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Launch an interactive troubleshooting tool
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Alternately, the below document lists troubleshooting tips if your server does not boot up properly.
Contents:
System Does Not Boot up at First Integration
System Used to Boot up and Now Does Not
Examples of troubleshooting system boot issues
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System Does Not Boot up at First Integration
2x4 Power Connector Not Plugged In
If the power supply cable with the 2x4 connector, is not plugged into the CPU power connector (refer to Quick Start user’s Guide of appropriate server board for the location), the system will not boot up. You will see lights onboard and on the chassis front panel, and the chassis fan and processor fan may spin, but nothing will appear on the monitor. See figures below for cable placement.
Processor Issues
No boot situations can be caused by any of the following.
If you have installed an incompatible processor, the system will not boot. Ensure the selected processor model is correct for your server board. Some processors require specific server board versions and BIOS revisions. To find the supported processor list for your board, go to Supported Processor List. If the processor is compatible, try removing and reinstalling the processor to ensure it is installed correctly.
If the processor overheats, the system may not boot or may shut down shortly after booting.
- Make sure the fans on the processor are connected properly and running.
- Make sure that the thermal interface material or the thermal grease is applied to the processor properly.
- Make sure that the power supply fan is running properly and any other external case fans are running properly.
- Make sure that the air intakes for the external fans are unobstructed and have at least several inches away from walls and other items.
Memory Issues
No boot situations can be caused by any of the following.
- If you have installed incompatible memory modules, the system may not boot. Verify the memory you've installed has been tested with your board. To find the tested memory list for your board, go to Tested Memory List. If the memory is compatible, try removing and reinstalling the memory modules to ensure they are installed correctly.
- Some server boards require you to populate the memory sockets starting with the first socket. The product guide for your server board will indicate such a requirement.
- If you have defective memory modules, the system may not boot. One, two or three beeps at boot indicate defective memory. To isolate a specific memory module as defective, boot the system with just one memory module installed at a time.
Monitor Issues
No boot situations can be caused by monitor configurations. Check the following:
- Make sure the monitor is plugged in and turned on.
- Make sure the video cable is connected properly at the monitor and the computer.
- Check the brightness and contrast controls on the monitor. The monitor may be dimmed where you cannot see anything on the monitor.
- Most monitors have a light indicating its current status:
- A green light indicates the monitor has sufficient power and is getting a video signal.
- An amber light appears if the monitor has power but it is not getting a video signal from the computer. This indicates the problem is most likely in the computer.
- If the light does not turn on at all, it is likely a problem with the monitor itself. Make sure that the monitor is connected to a working AC outlet. If there is an on/off switch for the outlet, make sure the switch is on. If the problem still persists, try replacing the monitor or try the monitor on different AC outlet or a different system.
Power Supply and Chassis Issues
No boot situations can be caused by any of the following power supply, chassis or fan issues:
- Verify that your chassis and power supply is appropriate for the processor model and frequency and the server board you have.
- A 2x4 CPU power connector is required for all Intel® Server Boards. Power consumption requirements for high-end video cards, sound cards, peripherals, and processors will exceed the typical 5A current capacity of standard ATX & SPX power supplies.
Verify that the power supply has the capacity to power all the devices used in your system.
Ensure the power cord is firmly connected to the power supply and the AC outlet.
If the power supply or the AC outlet has an on/off switch, make sure that it is on.
Determine power supply voltage selector setting (230 volts vs. 115 volts) is correct if there is a voltage selector on the rear of the chassis.
Check for foreign objects inside the chassis such as screws that may ground the server.
Attach the server board correctly to the chassis base with the spacers/stand-offs. Make sure not to tighten the screws too much.
With the power supply connected to power and to the server board, use a voltage sensing pen and hold near the 2x10 or 2x12 SSI power cable going to the server board. If the pen fails to light, there is problem on +5 volts standby. Consider checking the power source or the power supply.
Cable Issues
No boot situations can be caused by any of the following cabling issues:
- Make sure the drive ribbon cables inside the computer are attached correctly and securely. For IDE drives, check the orientation of pin 1 of the hard drive cable. A cable connected backwards may cause the computer not to power up.
- Check that the cables connecting the chassis front panel to the server board are plugged in properly to the onboard headers.
Electrical Short or Overload
An electrical short or overload may cause a system not to boot.
Check for shorts and overloads by removing non-essential items such as extra controller cards or IDE/ATAPI devices. Keep only the server board, power supply, memory and processor installed. If the system boots, it is possible there is a short or overload with one of the components that you removed or one of those components is faulty. Replace each of non-essential items one at a time until you isolate which one is causing the problem.
If the problem occurs even after removing the non-essential components, the problem has to be with the server board, power supply, memory or processor.
Defective Components
Defective components, especially processor and memory, can cause a system not to boot up properly.
- Swap the memory modules with known good memory. In addition, test the suspected memory in another known working system.
- Swap the processor with a known good processor. In addition, test the suspected processor in another known working system.
System Used to Boot up and Now Does Not
Changes to your computer's configuration can cause your system to not boot properly.
New Processor or Additional Memory was Installed
If you upgraded the processor or added memory:
- Some processors require specific server board versions or specific BIOS revisions.
- Make sure the new processor is supported for your server board. To find the supported processor list for your board, go to Supported Processor List.
- Make sure the new memory modules are supported for your server board. To find the tested memory list for your board, go to Tested Memory List.
