So I decided I'd try and be smart and purchased two Dell PowerEdge servers (T410, T710) without OS's and use a random Windows Server 2008 Dell OEM disc. All went well but when I went to check on the activation, the servers were not activated? I haven't had a change to check the SLIC tables but has anyone come across anything like this?
'The Reason You Failed' sounds obvious, don't it? If Dell would ship systems without OS's but with SLIC table they would be in trouble with Microsoft don't you think? Anyway without additional info nobody is going to be able to help you, or at least able to help you understand what is going on. Do the systems have a SLIC bios? Did you use OEM:SLP key? Did you install OEM certificate? You have to meet 3 requirements to be able to apply OEM pre-activation, eg: Modded or Emulated SLIC 2.0 BIOS Matching OEM Certificate OEM:SLP Key for the SKU you are installing Code: BIOS with SLIC 2.0 ↓ → Cert that matches SLIC in BIOS ↓ → SLP Licensing Mode unlocked ↓ → A OEM:SLP Key for the SKU you are installing ↓ → Windows Server 2008 Activated
The disc is a genuine Windows 2008 Dell OEM disc so it's "Yes" to: Did you use OEM:SLP key? Did you install OEM certificate? I wouldn't think Dell would add or remove SLIC tables according to what was ordered would they? They don't do that for their desktops or laptops!
Dell has a separate stock, ones with Windows and ones without OS... the ones with Windows have a different service/asset tag en thus have a bios with SLIC enabled, were the ones without OS have a crippled BIOS (SLIC disabled) Do a search on DELL service tags or asset tags, might find so usefull info elsewhere in these forums
But searching is too hard when I can just waste everyone's time and not research the issue and find that there is a way to mod the BIOS to unhide the SLIC table.
damn, i always thought the servers would be slic enabled regardless of shipping OS. i've used a few recent dell servers and they had slic to the OP: please check the slic, i'd love to know its status for a server that shipped without OS.
Dell Servers that ship with Linux or no OS do not have an SLIC. Look at the thread about how Dell licenses their PCs.
To gti-guy: Yeah, the SLIC tables are hidden. I did search for what FreeStyler suggested and found several apps listed in this forum to modify the BIOS to enable SLIC.
Very helpful thread, thanks! Does anybody know which tool works with T310? I wouldn't want to try a bunch of outdated tools mentioned in that thread, not knowing which one would work on a poweredge server. Thanks. EDIT: looks like assest.exe is the tool, but what version? 2.0.9 or the older 2.0.2?
Never mind, found my answers! For other newbies out there: If the asset.exe from the original thread doesn't work, which is version 2.0.9 then you want to try either asset.com,which is at version 2.02 or if asset.com doesn't work, then you want SVCTAG.EXE 3.4. Both asset.com and asset.exe are part of the SVCTAG diskette version A28 available for download here at MDL.
Just did this and the 2.0.9 asset.exe from the original link in the thread about asset tags did the trick. I did the asset PASS:12/31 and rebooted. The system came up saying it's entering some special BIOS repogramming mode and that it would be cleared on the next reboot. So i restarted again and the full SLIC table was available to me on my Dell T310. Did not have to press alt+F or even reset the service tag. Windows 2008 R2 Standard activated right away off of a Dell original OEM dvd.
Tried this on a PowerEdge 2900 and had no luck. Booted with the CD that has the dell software on it. type "asset PASS:12/31" and press enter... type "asset" to see that the asset tag is indeed entered. Ctrl-Alt-Del Says it's in manufacturer mode Ctrl-Alt-Del again Boots into server2008 but slic toolkit still unchanged. Am I missing a step?
Are you running the latest bios? I have PE1950's and PE2950's and both have SLIC tables after using this method.