Dell OpenManage IT Assistant - IT Assistant will not launch because a dependent component is not installed.

Q: Server recently received a number of updates and now IT Assistant will not load.

IT Assistant will not launch because a dependent component is not installed. This may happen if :

1. Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls setting is disabled.
   • Enable Automatic prompting for ActiveX controls under ActiveX controls and plug-ins in the security zone that IT Assistant is classified in. Close the browser and launch IT Assistant in a new browser window. You can disable this setting after the component is installed.
     Note: If you install the component from the information bar (yellow bar at the top) of the browser, IT Assistant may still fail to launch on certain operating systems.
2. You have canceled the installation of the component.

A: If you follow the steps above and the site still won't load but it used to work - try JAVA! Someone installed the very latest "Java(TM) 6 Update 26" version of JAVA.  Once Update 26 was uninstalled, leaving only "Java(TM) 6 Update 3" the version that is installed by IT Assistant the site loaded.

How to Mute a Dell Server from Beeping

Q: We have a Dell Server running Windows Server 2003.  One of the drives failed, so it started beeping.  While we troubleshoot the drive we'd like to silence the beeping.
A: Open the Dell Server Administrator website typically hosted at https://<servername>:1311 - From there expand system, storage and click on the raid controller.  Now Click on Information/Configuration at the top.  From there look for "Controller Tasks" and in the drop down you should see "Disable Alarm" and "Quiet Alarm" as available options. Select one and click Execute Task.

Dell Latitude with Windows 7 Slow to Log Off Shut Down

The customer has a few  Dell Latitude e6500's running Windows 7 64-bit.  It has a Broadcom wireless card with all the latest drivers and updates and BIOS.

They noticed it was taking a long time (close to 5 min) to shutdown or even logoff.  We tried this with positive results:

1. Click Start - services.msc - click ok
2. find "DW WLAN Tray Service" - stop it, then set the startup time to Manual.
3. Reboot

Now try a logoff or shutdown.

Dell PowerEdge Server RAID Controller firmware corrupted

Issue: Our customer has a Dell PowerEdge 830 with no RAID controller. We added an Adaptec 1420SA and 2 SATA Hard drives. Then when we installed the Dell Open Manager we started seeing this message:

Device:SERVERNAME 1.1.1.1, Service Tag:xxxxxx, Asset Tag:, Date:01/05/10, Time:09:36:07:000, Severity:Warning, Message:Alert message ID: 2166, Controller warning. The RAID controller firmware and driver validation was not performed. The configuration file is out of date or corrupted. C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\sm/cfg/, system, Controller 0 (PERC 2 Family)

What we tried:
1) renamed the file C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\sm\cfg\adapver.cfg - just changed the message above to "The RAID controller firmware and driver validation was not performed. The configuration file cannot be opened. C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\sm/cfg/adapver.cfg"
2) edited the file - couldn't make sense of it - so we tried changing lots of values with no change in the message.
3) uninstalled 'Dell OpenManage Server Administrator'
4) re-installed 'Dell OpenManage Server Administrator' version 6.2 from dell's website


What worked:
1) edit this file C:\Program Files\Dell\SysMgt\sm\stsvc.ini
2) find this section:
; Enable/disable the firmware and driver version check at startup of the Systems Management Data Manager.
DepCheck=Off
NRSDepCheck=On
3) Change DepCheck from On to Off as you see above.
4) To confirm - restart the 'DSM SA Data Manager' service.

Windows 7 x64 Vista Scrolling TouchPad Dell

Issue: Dell Latitude D830 can't find a 64-bit Synaptic driver to support scrolling.  The Vista Driver works but no scrolling.

Solution: Dell Support Site - The Latitude can scroll using the touchpad again.

URL = http://support.us.dell.com/support/downloads/download.aspx?c=us&l=en&s=dhs&fileid=264800&formatcnt=1&libid=0&releaseid=R192617

Dell Customer Support

Q: What is the fastest way to get a failed hardware device replaced on a Dell system under warranty?

A: Consider using the online chat feature then turn off your brain and do what the techs ask you to, step by step.

Explanation - Received a laptop in with CRC errors within the operating system.  Ran Dell's brief DIAG (with the system off hold the Fn button down then press / release power then let off Fn) which of course found nothing.  Tried to run the extended DIAG but the system said the diag partition was not installed.

The HD was a Samsung so I ran the Samsung HDD and it found bad sectors.  I took screen shots of the diag to submit to dell.

Called Dell Tech support and explain the situation and offered the screen shots of the bad sectors.

Dell - Please run the diag

Me - I ran the Diag & here's an error

Dell - Thank you, could you please run the Diag?

Me - I already did do you not believe me?

Dell - not that I don't believe you, I just need you to run the Diagnostics.

Me - I already did, it said the system has bad sectors.

Dell - Thank you, could you please run the Diagnostics?

Called back a second time with similar results.

Resolution:

Finally found the Dell Drivers CD that has the bootable diagnostic.  Ran the full diag & it found errors on the drive & spit out a proprietary Dell Error code.  I opened  a chat window with a technician provided the Service Tag and the Error code.  He was convinced and started the process of sending me a HD.

New Dell Server Wallpaper

hkey_users\.default\control panel\desktop

String = Wallpaper

Value = \windows\system32\DELLWALL.BMP