New PCI or PCI Express* Card was Installed
If you installed a new add-in card to a PCI or PCI Express slot and now the system won't boot:
- Make sure the new add-in card is supported for your server board. To find the tested add-in card list for your board, go to Tested Hardware and Operating System List.
- Some PCI Express graphics cards require additional power.
- Remove and reinstall the new card to make sure it is fully seated in the slot.
- Try the card in a different slot, if possible.
- Make sure other devices and cables inside the chassis were not disturbed or loosened when you installed the new card.
New Drive was Installed
If you added a new drive (hard drive, CD-ROM, DVD, tape drive) and now the system won't boot:
- Make sure the new drive is supported for your server board. To find the tested hard drive list for your board, go to Tested Hard Drive List. To find the tested CD-ROM drive or tape drive list for your board, go to Tested Hardware and Operating System List.
- Make sure all drive cables are properly connected.
- Make sure the correct power cable is connected to the new drive.
- Make sure any drive jumpers (master, slave) are configured correctly according to the manufacturer's documentation.
- Make sure other devices and cables inside the chassis were not disturbed or loosened when you added the new drive.
New Software or Drivers were Installed
If you recently installed new software or new device drivers:
- Try booting into Safe Mode and uninstall the new software or driver. If you can now boot normally, there may be a compatibility issue between the new software or driver and some component in your system. Contact the software manufacturer for assistance.
Settings Were Changed in BIOS
Certain changes in BIOS settings (such as chipset timing or latency, memory timing or latency, processor clock frequency, etc.) can cause a system to no longer boot.
If you are able to enter the BIOS Setup by pressing F2, reset the BIOS to factory defaults by pressing F9. Save and exit the BIOS Setup.
If you cannot enter the BIOS Setup, clear the CMOS by following instructions in Technical Product Specification:
- Power down server. Do not unplug the power cord.
- Open the server chassis. For instructions, see your server chassis documentation.
- Move jumper (J1D1) from the default operation position, covering pins 1and 2, to the reset / clear position, covering pins 2 and 3.
- Remove AC power.
- Wait 5 seconds.
- Move the jumper back to default position, covering pins 1 and 2.
- Close the server chassis.
- Power up the server.
The CMOS is now cleared and can be reset by going into BIOS setup.
| Note |
Removing AC Power before performing the CMOS Clear operation will cause the system to automatically power up and immediately power down, after the procedure is followed and AC power is re-applied. If this happens, remove the AC power cord again, wait 30 seconds, and reinstall the AC power cord. Power up system and proceed to the <F2> BIOS Setup Utility to reset the desired settings. | |
You may also need to perform a BIOS bank select after clearing the CMOS.
Collecting System Event Log for investigation
If the front panel LED blinks for 30 to 60 seconds upon applying AC power to the power supply, the baseboard management controller (BMC) is initializing. If not, then the BMC is not functioning. If the BMC is working, try to gather system event log (SEL) information for investigation.
Examples of troubleshooting system boot issues
Below are some examples on how to troubleshoot system boot issues.
Fans don’t spin when power button pressed
Is at least one power supply fan spinning?
- If it is yes, there is good power to the modules. Verify all required power cables are correctly plugged into the motherboard. Verify front panel cables are fully seated.
- If it is no, there is potential lack of clean power to the module. Swap power cable. Try different wall circuit or port on UPS
Fans spin when power button is pressed, but no video display is seen
Are there any beeps?
- If the answer is yes, refer to the Technical Product Specification of appropriate server product to see what the beeps mean.
- If the answer is no, power off the server and remove all memory then power on again. Are there any beeps?
- If the answer is yes, verify the memory you've installed has been tested with your board. To find the tested memory list for your board, go to Tested Memory List.
- If the answer is no, verify the processor you've installed has been tested with your board. To find the tested processor list for your board, go to Supported Processor List.
BIOS or board logo appear, but OS load screen never appears
- Unplug any add-in cards from the server system. Unplug additional processors and memory DIMMs until there is only one processor and one memory DIMM installed on the server system.
- Power on the system and update BIOS, BMC and FRUSDR to latest revision. You can download latest BIOS, BMC and FRUSDR package from http://downloadcenter.intel.com
- Enter BIOS to check Quiet Boot setting.
- If Quiet Boot is enabled, change to Disabled to check if there is a message or other user interaction required on the screen.
- If Quiet Boot is disabled, check if there is any message mentioning specific hardware.
- If the answer is yes, verify the memory you've installed has been tested with your board. To find the tested memory list for your board, go to Tested Memory List
- If the answer is no, verify the processor you've installed has been tested with your board. To find the tested processor list for your board, go to Supported Processor List
- Check system event log of the server system to see if there is any error message.
OS load screen appears, but nothing further
Make sure the operating system is tested on the server board. To find the tested operating system list for your board, go to Tested Hardware and Operating System List.
Unplug any add-in cards from the server system. Unplug additional processors and memory DIMMs to keep only one processor and one memory DIMM installed on the server system.
Power on the system and check the system event log to see if there is any error message.
OS fully loads, but errors are seen
Use operating system logging utility such as Windows* Event Viewer or Linux dmesg to narrow the source of the error.
If the errors are specific to an add-in card, verify that the new add-in card is supported for your server board. To find the tested add-in card list for your board, go to Tested Hardware and Operating System List.
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