Solved Dual boot - not

[SIW2]

With the HD on HDD0 and the SSD on HDD1/2/3:..
The SSD was then attached to SATA0

What is the exact model you have? Are they not all sata ports?

 

[Orcadian]

What is the exact model you have? Are they not all sata ports?

SIW2, My machine is a Dell Precision T3600. The DVD (optical drive) port is labelled SATA0, and the one adjacent to it SATA1. The other slots are labelled HDD0, HDD1/2 and HDD3.

 

[SIW2]

It seems there is urgent bios update and a manual if you don't already have it.

https://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukbsdt1/product-support/product/precision-t3600/drivers


https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...knnmy&oscode=w764&productcode=precision-t3600


https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/...tion/precision-t3600_owner's manual_en-us.pdf

video here for anybody who is curious about this machine
sata connectors

 

[Orcadian]

It seems there is urgent bios update and a manual if you don't already have it.
https://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukbsdt1/product-support/product/precision-t3600/drivers
https://www.dell.com/support/home/u...knnmy&oscode=w764&productcode=precision-t3600
https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/...tion/precision-t3600_owner's manual_en-us.pdf

Thanks for this, SIW2. I thought I had replied yesterday but evidently not. I did have the A18 BIOS update but have installed it again just in case. Sadly, the SSD (on SATA1-only place it will boot) still cannot see the HD. (I do have the manual too but it is not very helpful on firmware, motherboard connector type, RAID arrangements etc.)

video here for anybody who is curious about this machine sata connectors

This was an interesting video because Wooley believes that HDD1, 2 & 3 are "SAS" ports. I don't know if that's part of the problem. One of my BIOS pages does mention SAS ports. There is a distinction between them and SATA ports; see attached.

 

[Megahertz07]

From your images, SATA 0 & 1 are for ODD only.
The SSD should be used on HDD0 - HDD3 and if you're not going to have any RAID array, RAID controller should be set to Disabled.
General - Boot sequence set to HDD0 - HDD3 (where the SSD is placed)

 

[SIW2]

Orcadian

HDD1, 2 & 3 are "SAS" ports. I don't know if that's part of the problem.

That is why I linked you to that section of the video

I purchased a Samsung 840 128 to use as a boot drive on a Dell Precision T3600. When I check the BIOS, it has the SSD listed as a SAS device and will not let me install the OS. I'm using the same port (HDD0) that was used before with a 250 SATA HDD.


I was able to find the problem. I needed to load the Intel C600 controller drivers as part of the install. I would have figured it out sooner, but as far as I can tell, they are not listed on Dell's website and I had to get them from Intel. The hardest part was figured out which controller was being used in the first place.

dell-precision-t3600-detects-ssd-as-a-sas

The Precision Workstation systems mentioned have integrated SAS ports on the system board. Users may be attempting to use them as additional SATA ports. Users need to ensure to remove any SATA drives connected in the ports marked HDD 0-3. Users must install the hard drives into the ports marked SATA, or the drives will not detect in the system

https://www.dell.com/support/articl...r-integrated-sas-ports-on-motherboard?lang=en

I’ve been told by an online Dell rep that I am unable to use both SSD and SATA Drive together whilst another said it should be fine.

Installing SSD in Dell Precision T3600

Struggling with a Dell Precision T3600, Boot Image does not see Hard drive.

https://www.dell.com/community/Ente...w-do-I-add-drives-to-the-other-4/td-p/4016271

 

[Orcadian]

From your images, SATA 0 & 1 are for ODD only. The SSD should be used on HDD0 - HDD3 and if you're not going to have any RAID array, RAID controller should be set to Disabled. ...

Thanks, Megahertz07. SATA0 and SATA1 are the only connectors where the SSD will boot. When I disabled the RAID array, Windows 7 would not boot. (Please see my earlier posts.)

 

[Orcadian]

@SIW2, Thank you for these helpful links. The Kelvinreview post was interesting. He talks about a 'PERC H310 RAID card' but I don't know if I have one of these. (However, there is no ref. to it in the manual.) He says you can D/L drivers for the PERC from Dell but the link is broken. The Forumsanandtech link too is interesting. He says he sourced a 'C600 controller driver' from Intel but gives no link. The Dell 'support' note about 'covers over SAS ports' just seems to say that if you've plugged your SATA drive into an HDDn port -tough.

I'm not sure what a SAS port looks like, and there is no label saying "SAS" on the motherboard, therefore I don't know if I have any. The HDDn ports all look ordinary to me, and all take standard SATA data connectors. For all my disks, the power supply and data connector are separate. When connected to HDDn, all disks are listed in BIOS as SAS devices.

It seems significant to me that Windows 7 has no difficulty - evidently there ARE drivers that sort out the SATA/RAID/SAS buisness - it's just that Windows 10 doesn't have them. (I wonder if this absence happened because, as mentioned, I installed my 'throwaway' Windows 7 with the SSD on HDD0 but when I upgraded this to W10, it would only install with the SSD on SATA0.)

