Dell PowerEdge 2650

Troubleshooting

If the problem cannot be resolved using the steps below, please call Dell Technical Support for further assistance.

The Basics

• Determine exactly what hardware is installed in (and attached to) the server
• Determine which operating system is loaded
• Determine when the problem started
• Determine what happened just prior to the problem (was new software installed? Was there a power outage?)
• Check to see that everything is connected properly (power, KB, mouse, etc)

No POST/No Video

• Verify the monitor is working
• Pull all peripheral cables (keyboard, mouse, serial, SCSI, etc) from the back of the server. Make sure to leave the power and control panel cables attached.
• Pull all feature cards
• Reseat the processor, and pull all terminator cards and memory
• Make sure the power cable goes directly to wall rather than to a surge protector or UPS.
• Take load off system board, pull the control panel cable and try the power button on system board
• Strip the system down to one processor and one memory module if possible
• Jumper the processor speed down and pull the memory to try and get a "no memory installed" error
• If none of the above steps resolve the issue, please call Dell Technical Support for further assistance.

Intermittent Lockups

• Does the lockup seem to be related to hardware or software?


Software
• Is there an error on the screen when the system locks up?
• Depending on the operating system, does any information on support.novell.com, Microsoft TechNet, or support.microsoft.com match the issue?
• Does it hang during a specific application (Exchange, SQL, etc)
• Have any drivers been updated recently?
• If network related, check for auto sensing features on network interface card and set it to manual


Hardware
• Are there error messages of any kind at POST?
• If there is a keyboard, mouse, or monitor switch, pull them one by one
• If there are any third party hardware products, such as a UPS or storage device, pull them
• Does the system hang trying to access factory install hardware? If so, try removing that particular piece of hardware
• Check resources: are there IRQ or memory conflicts? If so, run "log2txt" to get ESM information
• Run correct versions of RCU, ECU, or SCU
• Try multiple known-good versions of each type of card in each slot


General
• Has the server been moved recently?
• Perform an environmental check on the conditions of the room the server is in: is there anything interfering with its operation?
• Determine if there is a pattern to the lockups (i.e. same time, same day, every week)

No POST, and/or "F1 to continue, F2 to for setup" message

• Are there any error messages displayed before the "F1 to continue boot, F2 to for setup" message?
• Was the system exposed to a power surge (such as that caused by lightning)?
• If this system features multiple power-supplies, make sure enough power supplies are cabled up to power the system on.
• Was the server running with no problems prior to its last reboot? If so, then:
• Check to see if the wrong partition is set to active
• Check for a failed hard drive
• Check for a failed SCSI controller
• Remove all non-factory-installed equipment
• Does the system see all controllers?
• Is the system hanging up while initializing a particular device?
• Remove all feature cards
• Clear the system BIOS using the jumper on the system board
• Reseat the RAM and processor
• Pull all cables from peripherals and system board except for the power and control panel cables
• If none of the above steps resolve the issue, please call Dell Technical Support for further assistance.

Raid Controller Basics

• Never force a failed drive online, even during troubleshooting.
• Verify the PERC configuration.
• Make sure the PERC has memory.
• Check to make sure the PERC is seen at post and in the OS.
• Verify that the PERC has no errors on post.
• Reseat the PERC and the PERC memory if it is not seen.
• Check cable connections and reseat.
• Make sure you are using a shielded cable.
• Verify that any device connected to the PERC is compatible.
• Make sure the drives spin up when plugged to the PERC.
• Check the BIOS if the drive is not booting.