T7600 Windows 10 upgrade & Intel C600 Series Chipset SAS RAID Controller

Update:

I ran the DELL ePSA Pre-boot System Assessment which said "No Hard Drive detected or disk controller not supported".

Windows System repair reported "Boot critical file f:\windows\system32\drivers\iastorf.sys is corrupt"

So system doesn't appear to be booting from C: drive. 

I tried to install the Intel driver management tool but that needs a re-boot to complete installation which I can't do - I can only boot to last known good configuration. There must be some way out of this but I don't know it at the moment...

Here are some of my BIOS settings in case they help:

"f:\windows\system32\drivers\iastorf.sys is corrupt"" - Hopefully not virus or malware.

Something easy to try first - Has the size 2032 CMOS battery been replaced in any recent history?  A low battery can cause all sorts of bizarre problems.  The batteries last around 5 yrs. and the T7600 is 7.

I'd use Energizer or Duracell lithium.  Sony only lasted me 2 yrs.

If it doesn't work, at worst you'll have a new battery.  Not all, but some of the things you said seemed vindictive of a low battery.  I'd try the battery first (if old) before deciding if the HDD is bad.

Precision T7600 Owner's Manual

And of course, please let us know how it works out. 

Brad,

Thanks for your reply. Seems like I wasn't set to get notifications so have only just seen it.

To be clear, the problems only started right after I uninstalled the Intel C600 Series Chipset SAS RAID Controller driver and chose to remove the software from my computer. So I'm 99% sure it's to do with that.

At one point I did see this message but I don't see that device listed in Device Manager anymore:

Will post again if I've any further updates - thanks.

@Fear Inoculum 

Many thanks for posting your method and pleased it worked for you. I've started to follow it but have had to postpone for now.

Maybe this will be clearer when I reach it, but in step 3 where did you physically put your primary drive after removal from the slot behind the front panel? Also, I assume you had to remove it from its holder?

I have 3 drives in these slots & I'm not completely sure which one had Windows OS on it - hopefully I can tell by looking at the BIOS, otherwise I can just try each in turn I suppose...

All the best, Jim

@Jim650413

Just a note, before you begin, ensure your drives are not in a RAID array.  If you are using RAID, then the process I used could potentially corrupt the array.  You mention 3 disks.  If these are independent disks (Non-RAID) then you are good to proceed.  I have not tested the process with a RAID array, so I cannot confirm if it will work.  In theory, a RAID 1 array (2 disks, mirrored) could be merged to a single disk using a couple different methods.  The single disk would then have the Intel C600 SAS Controller Device uninstalled via Device Manager.  Verify the single disk will boot using the SATA connection, and then attempt the Windows Update.

To answer your original question about disk placement, there are a couple of options:

(If you have a 2.5" disk, it is easier to position compared to a 3.5" disk due to smaller size, lighter weight.)

1. Use cable ties to fix the disk in the space behind the RH panel.
   1. You can choose to leave the disk in the drive tray caddy.
      1. I recommend this because it makes it easier to route the cable ties through the available holes/slots [that are already the PC chassis] and then loop them around the tray caddy to secure.
   2. If you find it easier to attach the drive after removing it from its tray caddy, by all means do what is easiest for your disk/case/chassis design.
2. Route the SATA cables into one of the SAS bays.  Insert the disk into the bay and plug the SATA cables into the disk.
   1. To make things easier, remove the SAS panel mounted disk connection.  In my setup, Bay 2 is the most accessible with a Phillips screwdriver.  Bay 0 is the 2nd most accessible.
      1. Bay 0 connection is labeled "P12".  (Your setup may be different.)
      2. Bay 2 connection is labeled "P14".  (Your setup may be different.)
   2. Unscrew the 2 screws securing the connection (P12 or P14) and pull it back and out of the way.  This allows the disk to use the tray caddy.  If P12 or P14 are not removed, the tray caddy will not slide all the way back into place.  There will be interference between the SATA connectors and P12 or P14.

