Enabling TPM on a Dell R730xd

Hello,

It sounds like the TPM is either not functioning or not present. If you go to the support site, you can enter your service tag and view the configuration. You should be able to use that to confirm if a TPM should be present. Alternatively, you could also refer to the Owner's Manual for the R730xd to identify the TPM location and visually confirm it.

https://dell.to/3xfvhU2

(Page 199, number 17)

Hello Andrei,

It looks like you're on the right track. See if you completed all the steps below:

From the picture it looks like you're at step 4. Continue with 5-9.

Initializing the TPM for TXT users

Steps

1. While booting your system, press F2 to enter System Setup.
2. On the System Setup Main Menu screen, click System BIOS > System Security Settings.
3. From the TPM Security option, select On with Pre-boot Measurements.
4. From the TPM Command option, select Activate.
5. Save the settings.
6. Restart your system.
7. Enter System Setup again.
8. On the System Setup Main Menu screen, click System BIOS > System Security Settings.
9. From the Intel TXT option, select On.

Hi,

It does have a TPM 1.2 Chip 4DP35 (attachment), but when I want to enable it fails. Is there a way to replace or order another one, maybe a TPM 2.0 one? 

Thanks for helping.

All the best,

Andrei Torjoc

Hi,

Thanks for the quick response, after the restart (step 6), I get this error message "TPM cannot be used on this platform" and it disables the TPM again. Is there any way of fixing or patching this one?

All the best,

Andrei Torjoc

If the TPM still isn't working, the only other recommendation I have would be hardware replacement. You might consider flashing BIOS and iDRAC firmware, but my expectation is that replacement may still end up being needed.

Hello @Dell -Charles R and @Dell-DylanJ,

Would you please let us know the DPN for a TPM 2.0 module? There are certain features in Windows Server 2022 that will not work with a version 1.2 module, and I would like upgrade the module.

I understand the implications for what that means for anything encrypted with the original TPM. This is not a concern as the systems will be wiped for the TPM 2.0 upgrade.

Thank you,

Never mind, I learned that part number is M48YR. It installs in slot #17 as pictured below.

You must be certain that this is a new part, so hopefully you still have a contact at Dell otherwise there's really no guarantee I suppose.

The manual explains why:

Once the TPM plug-in module is installed, it is cryptographically bound to that specific system board. Any attempt to remove an installed TPM plug-in module breaks the cryptographic binding, and it cannot be re-installed or installed on another system board. 

Hi law2175, thanks for choosing Dell. yes I checked as well the part you came up is correct. Also another alternative: K98XH ASSY,CRD,SCTY,TPM,2.0,13G,1328. Happy 2022 to you!