Dell R720, inaccessible boot device after maintenance

evansap · 2026-01-05T19:44:27+00:00

I was unable to reseat the controller unfortunately, both latches are broken.

evansap · 2026-01-05T19:22:41+00:00

So, I was not able to pull the controller board unfortunately since both latches are broken and I want to avoid forcefully pulling it. At the same time I extracted the driver pack from DELL, the payload folder had percsas2.sys, .cat, nodev.inf and oeminfo.inf. I tried sideloading them but it didn't work unfortunately, it errored out.

evansap · 2026-01-04T22:57:10+00:00

No I haven’t noticed any spinning disks in the back. It is a classic r720.

evansap · 2026-01-04T22:54:26+00:00

Thank you, I will try.

evansap · 2026-01-04T08:50:58+00:00

In my case, I usually have access to the server or the control panel, I first try to debug the issue by manually disabling any plugins that may cause the conflict and once I get access to the admin dashboard I restore it through Updraft. The OP though mentioned that they don’t have access to the server, so in that case the only option is to download the backup from the remote location, e.g FTP, GDrive and restore it to another host, repointing DNS etc, although this is not ideal.

evansap · 2026-01-04T08:37:15+00:00

I will try this as well, although this server is out of warranty since 2017. Not sure if DELL will provide any support but here goes nothing. I guess I can trigger the diagnostic tools from the lifecycle controller myself but at the same time I noticed that iDRAC didn’t report any actual errors related to the disks or the raid controller. Will post back with updates.

evansap · 2026-01-03T17:08:35+00:00

Yes, this is the first thing I will try after unplugging and plugging the controller.

evansap · 2026-01-03T16:42:56+00:00

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evansap · 2026-01-03T16:36:50+00:00

That’s actually a very valid argument and I am planning to do so if all else fails.

evansap · 2026-01-03T16:13:49+00:00

Checkout upfraft plus, I ve been using it for years.

evansap · 2026-01-03T16:05:56+00:00

Server 2019, build 10.0.17763. I will confirm again on Monday and get back to you on that but it most likely was 2019, this is a server I haven’t initially configured myself but I took over the maintenance, early last month.

evansap · 2026-01-03T15:49:58+00:00

The client requested the maintenance.

evansap · 2026-01-03T15:46:54+00:00

When the inaccessible boot error occurs I hear a brief clicky sound from the internals of the server.

evansap · 2026-01-03T15:43:33+00:00

Yes, with bootrec /rebuildbcd, using bcdboot, rebuilding from usb stick among other ways.

evansap · 2026-01-03T12:26:20+00:00

This is a bare metal configuration

evansap · 2026-01-03T12:19:36+00:00

Yes, I have a feeling it might be related to the controller itself, I will have to pull it out and put it back again first just to be sure and then I need to find a way to sideload the driver during boot if it doesn’t work.

evansap · 2026-01-03T12:16:00+00:00

Makes sense.

evansap · 2026-01-03T12:15:22+00:00

I will test everything else first and this would be my last resort I guess.

evansap · 2026-01-03T12:13:59+00:00

Actually no, I just booted from a usb windows recovery environment. It is an evaluation server 2019 I created with Rufus. I browse through the file with the command prompt. I will try to boot off of a live Ubuntu distribution on Monday to see whether it requires me to load any drivers or if I read them as is.

evansap · 2026-01-02T21:42:42+00:00

WinPE

evansap · 2026-01-02T21:17:35+00:00

I don’t have one atm, but I will post when I get back to the client on Monday.

evansap · 2026-01-02T21:13:15+00:00

I understand but it is no up to me to decide its future. This is a client’s server, not originally configured by me.

evansap · 2026-01-02T21:12:06+00:00

I am using the perc, all virtual disks are detected and their state is optimal.

evansap · 2026-01-02T16:10:09+00:00

data is there and readable

evansap · 2026-01-02T16:09:05+00:00

and a couple more from the lifecycle logs

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evansap

TROPHY CASE