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

Thomas Maurer
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30 comments on Installing Windows Server 2008 R2 Server with 3ware 9650SE Raidcontroller

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.

  1. First Update the Raid Controller Firmware by downloading the Codeset ISO from the 3ware Download page UPDATED (Version 9.5.1 or higher).
  2. Burn the ISO file and boot this CD
  3. Update the Firmware
  4. Reboot with the Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD
  5. During the Boot (right after “Press any key to boot from CD/DVD…”) of the CD press F8 and choose “Disable Driver Signature Enforcement”
  6. 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
  7. 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.

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Thomas Maurer
Thomas is the EMEA Global Black Belt (GBB) for Sovereign Cloud at Microsoft, helping organizations across the region harness Microsoft’s sovereign, hybrid, multicloud, and edge solutions. He works directly with C-level leaders and technical teams to remove roadblocks, accelerate digital transformation, and shape long-term cloud strategies that meet business and regulatory needs. With over 15 years of experience in cloud and datacenter, including his previous role as Principal Program Manager and Chief Evangelist for Azure Hybrid, he combines deep technical expertise with a passion for customer success. He specializes in creating scalable architectures, solution accelerators, and thought leadership that drive adoption and innovation on Azure. Thomas is a passionate community advocate and frequently speaks at industry events such as Microsoft Ignite and Microsoft TechDays. He shares his expertise through his Cloud and Datacenter Blog at www.thomasmaurer.ch and on LinkedIn and X.com www.twitter.com/thomasmaurer.

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30 responses

  1. heinrich Avatar
    heinrich

    thanks a lot!
    worked like a charm :)

    Reply
  2. Chris Avatar
    Chris

    the links on your page here that point to the codeset and driver are broken, but theyre still readily available in codeset 9.5.3 on the LSI support page for this controller. either way, your howto works perfectly!!! thanks for sharing your research and helping the rest of us along!

    Reply
  3. Mario Castillo Avatar
    Mario Castillo

    Thanks Thomas!

    Reply
  4. Phil Avatar
    Phil

    Thanks a lot, that little bit of info probably saved me from a few hours of trial and error.

    Reply
  5. Jay Avatar
    Jay

    Dude this post saved me a ton of time and research. Thanks for posting!

    Reply
  6. Oliver Avatar
    Oliver

    The link “downloading the Codeset ISO from the 3ware Download page” seems to be outdated.

    Reply
    1. Thomas Maurer Avatar
      Thomas Maurer

      Hi Oliver I have fixed the link. Download should work now. There is a newer codeset (10.2 available but I could not found any ISO). So the link now lets you download Version 9.5.3. After you have installed Windows you can Upgrade to 10.2 directly from your Windows.

      Reply
  7. Drew Jensen Avatar
    Drew Jensen

    I for some reason dont get the chance to press F8. I’ve got the RAID setup in 10 across 4 drives. I’ve updated the firmware. I let the Press Any Key go by but then it instantly give me a Disk Error then boots of the CD anyways, and pressing F8 gives me nothing.

    Reply
  8. Anthony Grey Avatar
    Anthony Grey

    Works OK for Windows Home Server 2011 (AKA Windows Server 2008R2). I also got no F8 option, but after I hard re-booted a few times after being unable to install the driver I was presented with a recovery startup screen that presented an option to start with no enforcement of driver signature.

    Reply
  9. Benno Avatar
    Benno

    The 10.2 codeset can be downloaded from here: ftp://tsupport:[email protected]/private/3Ware/downloads/10.2.1-Codeset-Complete.iso

    Reply
    1. Thomas Maurer Avatar
      Thomas Maurer

      Thanks for the new link :)

      Reply
  10. Murat Tamer Avatar
    Murat Tamer

    Thank you for your post. It worked with Windows Server 2012 also. Yes. Windows Server 2012 does not have 3ware drivers by default. (Strange) I installed X64 drivers and it worked without problem.

