DELL BIOS UPGRADE FAIL / NO BOOT / SYSTEM HEALTH INDICATOR FLASHING AMBER
I am/was Running Windows Server 2012 Standard.
BIOS was 2.2.3
I downloaded the latest BIOS for upgrade for x64 OS (Server 2012)
As Administrator I ran the program T110-II_BIOS_G8T83_WN64_2.8.0.EXE obtained from the DELL URL Drivers and downloads for PowerEdge T110 II BIOS Version 2.8.0
All went well and was informed that I would be logged off in less than 1 minute.
The Server restarted. All good so far!
I powered off the Server. (pulled the power plug for a cold boot) as instructed.
Expecting the BIOS to now be version 2.8.......
Plugged in the power chord
The Server started normally
I noticed that the BIOS was still 2.2.3.
OK, so I logged in as Administrator and ran the procedure again, as you do.
I followed the bouncing ball, again.
I was logged off, as before and the server restarted.
I powered off again. ( pulled the power plug).
Plugged in the power chord
This is where is the part where it all turns bad
Diagnostic lights 1,3,4 are on for a LONG time,
The the HDD activity indicator comes on and then off (the HDD is spinning up),
Then a Burst from the CPU FAN to full speed, then slowly to very quiet, fan is turning as I can feel air coming out of the CPU heat sink.
The 1,3,4 lights go out,
The System Health indicator comes on steady BLUE for 10 seconds and it turns AMBER and flashes.
Power button light remains on, it does not work (no power down when pressed).
I must remove the power chord to start the procedure all over again.
Cycle repeats as before
There is nothing on the video display, no beeps, no BOOT.
Everything was normal and working before the BIOS flash "update/fail"
HELP!
Is there a backup BIOS (second copy) is there a "jumper" that will help me out here, or do I have a DELL T110 II "paper weight" now?
It may have caused an issue with the motherboard, but we can try a couple things to see if it happens to recover. First off lets take the server to the minimum hardware to post, that is removing everything from the server but the following;
System Board
Processor with Heatsink
1 DIMM in slot 1
Power Supply
Control Panel and Cable
After removing everything then remove the power cord. Depress the power button for about 10 seconds, this is to drain the flea power from the server. After that then locate the NVRam jumper, which is label #21 on the motherboard diagram shown below.
Upon locating the jumper on the motherboard, move it over to clear the NVram. After the jumper has been moved then power the system. Once it shows power and clears, then power back down and restore the jumper to it's original location. After all that is done then power the server and see if it will clear POST. If it doesn't, it is likely that the motherboard BIOS is corrupt.
Let me know what you see.
DELL-Chris H
Social Media and Communities Professional
Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services
#IWork4Dell
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DELL-Chris H
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Posted July 10th, 2015 09:00
Rodney.Bunt,
It may have caused an issue with the motherboard, but we can try a couple things to see if it happens to recover. First off lets take the server to the minimum hardware to post, that is removing everything from the server but the following;
After removing everything then remove the power cord. Depress the power button for about 10 seconds, this is to drain the flea power from the server. After that then locate the NVRam jumper, which is label #21 on the motherboard diagram shown below.
Upon locating the jumper on the motherboard, move it over to clear the NVram. After the jumper has been moved then power the system. Once it shows power and clears, then power back down and restore the jumper to it's original location. After all that is done then power the server and see if it will clear POST. If it doesn't, it is likely that the motherboard BIOS is corrupt.
Let me know what you see.
DELL-Chris H
Social Media and Communities Professional
Dell Technologies | Enterprise Support Services
#IWork4Dell
Did I answer your query? Please click on ‘Mark as Accepted Answer’. ‘Thumbs up’ the posts you like!