DX 4200 Recovery ISO

Sank · March 7, 2018, 9:37pm

I need to recover the OS on a DX4200, I have looked for direction, and looked in this forum and have come up empty. What do I need too do to get a link to a Server 2012 ISO and what do I need to do to compare md5 files?

Any help is GREATLY appreciated!

Gramps · March 7, 2018, 11:16pm

If you have a sticker on the box you should be able to activate the trial… That said this link is storage server 2012 and I do not remember if it was 2012R2

The second link may give you the WD tools
https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=34592

You should contact WD support

Gramps · March 7, 2018, 11:20pm

Looks like it is storage server 2012R2 so that iso will not work

Storage server is an OEM only product so you need to get WD onboard. They are zero help in these forums.

Sank · March 8, 2018, 12:13am

Thanks for the reply, - I downloaded a trail of SS, see what happens - I have all the info to activate it, be nice if it were this easy!

Sank · March 10, 2018, 1:19pm

The OS installed, but not all the drivers for the devices are there, specifically the network ports. That stops me from even trying to activate the OS. All else looks good - sees the drives, looks like I can build and format an array when I get to it - just those silly drivers.

Any clues? I have emailed WD Support, don’t know when to expect an answer though.

Thanks!

Gramps · March 10, 2018, 2:21pm

network drivers should be a given with server install. If they show in device mgr I guess that means they are enabled in BIOS

You could always plug a wifi nic or usb nic in to connect and see if it finds drivers.

Why do you have this box anyway? Could it have been on ebay because the nics were bad?

Sank · March 10, 2018, 2:46pm

I plugged in a usb nic, no go - didn’t even show up IIRC. All of them get link and activity, I suppose I better chang Cable, never know, maybe a cat rolled a chair over patch cable.

I have this because it used to belong to the furniture company my wife worked for and I originally set it up for pc back ups for them. Total overkill, but they wanted ftp shares also to supplement dropbox. Anyway when co went under, some ■■■■■ dropped the server on its face, and when it was offered up, I took it for nothing. It is fully functioning as far as I can tell - It lost the OS somehow, I had all passwords and all, but I think someone played a bit hard with it and then got disenchanted. So there was no chance of recovering original load. It would not load Debian nicely, but it did take the eval 2012 SS you suggested, and quite nicely except the NIC functionality. I even downloaded the WD specific software and loaded it up.

And now you know the rest of the story. BTW, my aim is to make this the central component in a home security system.

Gramps · March 10, 2018, 3:34pm

Like I said, nic’s should be automatic. A usb nic may need drivers
plug a thumb drive or something in the usb port to make sure it is working

Sank · March 10, 2018, 3:35pm

Same usb port I use to install the WD software and image of OS.

Sank · March 10, 2018, 3:40pm

And when I think about it, the cat 6 cable is used for other things on accaision, and I did recently use it on my tablet with the same usb network dongle I just tried, and I also use the patch cable for other pcs and an RPi I have on my work bench, so it’s not that.

I think I will see if there are NIC device drivers just for the server OS online.

Sank · March 10, 2018, 4:05pm

So, I went here:

Downloaded and installed from usb to the 4200 and wala! I got instant network access! So, I am guessing the Trial version of 2012 SS did not have the drivers needed. Noe its on to updating Windows, then trying to activate with the ID. I will actually try that when updates takes a break.

Gramps · March 10, 2018, 4:30pm

Good deal !