    Reply
  11. Rave Avatar
    Rave

    Hi Guys,

    i setup my WHS2011 which use the 2008 R2 Kernel and have an 3ware 9650SE installed. The Raidcontroller is still one of the best in this price area.
    I have installed the codeset 9.5.5.1 3 ware drivers and the system is working
    stable with great performance over my gigabit LAN.
    But there is still a probem with this driver signature. The 3ware drivers have no MS signature. So the system will not load and run into the system recovery. I need to press F8 each bootup to disable driver signature check. What a PAIN !!! Is there any working solution available to disable this permanently ???

    Reply
  12. KPR Avatar
    KPR

    Had exactly same issue as above with 2008 R2 and 9.5.5.1 firmware.
    Contacted LSI Support and as a workround they provided link to drivers from 9.5.4 code set which were compatible and WHQL signed. No more issues on reboot with driver enforcement.

    Reply
  13. Patrick Avatar
    Patrick

    Great, trying it now with the 10.2.1 link. The latest drivers i found for Windows are from november 2009. Is this correct?

    Reply
  14. Mark Avatar
    Mark

    Thanks!! I have been fighting this for a few days. It worked great!!! Thanks

    Reply
  15. Nathaniel Avatar
    Nathaniel

    I keep coming back to this article each time I re-install. Thanks for posting and the simple solution.

    Reply
    1. Thomas Maurer Avatar
      Thomas Maurer

      glad you like it :)

      Reply
  16. James C Avatar
    James C

    Incase anyone was curious, this works with Windows Server 2012 R2 as well :)

    Thanks for the great information, Thomas.

    Reply
  17. Bret S Avatar
    Bret S

    Trying to install using this method on Supermicro X8DTU-F with 3ware 9690SA-41.
    No luck.
    Windows 2008 will install only if I remove the 3Ware 9690sa all together.
    Under Safe Mode..install will Blue Screen at disk.sys

    Reply
  18. MIchal Avatar
    MIchal

    Hi all,
    I also had a problem when purchasing this controller is running on Windows 7 and 2008R2.

    I did not know what to do about it. But yesterday I found this. Long ago I used this application to install the old graphics into Windows seventh

    I found this Driver Signature Enforcement Overrider 1.3b http://www.ngohq.com/?page=dseo It is an application that will bring the, and insert the path to the driver where you want to install. * * .sys file and application it is then signed and all the old drivers for VGA controller, and so will the new system work properly!

    Reply
  19. Michal Avatar
    Michal

    Drivers from this CD from 2009 work.
    These digital signatures are old but they work.

    Latest drivers from the LSI 2013 = BSOD :-( :-(

    So download only the ISO
    613.5 megabytes http://www.uloz.to/xx3kRSXT/9-5-3-codeset-complete-iso

    Reply
  20. Romeo Mlinar Avatar
    Romeo Mlinar

    Work like a charm for WS2012R2… Have one old server with 3ware controller. Thanks Thomas ;)

    Reply
  21. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    ftp://tsupport:[email protected]/private/3Ware/downloads/9.5.3-Codeset-Complete.iso
    ftp://tsupport:[email protected]/private/3Ware/downloads/9.5.4-Codeset-Complete.iso
    ftp://tsupport:[email protected]/private/3Ware/downloads/10.2-Codeset-Complete.iso
    But my 9650SE-4LPML is not supported version 10.2

    Reply
  22. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    ftp://tsupport:[email protected]/private/3Ware/downloads/10.2.1-Codeset-Complete.iso
    If needed…

    Reply
  23. Alex Avatar
    Alex

    Last working set:
    http://docs.avagotech.com/docs-and-downloads/raid-controllers/raid-controllers-common-files/9-5-5-1-Codeset-Complete.iso

    Reply
  24. Joe Avatar
    Joe

    Hi everyone. am so glad finding this page after so much research for the latest firmware to support 4TB drives.
    do you know which codeset firmware and driver version i would need to use with Win 7/64bit?

    Reply
  25. Ray Avatar
    Ray

    Thank you guys!

    Saved me a lot of time.

    Much appreciated!!

    Reply
  26. Ray Avatar
    Ray

    Nice article. Worked great on this old former linux cluster headnode. I was able to get W2K12R2 running on it with no issue.

    Reply
  27. matt Avatar
    matt

    You can now find the codeset @ https://www.broadcom.com/support/knowledgebase/1211161497860/10.2.1-codeset

    Reply

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