PE2850 Not Booting/POSTing

Question

I have two identically equipped PE2850 servers that had booted and posted just fine. I had planned on scavanging the parts of one into the other. So I removed the CPU from one (both were single CPU machines) and put it in the other. I then tried to boot the machine. The fans spins up, the HD lights go green, and the CD light blinks, but then nothing out the video...ever.

I then removed the CPU and it continues to do the same thing. In fact, when putting back the one CPU into its original machine, they both do this. The LCD's on the machine flash amber, but are destroyed and no information can actually be read on them. I have tried reseating the RAM, the rister, HD's, and the mobo. Also, when I switch the CPUs (from primary of one to primary of the other) the machine doesn't even get as far. The CPU fans do not spin up to top speed. They merely spin at low speed and nothing happens.

Any ideas or things for me to try? Both machine are far out of warranty and support.

theflash1932 · Accepted Answer

Glad you got it sorted. The reason I asked about the processor being stuck to the heatsink was because if you don't separate them, it is impossible to lock the processor into place using the lever. Didn't think to ask specifically about the last part.

You're sure the NVRAM jumpers are on the CLR pins when it boots? Anytime it boots with the pins jumpered it should say something about it during POST.

DELL-Rey G · Answer

The power should have been physically disconnected from the system before swapping CPU's (just checking). The BIOS should be upgraded to the latest as well before swapping CPUs.

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> Password Jumper

PSWD - Password enable. The system password will be cleared and disabled when the system is started with this jumper removed.
Pins 1-2 shorted enables password

NVRAM_CLR Jumper

NVRAM_CLR - Clears NVRAM
Pins 1-2 shorted clears NVRAM

To Clear the NVRAM perform the following steps:

Power the system off
Unplug power to the system
Short Pins 1 and 2
Plug power to the system
Power system on.
Once post completes power system off
Unplug power to the system
Move jumper to pins 2 and 3
NVRAM is cleared

theflash1932 · Answer

The processors - in order for them to work in a dual-proc configuration have to be EXACTLY the same - same speed, cache, class, AND stepping.  If any of these are different, it won't work.  Also, when you inserted the processor, was it attached to the heatsink?  Many people (so don't feel bad if you did) think that because the processor sometimes comes out attached to the heatsink that it is supposed to be that way - you must separate the processor from the heatsink using a credit card or similar before inserting the processor or won't be seated correctly.  Assuming you had the power disconnected and the heatsink/processor separated, resetting your NVRAM as outlined by rey is really your only hope.

codeguy · Answer

Here is what's printed on the CPU's

3000DP/1M/800
SL7TC COSTA RICA
3503A742-0931

3000DP/1M/800
SL7PE COSTA RICA
3521B171-0782

Yes, I did the clear process with the single that was CPU originally in the machine. Why won't the machine come back up with it's original configuration?

theflash1932 · Answer

I believe it is printed on the processor someplace, although I'm not where I could look at one to give you more than that ... maybe rey has more experience with upgrading from one to two procs to know where on the chip you'd find that.

As for the NVRAM ... sounds like you did it correctly. Did you do it with only one processor in?

codeguy · Answer

Thank you both for responding so quickly!

I will first confirm that the machines had the latest BIOS versions and the power was physically disconnected before either chassis was opened. These boxes were sent to me as a set and had identical configurations, so I assume that they have identical processors. Is there a way that I can physically compare them since I can't get them to boot to verify this?

I attempted the process described for clearing the NVRAM and I just wanted to make sure I did it right. I moved the jumper from pins 2 and 3 to pins one and two and then tried to boot. Again, the fans came up to speed, slowed down, the CD drive blinked, but that's all that happened. No POST. I eventually powered it down, moved the pin back and tried booting again with the same results. Am I missing something?

codeguy · Answer

Yeah, I'm at a loss as well.  I can confirm that the processors weren't dammged physically.  They were taken out carefully, detached from the heat sink when being put in, no pins are bent or missing, and there was no noticable static electric issues.  I'm in Florida and the lab is 50+ % relative humidity so we don't usually have static issues.

theflash1932 · Answer

From this, the seem to be the same except for wattage - also says that the SL7TC is a "boxed" processor - I honestly don't know if/how that would affect it:
http://ark.intel.com/Product.aspx?id=27093

I'm at a bit of a loss as to why neither of the systems come up in their original configurations ... unless the processors or boards were somehow damaged during installation/removal, such as if the processor was attached to the heatsink when installing it, static electricty, etc..

codeguy · Answer

Resolved!

Sadly, though, this issue was resolved as a complete user fail. :(

Apparently I have TOTALLY missed the fact that like pretty much ALL flat chipped designs, there is a ZIF/LIF lever that locks the processor down. On the first two machines that I pulled the processors from the processor simply yanked out with the heatsink and I didn't even notice the silver release handle.

So, this time I CORRECTLY installed the CPU's...and not surprisingly the machine POSTed.

Thank you very much for helping me through this issue! I just proved again why I am a programmer and not the hardware guy!

I think something is still not quite right though. Now the machine gets to POST just fine, but is stuck at 'Remote Access Controller detected' when I don't have the NVRAM CLR jumper set. If I have it set then it is able to POST/boot with no problem.

codeguy · Answer

Oh, yes, it definitely did mention that.  I'm thinking the problem may be with the RAID kit that's installed in there.  I removed the RAID bits and it booted right up.  I'll continue to work this.  Thanks againf or all the help!

DELL-Rey G · Answer

on your last post about the raid kit, you mean the romb key? if that was in there, go into the bios (with the key back in) and in Integrated devices, set the Embedded raid controller to RAID Enabled.

DELL-Rey G · Answer

Right before I went to lunch, I wondered about that lever, but I was afraid of hurting your feelings by questioning you about it. That was the only thing that was coming to mind.

codeguy · Answer

I meant all three RAID pieces, actually. Or at least one of them. It's booting just fine now with the RAID key alone. So I'm thinking it's the 256MB RAID memory that's causing the issue. I know that it has to be no bigger than 256MB and the same as your RAM so I'm trying to figure out if it's really the same.

The RAID stick is 256MB 1Rx8 RC2-3200R-333-12-A0 (DDR2, 400, CL3, ECC, REG)

My RAM is 1GB 1Rx4 PC2-3200R-333-11-C0

Does the 1x4 vs 1x8 make a difference here? Or something about the 11-C0 and 12-A0?

PowerEdge Hardware General

PE2850 Not Booting/POSTing

NVRAM_CLR Jumper

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