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Checking the Basics: Dell™ PowerEdge™ 8450 Systems Installation and Troubleshooting Guide

Overview • Backing Up Files • Basic Checks • Checking Connections and Switches • Look and Listen • Recovering the BIOS • The System Setup Program

Overview

If your Dell PowerEdge 8450 system is not working as expected, begin troubleshooting using the procedures in this section. This section guides you through some initial checks and procedures that can solve basic computer problems. It can also direct you to the appropriate section for detailed troubleshooting information and procedures to solve more complex problems.
 

NOTE: When you see the question "Is the problem resolved?" in a troubleshooting procedure, perform the operation that caused the problem.

Backing Up Files

If the system is behaving erratically, back up the files on the hard-disk drives immediately. See the documentation that came with the operating system for instructions on how to back up the files.

Basic Checks

The following procedure leads you through the checks necessary to solve some basic computer problems:

  1. Was an alert message issued by the Dell OpenManage™ Hardware Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management application program?
    Yes. Go to Alert Log Messages From the Dell OpenManage HIP Application Program in Messages and Codes.
    No. Go to step 2.
  2. Is the computer wet or damaged?
    Yes. Go to Checking Inside the Computer.
    No. Go to step 3.
  3. Perform the steps in Checking Connections and Switches.
    Is the problem resolved?
    Yes. The power to the computer system was faulty, or the connections to the computer system were loose. You have fixed the problem.
    No. Go to step 4. Follow the procedures described in Look and Listen.
  4. Did the system complete the boot routine?
    Yes. Go to step 5.
    No. A serious malfunction may have occurred. Go to Getting Help.
  5. Did you receive a system message or beep code?
    Yes. Go to System Messages.
    No. Go to step 6.
  6. Verify the settings in the system setup program.
    Is the problem resolved?
    Yes. The system configuration information was incorrect. You have fixed the problem.
    No. Go to step 7.
  7. Run the Dell Diagnostics.

Checking Connections and Switches

Improperly set switches and controls and loose or improperly connected cables are the most likely source of problems for the computer, monitor, or other peripherals (such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or other external equipment). A quick check of all the switches, controls, and cable connections can easily solve these problems. Figure 1 shows the back-panel connections on the computer. Figure 2 shows the front-panel controls and indicators on the computer.

Figure 1. Back-Panel Features

Basics-1.gif (40752 bytes)
 

1

 PCI hot-plug expansion slot indicators (10)

2

 Inter-chassis management bus (ICMB) connectors (2) (when supported)

3

 External SCSI connector

4

 Keyboard connector

5

 Mouse connector

6

 Serial port B

7

 Serial port A

8

 Parallel port connector

9

 Video connector

10

 USB connectors 0 (top) and 1

11

 Redundant power supplies (3)

12

 AC power receptacle


 

Figure 2. Front-Panel Features

Basics-2.gif (57394 bytes)
 

1

Power button

2

Diskette drive

3

IDE CD-ROM drive

4

System status indicators (4)

To check all the connections and switches, perform the following steps:

  1. Turn off the system, including any attached peripherals (such as the monitor, keyboard, printer, external drives, scanners, and plotters). Disconnect all the AC power cables from their electrical outlets.
  2. If the computer is connected to a power strip (or power distribution unit), turn the power strip off and then on again. Is the power strip receiving power?
    Yes. Go to step 5.
    No. Go to step 3.
  3. Plug the power strip into another electrical outlet. Is the power strip receiving power?
    Yes. The original electrical outlet probably does not function. Use a different electrical outlet.
    No. Go to step 4.
  4. Plug a system that you know works into the electrical outlet. Does the system receive power?
    Yes. The power strip is probably not functioning properly. Use another power strip.
    No. Go to step 5.
  5. Reconnect the system to the electrical outlet or power strip.
    Make sure that all connections fit tightly together.
  6. Turn on the system. Is the problem resolved?
    Yes. The connections were loose. You have fixed the problem.
    No. Go to step 7.
  7. Is the monitor operating properly?
    Yes. Go to step 8.
    No. Go to "Troubleshooting the Monitor" in Checking the Equipment.
  8. Is the keyboard operating properly?
    Yes. Go to step 9.
    No. Go to "Troubleshooting the Keyboard" in Checking the Equipment.
  9. Are the mouse and printer operating properly?
    Yes. Continue with "Look and Listen" found next in this section.
    No. Go to "Troubleshooting I/O Ports" in Checking the Equipment.

Look and Listen

Looking at and listening to the system is important in determining the source of a problem. Look and listen for the indications described in Table 1.

Table 1. Boot Routine Indications
 

Look/Listen for: Action
An error message  See Messages and Codes.
Alert messages from the Dell OpenManage HIP software The server management software has detected a problem inside the computer. See Alert Log Messages From the Dell OpenManage HIP Application Program.
The monitor's power indicator Most monitors have a power indicator (usually on the front bezel). If the monitor's power indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting the Monitor.
The keyboard indicators  Most keyboards have one or more indicators (usually in the upper-right corner). Press the <Num Lock> key, the <Caps Lock> key, or the <Scroll Lock> key to toggle their respective keyboard indicators on and off. If the indicators do not light up, see Troubleshooting the Keyboard.
The diskette-drive access indicator  The diskette-drive access indicator should quickly flash on and off when you access data on the diskette drive. If the diskette-drive access indicator does not light up, see Troubleshooting the Diskette Drive Subsystem.
The hard-disk drive activity indicators

The hard-disk drive activity indicators should quickly flash on and off when you access data on the hard-disk drives. On a system running the Microsoft® Windows NT® operating system, you can test the drive by opening Windows Explorer and clicking the icon for drive C. If the hard-disk drive access indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk Drives. 
A series of beeps

See Messages and Codes. 
An unfamiliar constant scraping or grinding sound when you access a drive Make sure the sound is not caused by the application program you are running. The sound could be caused by a hardware malfunction. See Getting Help for instructions on obtaining technical assistance from Dell.
NOTE: For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the Abbreviations and Acronyms list.

Recovering the BIOS

If the system basic input/output system (BIOS) is corrupted, you can reboot the system by using a separate recovery BIOS. To recover the BIOS, perform the following steps:

  1. Shut down the system.
  2. Change the BIOS Recovery switch to the recovery position. See Jumpers, Switches, and Connectors for the location of this switch.
  3. Place the BIOS Recovery diskette in the diskette drive and restart the system.
    The recovery BIOS will boot the system from the diskette and reflash the system BIOS. This procedure will take up to five minutes. When the procedure is completed, the system will beep twice.
  4. Shut down the system and remove the BIOS recovery diskette.
  5. Return the BIOS Recovery switch to the normal position.

The System Setup Program

You can easily correct certain system problems by verifying the correct settings in the system setup program. When you boot the system, the system checks the system configuration information and compares it with the current hardware configuration. If the system hardware configuration does not match the information recorded by the system setup program, an error message may appear on the screen.

This problem can happen if you changed the system's hardware configuration and forgot to run the system setup program. To correct this problem, enter the system setup program, correct the corresponding system setup setting, and reboot the system. See "Using the System Setup Program" in the User's Guide for detailed instructions on using the system setup program.

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