ESX / ESXi Bios Tools

Discussion in 'Virtualization' started by pix, Nov 22, 2009.

  1. Shreik

    Shreik MDL Novice

    Nov 14, 2011
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    I'm trying to get a Windows 2003 Enterprise guest from a physical Dell PE1850 to run in ESXi 5. I'm trying to get it to run with your bios440, but I keep getting activation popup. I've tried running OEMSCAN in safemode and it validates as a Dell, but it won't activate. I've been chasing my tail for over a week on this and I'm at a loss.
     
  2. sebus

    sebus MDL Guru

    Jul 23, 2008
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    #222 sebus, Nov 16, 2011
    Last edited by a moderator: Apr 29, 2017
  3. Shreik

    Shreik MDL Novice

    Nov 14, 2011
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    The OS is already activated on the physical Dell server with the Dell OEM license. I'm trying to virtualize it on our ESXi 5 server so I can use the older server for other purposes. The only reason I ran OEMSCAN was to verify that it was showing up as a dell bios.

    I'm going to try making a fresh copy of the physical server and run it with your bios to see if that fixes the issue.
     
  4. Shreik

    Shreik MDL Novice

    Nov 14, 2011
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    After making a fresh copy of the physical server to ESXi 5, it boots up with no activation issues using the Dell bios440 that Sebus posted. I can now stop pulling my hair out over this issue and get on with my migration. Thank you!!
     
  5. NiteCrew

    NiteCrew MDL Novice

    Jan 24, 2009
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    I can get the Windows Server 2003 R2 (DELL OEM) to activated fine without modded bios but can't get the Windows XP SP3 (DELL OEM) CD to do so. I even try to copy over the oembios.* files from the Server CD to the XP. Am i missing something?

    Thanks
     
  6. sebus

    sebus MDL Guru

    Jul 23, 2008
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    Are you not interested in learning, so you can do it yourself?

    sebus
     
  7. NiteCrew

    NiteCrew MDL Novice

    Jan 24, 2009
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    so with the native unmodded bios from Vsphere 4.1 (build 260247) . OEMBIOS tools will show DELL OEMBIOS.CAT CRC=99735910 for Windows Server 2003 but none for Windows XP :(... not sure which build of vsphere that you run that has Genuine C&C set.

    Thanks
     
  8. sebus

    sebus MDL Guru

    Jul 23, 2008
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    Man, if you have INTEL processor it will show you Genuine (because that is what the processor reports), it has nothing to do with vsphere BIOS, but is enough for XP to activate)

    sebus
     
  9. NiteCrew

    NiteCrew MDL Novice

    Jan 24, 2009
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    I'm not sure why either but here is what I find out so far using oembios Test v1.1 on different Vsphere EXSi


    Vsphere 5.0 (Build 469512)

    XP = Dell CRC=63875D1F
    XP = Dell CRC=B6F0EEFD

    2K3 = Dell CRC=99735910
    2K3 = Dell CRC=C20D8FF5
    2k3 = Fujitsu CRC=FB6F8F08
    2k3 = HP CRC=C0023D89
    2k3 = HP CRC=D107c3EA

    Vsphere 5.0 (DELL customized build (469512))

    XP = none :(

    2K3 = Dell CRC=99735910
    2k3 = Fujitsu CRC=FB6F8F08
    2k3 = HP CRC=C0023D89
    2k3 = HP CRC=D107c3EA

    and oembios didn't detect Dell CRC=C20D8FF5. interesting

    Vsphere 4.1.0 build 502767

    XP = none

    2K3 = Dell CRC=99735910
    2k3 = Fujitsu CRC=FB6F8F08
    2k3 = HP CRC=C0023D89
    2k3 = HP CRC=D107c3EA
     
  10. NiteCrew

    NiteCrew MDL Novice

    Jan 24, 2009
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    I tested on Dell R710 Xeon X5650.

    Dell Customized build is from support.dell.com

    VMware-VMvisor-Installer-5.0.0-469512.x86_64-Dell_Customized_RecoveryCD.iso (290MB)

    I think you're right about me being out of luck with XP and will only be using bios440 file to get XP activated.

    Thanks again
     
  11. payz

    payz MDL Novice

    May 5, 2009
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    Just one silly question
    how to overwrite s.v00 in the Bootbank folder?
    because its lock by system
     
  12. shamus

    shamus MDL Novice

    Apr 23, 2011
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    no idea, I remove it and then copy over the new one.
    And have you set your server in maintenance mode?
     
  13. sebus

    sebus MDL Guru

    Jul 23, 2008
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    Still think that darwin.gz on load line is way easier, as it gives none of this problems

    sebus
     
  14. payz

    payz MDL Novice

    May 5, 2009
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    i'm not set my server in maintenance mode, are you set your server in maintenance mode before modding?,
    it's necesary to do that?
    hmm i test that in my test server tomorrow
     
  15. smlick

    smlick MDL Novice

    Jun 3, 2009
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    So this bios tool is not able at this moment to patch ESXi5? Is this right?

    Regards
    Alex