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4 Posts
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9388
March 1st, 2022 15:00
PowerEdge R730 stuck on Initializing firmware interfaces
I have a PowerEdge R730 with an HBA 330 Mini and 8x 4TB Seagate ST4000NM0023 SAS drives.
I have got everything update to the latest versions from the support website.
BIOS 2.13.0
iDRAC w/ LCC 2.82.82.82
Dell HBA330 Mini (Embedded) 16.17.01.00
It boots fine without any of the drives connected, but if I connect any one of them I get stuck at Initializing Firmware Interfaces, I have let it sit on that for a few hours but it never progresses.
I've followed essentially every suggestions I can find.
Unplug it and hold the power button to clear motherboard cache
Disable collecting system information
Disable the PCI slots for boot driver
It has an Avago utility menu, I've also set that to OS only
0 events found
No Events found!
DELL-Joey C
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4.1K Posts
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March 1st, 2022 22:00
Hi @synixebrett,
After you mentioned if any of the drives are installed, the issue starts, I might have an impression that the drive is not compatible. But that would be my last thought.
When POST is showing Initializing Firmware Interfaces, what was the previous hardware initiated? HBA330? What is the HBA330's DPN#? What you tried soft and hard reset of iDRAC? You mentioned about having Avago utility menu, what hardware was installed? I've not heard of any PowerEdge having that utility.
Do you have any extra keyboard, could you try on another USB port. Alternative, try removing both mouse and keyboard, check if POST can finish the firmware initializing and reports a missing keyboard.
synixebrett
4 Posts
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March 15th, 2022 18:00
I have tried a soft reset of the iDRAC, I have tried without a keyboard. I have tried swapping the HBA330 for a PERC H330 Mini. The only way I can get past this screen is without any of the drives connected.
> When POST is showing Initializing Firmware Interfaces, what was the previous hardware initiated?
I am not very familiar with how to find this information
DELL-Joey C
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4.1K Posts
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March 15th, 2022 23:00
Hello @synixebrett,
Even after you swapped to PERC H330, the POST still gets stuck at Initializing Firmware?
Do you have any other drives to test? You mentioned that it has Avago Utility menu, do you have a picture of it.
synixebrett
4 Posts
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March 16th, 2022 08:00
Unfortunately I do not have any other SAS drives to test, this is the utility I have with the PERC H330 Mini installed
DELL-Charles R
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4.7K Posts
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March 16th, 2022 10:00
Hello synixebrett,
It could be like Joey mentioned that they are not compatible drives.
Can you give me the Dell Part number for the drives or take a picture of the label and post for me?
A couple more things I can think of to check:
Check in the System BIOS > SATA Settings that the PERC S130 not set to RAID mode, set it to AHCI
Check System BIOS hard drive boot sequence
synixebrett
4 Posts
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March 16th, 2022 11:00
I have confirmed the Embedded SATA is set to AHCI, this is the label from the drives.
DELL-Charles R
Moderator
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4.7K Posts
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March 16th, 2022 11:00
Hello synixebrett,
Thank you for confirming the setting.
The drive looks to be non-Dell hard drive that we have not validated.
Please see if you can source another drive. Sales can help you to if you would like to call them for quote/purchase.
This is one part number, they could quote you others:
Pn# FCHXF - HD,4T,SAS12,7.2,3.5,FIPS,S,E/C
HDD, 4TB, 512b, SAS12, 7.2K RPM, 3.5 inch, 128MB, SED, FIPS, Seagate, Makara BP
Give this a try. Try running the built in diagnostics and check results. Try running with the drives installed (preferred) or with the drives removed:
Diags:
Boot to F11 on Dell Splash screen, selecting Boot Manager -> System Utilities -> Launch Dell Diagnostics. Note any messages and continue testing.
If you are only able to run it with the drives removed and everything passes that will give us a good idea the drive is incompatible.