I hope these notes become more clear once you open up the RH side of the PC case.

Good luck!

-J

This solution really helped me!  I was able to update my Windows 10 Pro from 1809 to 1909.  But...

My T7600 had a BDROM on SATA-1.  I temporarily disconnected that in order to temporarily install my boot SSD on that port to do the upgrade.  When upgrade was completed & system booted normally, I put my SSD back in the bay it came from, reconnected BDROM & rebooted.  Enabled SATA/RAID & rebooted.

Couldn't find boot disk & wanted to repair system.  Annoying.

Just to get my system running, 'cause I use it daily, I left SSD connected to SATA-1 & my BDROM is unusable.  That's ok, for now, because I have an external USB BDROM that I can use in a pinch.

Just had to update boot order to boot from SSD's new home on SATA-1 & appears all is well.

@Fear Inoculum 

Many thanks for your post of 03-05-2020 which for some reason I missed until now. I did look at the PC again yesterday before seeing that post. What I can see seems to fit with your clear informative notes but just want to make sure before before I do anything stupid!

Going back to your original post in Step 2 you say “Disable SAS/RAID”. I couldn’t find that option in the BIOS so maybe we have different versions - mine is A17. I do have a "SATA/RAID operation" choice which is set to Enabled but my disks weren’t RAID configured. I have three 3.5” HDDs.

After removing the RH panel I found a bunch of cables tied together. Can you tell from this photo if these are a SATA data & SATA power connector? Hopefully they are as they were the only candidates...

SATA cables?

Re: disk placement - your option 2 was what I was thinking before I saw your post. Is it right that the SAS & SATA connectors use the same pins on the back of the disk? And the disks I have can be used as either SATA or SAS disks just by plugging in the appropriate connectors?

Here is a photo of the connector pins at the back of my 3.5” HDD OS disk just to confirm they can be used for both SAS & SATA:

I’m not sure what the 4 pin socket is for to the left of the two sets of copper pins but don’t think it’s used for either SATA or SAS.

This is the SAS connector (P12), at the back of one of the drive bays, which I’ll remove (or maybe one of the others if easier) by undoing the two screws as you say.

Thanks again for your time!

-Jim

Hi.  When I did the upgrade, I took my primary drive (SSD) out of its bay in the front of the computer (leaving it on its holder / tray), & after removing the right side panel, & disconnecting the Bluray drive that was using those SATA connectors, connected my SSD there & just left it lying in that side.  The cables held it up at an angle & one corner of the SSD's tray touched the ledge in that side.  I'm not worried about the drive moving around because my computer is on a cart beneath my workbench & doesn't get moved much (long cables for video & other stuff to my office desk).

I knew that my Windows system was on the SSD because I'd configured my system with the SSD for Windows & the other 3 drives are conventional 3-1/2 inch drives (WD Red series).

Gary

I've now managed to install Windows 10  Massive thanks to all who helped.

I unplugged the SAS connector from one of the drives & managed to move it out of the way then plugged in the two SATA cables into my Windows OS drive. The drive was recognised by BIOS on SATA-1 however I couldn't boot to Windows. I ended up having to wipe the disk & make a fresh install. Even that didn't work until I physically removed the two remaining SAS HDD drives from their drive bays.

After system restart I left the OS drive on SATA-1 but put the two SAS drives back. Unfortunately they are not recognised. In Device Manager the only mention of SAS is a "SAS Controller" without a driver which couldn't be found online. So a bit of work left to do there but delighted to be out of the woods!

Best Jim,

I have copyed you solution die Windows 10 and it works now, but i have the same problem that my pc is not recognising my drive's. I have 2, 2tb HDD and my pc cant find them. Have you solved this problem ?

My problem was that the SAS drives weren't recognised after the upgrade. I did manage to fix this - see this post for how. Hope it works for you!

http://deviceinbox.com/drivers/1312-intelr-c600-series-chipset-sas-raid-controller-driver.html

I found a driver for the C600 chipset.
This will keep your T7600 Windows 10 update up to date.