Windows will not boot up with DAT 40 USB

[Olaf Nowak]

Hi,

i have installed recently a Storage Works DAT 40 USB External System to my DELL Precision 390 Workstation. I recognized the following issue:

The Workstation stops booting windows. The BIOS is initialized, also the BIOS of the included CERC RAID Controler. After that (normally the situation where the System boots from harddisk or
CD-ROM) the system stops working. When i power off the the DAT 40 USB the boot process is completed with starting windows. While the DAT 40 is powered on the PC simply does nothing and will not start windows xp.

Any ideas?

I already deactivated all other Boot-Devices in the PC BIOS besides the RAID-Array which includes windows. Nothing changes....

[Russell C. Smith]

Hi Olaf,

I've had a similar issue where my system seem to hang for about 1-2 minutes and then Windows would load. The problem is more likely to be due to the system BIOS, not the tape drive, as it needs a BIOS update to be able to communicate and initialize with the tape drive as the system boots. Because your current BIOS firmware cannot recognize this type of USB device it hangs or seems to hang when it tries to communicate with it during boot.

To remedy this issue your options are:
1) Check Dell's website for a BIOS update for your system that fixes this issue.

2) Wait until Windows starts loading to connect the USB tape drive.

HP has a support page on www.hp.com/go/connect for connecting HP tape drives to Non-HP Systems. In the USB tape backup section of this page HP recommends using the Adaptec USB2connect 3100LP USB adapter card as an alternative to your system in-built USB interface if you experience connectivity issues. Here's the direct link to HP's Non-HP Systems tape compatibility page:

http://www.hp.com/products1/storage/compatibility/tapebackup/ThirdParty/index.html

Hope this helps,
Russell

[Chris Pendse]

I have a Dell SC1420 and HP StorageWorks DAT 72 USB (internal) and I also get an issue with the system hanging. I certainly left it 5 minutes or so and it would not boot.

I am surprised that the USB version will not work. Has anyybody had the problem with an CS1420 and fixed it ?
Thanks

[Olaf Nowak]

I found a very hidden option in the BIOS of the DELL System. This option allows booting from USB-Device. With deactivated function the boot up process run normal.

[Chris Pendse]

I have managed to get it working by upgrading the BIOS from A03 to A04. Works no problem now.
Thnaks.