I have discovered a video on how to install a "SAS RAID driver for C600" that (reportedly) fixes the 'disk visibility' problem on Dell Precisions: YouTube. However, the driver itself does not appear to come from Intel. It is supplied by an outfit called World Electroparts, who have mounted the driver package on google drive. I am therefore wary. Any advice on this appreciated.

 

[SIW2]

I would try it. Why not? Make a system restore point/or better still make an image before installing the driver.

A couple of good imaging programs with Pro versions on giveaway atm, if you don't already have a fave one.

It looks ok. Seems to be the original drivers.

View attachment DRVR_AHCI_SCU_Intel_A03_JV4JN_f6flpy-setup_ZPE.zip

According to the enclosed version.txt:

Title: Storage Controller: Intel Rapid Storage Technology,Intel C600 Storage Controller,Intel C600 SCUr...
Version: A03
OEM Name: 
OEM Version: 3.7.0.1093
Computers: Precision: T5600, T3600, T7600, T5600XL, T3600XL
OS: Windows Vista 64-bit - Home Basic, Windows Vista 64-bit - Ultimate, Windows 7 32-bit - Home Premium, Windows 8 64-bit - Pro, Windows Vista 64-bit - Home Premium, Windows XP x64 - Professional Client, Windows 7 64-bit - Professional, Windows 8 32-bit - Pro, Windows 7 32-bit - Home Basic, Windows Vista 32-bit - Ultimate, Windows 7 32-bit - Starter, Windows 7 32-bit - Professional, Windows Vista 32-bit - Starter, Windows Vista 32-bit - Home Basic, Windows Vista 32-bit - Home Premium, Windows Vista 64-bit - Business, Windows Vista 32-bit - Business, Windows 7 64-bit - Home Premium, Windows 7 64-bit - Home Basic, Windows 7 64-bit - Ultimate, Windows 8 64-bit - H, Windows 8 32-bit - H, Windows 8 64-bit - EM, Windows 8 32-bit - EM, Windows 7 32-bit - Ultimate
Languages: English
Created: 11/10/2013

 

[SIW2]

Found the DELL download.For T5600, T3600, T7600, T5600XL, T3600XL
Supports vista-win10

DRVR_AHCI_SCU_Intel_A03_JV4JN_f6flpy-setup_ZPE.exe

info
https://www.dell.com/support/driver/uk/en/ukbsdt1/DriversDetails?driverId=JV4JN



There is a slightly newer version for T5610 below:

Supports win7-win10

DRVR_AHCI_SCU_Intel_A04_4JGTT_f6flpy-setup_ZPE.exe

info:
https://www.dell.com/support/home/uk/en/ukbsdt1/drivers/driversdetails?driverid=4jgtt

Title: Storage Controller: Intel IRST F6 Driver for T5610,Intel Rapid Storage Technology,Intel IRST F6r...
Version: A00-00        WP0000033533
OEM Name: 
OEM Version: 3.8.0.1108
Computers: Precision: T5610
OS: Windows 7 32-bit - Professional, Windows 8.1 64-bit - 8.1, Windows 8.1 32-bit - 8.1, Windows 8.1 32-bit - 8.1 SL (Single Language), Windows 7 32-bit - Home Premium, Windows 8.1 64-bit - 8.1 SL (Single Language), Windows 8 64-bit - Pro, Windows 7 64-bit - Home Premium, Windows 7 64-bit - Home Basic, Windows 8.1 32-bit - 8.1 Pro, Windows 8 64-bit - H, Windows 7 64-bit - Ultimate, Windows 8.1 64-bit - 8.1 Pro, Windows 7 64-bit - Professional, Windows 8 32-bit - H, Windows 8 32-bit - Pro, Windows 7 32-bit - Home Basic, Windows 8 64-bit - EM, Windows 8 32-bit - EM, Windows 7 32-bit - Starter, Windows 7 32-bit - Ultimate
Languages: English
Created: 11/12/2014

Fix:
Error msg during install Win7 to RAID volume after load IRST driver

 

[Orcadian]

Thanks again, SIW2. (Good to know there is a fix if I get an error.) I do not see Windows 10 mentioned in either case, but AIUI a lot of 'low-level' stuff is usually upwards-compatible. I am going to give it a go! Watch this space.

 

[SIW2]

In the video he says use the win8 x64 driver

 

[Orcadian]

Wahay - success at last! This worked like a charm: no errors, no reboot (and no re-install of W10). Windows 10 can now see anything attached to HDDn (As you'll see, I have the second SSD on there too.)

Since all owners of older, high-end Dell's are in the same position, I cannot imagine why Dell didn't just issue a Windows 10 driver update. At the least they could have put out an advisory. Thanks for your investigations, SIW2, and for your encouragement to give this a try.

Interestingly, the successful Windows 10 driver seems to be just the standard Windows 7 driver from 2013! (For W10 Microsoft has thrown in something else but fortunately this is included in the driver download.)

It has taken months of almost continuous research & effort to make dual boot work properly with a hard disk and an SSD. And in the end the fix took just 10 minutes. That's two months of my life I'll never get back! I don't know whether I feel angry, relieved or elated. Probably all three. :shock: Anyway, it's the pub and a pint tonight..

.

 

[SIW2]

Great