Slipstreaming SP2 into Windows Server 2003

Slipstreaming SP2 into Windows Server 2003

And other tales.

For the last couple of days, I’ve been struggling to get Server 2003 installed on a new Dell PowerEdge 2950 III server. I didn’t think ¬¨¬£500 for the OS and Dell to install it was value for money, when I had some spare licences lying around. Unfortunately, wishing to save this money was a real headache.

First of all, OS-less Dell servers come with… nothing. No software at all (aside from some drivers). When you turn them on, they ask for the Dell Server Setup Disc, which they don’t come with. So I found an ISO of this on Dell’s website, downloaded and burnt it, only to find that when run, it wouldn’t recognise the RAID array in the server. Grr!

It turns out that v5.2 of this software (filename OM_5.2.0_ISM_A00.ISO) isn’t the right disc – it doesn’t support PERC 6 RAID devices. What you need is actually the “Dell Systems Build and Update Utility” v5.3 (filename OM_5.3.0_BUU_A00.ISO). So, with that, finally, I could set up the hard drive and get on with the Server 2003 install. Phew!

Except… I couldn’t. The “BUU” only supports Server 2003 Service Pack 2. Which I don’t have. I do, however, have a vanilla Server 2003 disc, and so began the search for how to slipstream SP2 into it. Many websites had conflicting information, some referring to disc 2 of Server 2003 when my copy is only one disc. Thankfully, I found this page:

Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 Released ‚Äö?Ñ?Æ The NeoSmart Files

Following the instructions there to the letter (well, except for the typo at the bottom where it says “c:\xp”), I managed to get a working Server 2003 SP2 CD, which the Dell software recognised, used, and allowed me to get the server up and running.

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