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273326
Poweredge T110
I recently installed Windows Server 2008 R2 Enterprise and activated Hyper-V and installed all available updates.
Upon reboot i am unable to boot into the OS, Systems settings, and/or Bios settings. Once it pauses for a few seconds with the message "Press Ctrl-E for remote access setup within 5 seconds" it just continues in this loop.
If I select F12 for to modify setting it says it is entering setup, however it never makes it into the settings. If when i receive the above message and I press CTRL-E it will go into the remote access settings.
Thanks in advance for any help!!!!
theflash1932
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April 21st, 2012 09:00
I would suspect that some device is the issue and taking it to the minimum configuration (removing all cards, drives, memory but one, USB and all peripherals (including mouse, keyboard - or try different ones)) will isolate that device. Otherwise, I'd say your BIOS is corrupt - which, unfortunately, is not common and there is not an common or consistent fix - and if that is the case, then there are limited things you can try: 1) clear NVRAM (which you said you tried with no luck), 2) reflash BIOS (but if you can't boot to any media, that's out ot the question too), and 3) replace the motherboard.
Good luck.
DELL-Daniel My
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April 18th, 2012 18:00
Hello Mike
It sounds like the system is posting just fine, but is failing to boot. F12 is to enter PXE boot. If you can enter the BMC BIOS then it is completing POST because the BMC BIOS is only available after POST. The message "Press Ctrl-E for remote access setup within 5 seconds" is normal. You should receive that every time the system is turned on.
I would suggest entering the system BIOS and make sure that the boot order is set correctly. You might also want to make sure there are is no media attached to the server like a thumb drive or external hard disk. You can try hitting F8 after POST to bring up the operating system's boot menu. If that does not work then I would recommend reinstalling the operating system rather than trying to fix it. With it being a fresh install I would avoid trying to recover the boot manager.
If you reinstall the operating system again then I recommend restarting the server a few times before you start configuring it to see if the problem occurs again.
Thanks
Mike Fink
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April 20th, 2012 06:00
Hi Daniel,
I appreciate your input but I see that my original post was not detailed enough to describe my problem.
Let me explain:
I have no external drives attached, no USB/Thumb drives attached and the original DVD for Windows Server 2008 R2 is NOT in the CD/DVD drive.
I agree that it appears to pass POST unfortunately i am unable to get into any BIOS or system services.
Here is the scenario:
Bios Version: 1.1.0
BMC Firmware Version: 1.70.16
Upon a cold or warm boot, I press to enter the BIOS settings and I see the message "Entering system setup" displayed. It continues the boot process and I see my HDD and CD/DVD drive found, it displays "ACHI BIOS installed"and then the message "Press Ctrl-E for remote access setup within 5 seconds.....". At this point the screen goes blank and it begins the boot process once again (Stuck in this continuous loop), never opening the BIOS screen to allow me to check or change any of the settings. I have also placed the Windows Server 2008 R2 DVD in the drive with the same exact results.
I am able to press Ctrl-E and get into the Remote Access setting without issue.
I never get to the point of selecting the option of to select from the OS boot menu, I have tried this with the same results (continuous loop).
One more thing i might mention is that when I boot and press i see the message "Entering system services, to cancel enter IDRAC6 configuration utility". Again it follows the same pattern as above and once it gets to the "Press Ctrl-E for remote access setup within 5 seconds ....." again the continuous loop begins its never ending cycle. I do notice that as it starts the boot process again the message "Entering system services, to cancel enter IDRAC6 configuration utility" appears after each boot cycle.
I have disabled all remote access settings also and tried a cold boot with the same issue.
Thanks again for any light that can be shed on my issue.
Mike
theflash1932
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April 20th, 2012 09:00
If it will not boot to BIOS, I would submit that it is NOT completing POST. Try clearing the NVRAM using the jumpers on the motherboard.
Mike Fink
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April 20th, 2012 16:00
I tried clearing the NVRAM, no luck! I attempted to enter the BIOS settings during the NVRAM clear boot and I am still unable to get into the BIOS settings. I set the NVRAM jumper back to normal and booted again with the same results. Unable to get into BIOS and will not boot to OS. Need it back bad, studying for Microsoft exams and this was my Lab PC. :(
Thanks again for any assistance
DELL-Daniel My
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April 20th, 2012 18:00
Hello Mike
If you did not disconnect power when you were moving the NVRAM jumper then tray draining the flea power. Just disconnect the power cords for about 1 minute.
