Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 Server with 3ware 9650SE Raidcontroller

Posted on October 18, 2010 by Thomas Maurer

If you need to install Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 on a Server with a 3ware 9650SE Raidcontroller, you can’t just install it on this machine, you can’t even install it with adding the driver during the installation process.

First Update the Raid Controller Firmware by downloading the Codeset ISO from the 3ware Download page UPDATED (Version 9.5.1 or higher).
Burn the ISO file and boot this CD
Update the Firmware
Reboot with the Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD
During the Boot (right after “Press any key to boot from CD/DVD…”) of the CD press F8 and choose “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement”
Now you can add the Raid Controller Driver (Version 9.5.1 or higher) via USB Stick, Floppy, CD or DVD.
IMPORTANT: You can not add the Driver without an updated Firmware
After you have installed your Windows Server 2008 R2 you can download the latest Drivers and Firmware form here (Version 10.2). I could not found any Codeset ISO with Version 10.2, thats why you have to update first to 9.5.1 (or 9.5.3).

This needs to be done for all Windows Server 2008 R2 Server and Windows Server 2008 Editions.

How to create an HP Firmware Maintenance CD and SmartStart USB Stick

Posted on September 23, 2009 by Thomas Maurer

HP has some Maintenance CD’s for the ProLiant Server Serie, but a lot of Servers used in a datacenter don’t have a CD-ROM, so how can you use the HP Support CD’s USB Stick? Its pretty easy if you know how to do it.

What do I need for this:

Windows XP Client

HP Firmware Maintenance ISO Image or HP SmartStart ISO Image

HP USB Key Utility (link)

USB Sticks (1GB or more)

CD-ROM Drive or Virtual CD-ROM

There are a lot of benefits by using USB-Sticks:

faster boot
no more space for CD ROMs needed
you can update it

And the best thing, you can easy upgrade Firmware Files on the USB Stick by adding them to:

USBSTICK:\compaq\swpackages\

iPhone OS 3.0 Beta 3

Posted on April 15, 2009 by Thomas Maurer

Today Apple released iPhone OS 3.0 Beta 3 (Build Number: 7A280f) and the SDK for the new firmware. Some changes from Beta 2 to Beta 3:

MMS works with modified carrier bundle on German T-Mobile network.

Spotlight now saves the last search.

Speed improvements.

Option for iPods that let you change what your double tap home button is.

You can change spotlight to search for what you want to search for ex everything but applications.

iPod icon is aligned.

Restrictions now add In-App Purchases and Location.

(changes reported by 9to5mac.com)

iPhone Firmware 2.1

Posted on September 17, 2008 by Thomas Maurer

Letzten Freitag veröffentlichte Apple die Firmware Version 2.1. Nähers dazu gibt’s bei fscklog.com. Die Batterielaufzeit hat sich wirklich merklich verbessert. Ich verwende so ziemlich alle Features auf meinem iPhone, auch Push-Mail von MobileMe, und mein Telefon läuft nun bereits drei Tage ohne es zu laden.