Dell R720 No display or USB power

Question

Hello community, I purchased a Dell R720 from a very reputable source who said he had a server but it wouldn't boot so he would sell cheap. I know it was a gamble but something is just not right. I have new matching CPU's, heatsinks and memory.  When you power the server on the fans spin, drives kick on and the front display functions as intended however the system has no display what so ever. I figured I would check things out via iDrac but root/calvin does not work 'and I have tried to hold the 'i' button in until the system shuts down and boots back up as well as jumper settings which also never seem to reset iDrac. I found a motherboard online so I purchased that and installed it but all the same issues presented themselves as they did on the previous motherboard. The other odd thing is neither the front or rear USBs seem to work as when I plug a keyboard/mouse in I get no LEDs I'm at a complete loss and would love it if someone could help.

DELL-Young E · Answer

Hi, Sorry to hear that you have a trouble. Have you got a service tag that came with the server? (You can DM me since it's a private asset)

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

I sent a DM but think the system is having issues as the DM screen never disappears. Rather than hitting send anymore and possibly blowing your box up, I figured I would ask here if you got it.

DELL-Stefan R · Answer

Hey there,

can't tell if Young E received your message, we need to wait for her reply here.

In the meantime, I'd ask you to troubleshoot further by doing a Minimum-to-POST configuration.

Here is a how-to:

The minimum components to allow the R720 to complete POST are as follows:

One Power Supply
Control Panel (for power button functionality)
Working cable connection between the control panel and system board
One Processor (CPU) in socket CPU1 (minimum for troubleshooting)
One Memory Module (DIMM) installed in socket A1
System Board
Backplane

In this configuration the system should show the POST if so, please continue with resetting the BIOS settings.

This can bring back the local iDRAC functionality.

Let us know the results.

Best regards

Stefan

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

Thanks for the reply Stefan. I went min post and still no display using the front or rear display.

Dell-Stephane T · Answer

Hi,

Are you sure that all cable/card have been removed for a min to post?

Is the CPU used the same for the two motherboard (that could be the part that cause the issue) or the front bezel could be also in cause.
Please recheck all the point of this article : https://dell.to/2KYKoOY

Because the system is certainly out of warranty, I am sorry to cannot provide you more help in diagnostics. If needed, you can purchase a troubleshooting ticket by calling your local support.

Regards,

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

Min post was verified. The CPU's were not part of the original server build but were purchased as a grade A matching pair for the R720.

What would the front Bezel have to do with the system not booting?

DELL-Young E · Answer

Hi, so.. we know that you purchase a server with booting issue, and you also replaced the mainboard, meaning mainboard is no more suspect-> still no POST. ☹ It would be time consuming I’m aware but at this point you could continue with more minimum post as means of troubleshooting at with different parts, I would add.

Dell-Stephane T · Answer

Hi to put precision on my previous post I would said front panel instead of the bezel. This is the part of the chassis who can also generate an issue for the POST. At this step, this is just supposition for the possible defective part list

Regards

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

Thanks Stephanie,

I went down to bare minimal "

1 power supply

1 CPU in slot1

1 stick mem - A1

Front Panel

All drives removed, Riser cards removed, SAS cables removed, front USB disconnected, cd rom disconnected, Fans removed..

I'v priced the front panel unit and they seem fairly cheap. My question would be this "Could the panel really prevent boot/post/display and USB functionality?

I also tried to connect a keyboard to the center onboard USB and no lights.

Appreciate all the feedback and willingness to help from everyone.

Thanks,

Jonathan

DELL-Stefan R · Answer

Hi Jonathan,

looks like you stripped down to the very needed parts and still having the same issue, no Video and or no Boot/POST.

When you first tried to log in to the iDRAC how did you do it?

Can you ensure that the used monitor is working, maybe on another system.
Or better try with a known good monitor.

We had situations when a USB device prevented a system from completing the POST and/or booting up.

So please make sure that the keyboard you are using is not creating trouble here.

If the monitor and keyboard are out of the question, it still might be the CPU, the used RAM, or the control panel.

RAM: Simply try with another one. If you have a 2nd CPU ... try it.

At last, go for the control panel and see if it helps.

There might be several issues. But for now, you should be able to log in to iDRAC if you did the NVRAM clear that I recommend in my last reply. And if that works now, check the BIOS settings if USB is disable or even the VGA (I'm not 100% sure if there is any option to disable VGA, but I know for USB).

Let us know your findings.

Best regards
Stefan

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

Hey Stefan, My 1st attempt at accessing iDrac was via ssh putty session. I can see the log in but cant access via root/calvin . After trying the reset method of holding the info button until the system reboots I still can not get in via putty. I can hit the web ui for iDrac but that does no good even if the hard reset worked as I would have to setup user accounts for WEB ui 'I believe' I just can't seem to get iDrac to reset fully and I say this only because when I log into the web ui I see 2 options for the domain. 1 -being the default 'This iDrac' and 2- being foc.local which I can only assume was the domain the server belonged too and it shows the system name as 'WICESXI4-DRAC'. I'm going to swing by storage later and grab another VGA monitor + cable as well as a new keyboard and mouse.

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

Confirmed Monitor works on another machine along with keyboard and mouse. (No boot post display) Grabbed a new monitor, keyboard and mouse from storage and tested. (No boot post display) Tried other CPU (No boot post display) Tried several other stick of ram (No boot post display) Tried different Power Supply (No boot post display) I just ordered a new Front Panel as that is my last resort. If this fails, I will have a ton of parts to part out if folks want SMH

DELL-Chris H · Answer

Just to confirm, have you verified that you have removed all external devices, such as USB keys and such? If so and the minimum to post fails, then it is one of the minimum to post devices causing the issue.

So out of these

One Power Supply
Control Panel (for power button functionality)
Working cable connection between the control panel and system board
One Processor (CPU) in socket CPU1 (minimum for troubleshooting)
One Memory Module (DIMM) installed in socket A1
System Board
Backplane

I would try known good versions to test, if all are tested and still have the issue it is likely the motherboard.

Let me know.

Kreatif-Networking · Answer

This is just unreal. Got the new Front Panel installed and nothing. Grabbed the idrac from my working R620 and installed and no changes. This is the biggest PITA I have ever delt with. It's almost as though the bios is some how hard coded with ALL settings.

Anyone want to buy some parts? I'm done sinking anymore time or money into it.

Rack Servers

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