions on it, the pc restore partition (if there is one) becomes permanently inoperative.
The diagnostics partition will still work though. However, in any case where the mbr is modified, the Dell hidden partitions will still be present on the hard drive. Modifying the mbr does not erase the partitions - it just makes the pc restore partition inoperative.
4) To access the Dell diagnostic partition (if present) you press F12 on startup and then boot to the diagnostics partition. 5) To access the Dell pc restore partition (if it's there and still functional) you would press (and hold) CTL + F11 at startup until you see the pc restore screen. 6) I'm not that smart. These keystrokes are in your Dell User Manual. I'm sorry you don't have your diagnostic partition because it can be very helpful.
Of course, you can use your Dell Diagnostics CD which has almost the same content. I hope this adds to your understanding.
When you ran diagnostics on your 1100 you were not running it from the Dell diagnostic partition on your hard drive but rather from BIOS. That's why you don't see any partitions other than the C partition. If you still had a Dell hidden diagnostics partition, you would have received a message to press a key to boot into the diagnostics partition at the completion of the BIOS diagnostic test.
Sorry to say again, you have previously deleted your diagnostics and restore partitions (if you ever had restore partitions). Restore partitions only came into being about one year ago so older Dell's did not have them.
Your hidden partitions are probably missing because whatever program you originally used to back up and restore your hard drives failed to capture those hidden partitions. That's why none of your drives show any partiton other than the C partiton which is your active partiton. You are 'lucky' having the Drivers and Utilities Dell CD. The Inspiron 1150 laptops I was involved with came only with the operating system CD labeled Windows XP Professional with SP-2 (which when installed became Windows XP Home). Obviously a mislabeled CD which later Dell replaced.
It also came with a CD for Word Perfect and another CD for Applications. This Applications CD was nothing more than just a DVD Player application. When I asked Dell about the other CDs they said that all that comes with the Inspiron 1150 is the 3 CDs I got.
Everything else is on the hard drive in those extra partitions. You are 'lucky' having the Drivers and Utilities Dell CD.
QUOTE Not so lucky after all. Dell has you boot to the Drivers and Utilities CD. You then choose Diagnostics, and end up with this screen: Clicking Retry gets you nowhere. I've been trying to recall how my 'hidden' Dell partition was deleted from my computer. I'm quite sure that I first did this on the instructions of Dell tech support. When using the Dell Reinstallation Disk, you are told by them to 1) delete all partitions, 2) reformat your HD, 3) reinstall your OS. I always thought that the hidden Utilities partition was reinstalled at the same time as the OS, but apparently this is not the case.