If the issue persists then take the system down to minimum to POST. Disconnect hard drives, controller cards, any add on cards, and any peripheral devices. You can also take the system down to 1 DIMM in slot A1. I would suggest swapping the DIMM in slot 1 with a different one.
If the system still fails to POST then you can try booting to a CD/DVD. If you can boot to a CD/DVD then flash the BIOS again. If you are unable to flash the BIOS or it does not correct the problem then you will likely have to replace the system board to correct the issue.
What is odd is that you cannot enter the system BIOS , but you can enter the BMC BIOS . The BMC BIOS is not accessible until the system completes POST, so the system is POSTing but for some reason the system BIOS will not load.
Thanks
Mike Fink
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April 21st, 2012 07:00
Daniel,
I not only disconnected the power when moving the NVRAM jumpers, the day before i left the unit unplugged all day. As I mentioned in my prior post I CANNOT boot to CD/DVD and never get prompted to "press any key to boot from CD/DVD". I set the BIOS upon last possible configuration to boot from CD/DVD in order to install Win2K8 R2 with out any issue. After the install was complete and updates were downloaded i chose to install Hyper-V. I configured two Virtual Machines without installing any operating systems at that stage. The system required another update and a reboot. This is when my issue all started.
I think that I should mention that this unit is only 15 months old and it has only been in use for the last two months running Win2k8 R2 Standard without issue. I am currently an MCSE (since 2000) and I have used Dell Poweredge servers in an enterprise environment since 1999. I was hoping that someone had actually ran into a scenario like mine and it was common. I did not purchase a warranty on this box due to 1) my experience with Dell's superior products, 2) strictly used at home as one of several servers in my lab to prepare for my MCSE on Win2k8. Hind sight is always 20/20 and I never run a server in a production environment without an extended warranty. Live and learn, Right!
It appears now that I have to go back to troubleshooting 101 and as you mentioned begin by booting with minimal POST. I will give this a shot and then I will try to contact Dell and see if there is anything that they are willing to do for me if I commit to purchasing another T110. I will be surprised if not based on my past dealings with Dell. I may have to call my Dell gold support contact and see if he can possibly throw me some kind of bone.
Thanks again to everyone for the help!!!!
I will let you know how it turns out.
Mike
Mike Fink
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April 21st, 2012 11:00
theflash1932 hit the nail on the head - it was the blasted keyboard (USB). After I tried everything else it was a simple USB device, sometimes it is the simple things we overlook. I already found a price on a new MB and was actually going to buy another T110.
Troubleshooting 101 - Disconnect ALL external devices :)
Thanks again to all for the help!
Especially theflash1932 --- Job well done!
theflash1932
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April 21st, 2012 12:00
Been there done that! It's the kind of simple thing you only overlook once, then you check it every time (although it rarely is ever that easy of a fix when you are looking for it :)).
nextech
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February 7th, 2014 14:00
Mike Fink / TheFlash1932,
I had this SAME exact problem!! I had been searching for a solution/answer for weeks now, and finally after giving up and ordering a new motherboard, I stumbled upon this thread.
As crazy as it sounds, powering the system off, unplugging the USB Keyboard and USB Mouse, and having NO USB DEVICES attached, and then powering the system back on (without ANY keyboard/mouse plugged in) and after getting the keyboard error notification, and then the system actually booted up perfectly (and got past the "Press for for Remote Access Setup within 5 sec " and then the system finished booting up (without continuously rebooting ).
I was SHOCKED that it was actually the USB Keyboard!! Yep, it worked. Unplugging the USB Keyboard/mouse and booting the system without ANY USB Devices attached to it, was the SOLUTION! Thank-you!!
nextech
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February 7th, 2014 14:00
theflash1932
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February 8th, 2014 12:00
I apologize for not reading your other thread ... I haven't had much time lately, and so I let several threads go - just deleting the threads without reading them :)
Glad you got it figured out.