topic Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5 in ProLiant Servers (ML,DL,SL)

Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Kevin Heatwole — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 17:45:21 GMT

I'm going to upgrade the processors in my DL165 G5 and my dealer recommended that before I do anything I should upgrade all firmware to the latest.

The BMC was running version 3.01 and the BIOS was O13 series version 2008.08.15. When I looked at the update BIOS page, I saw that the latest version requires 3.11 BMC firmware so I made a USB Key and upgraded to 3.11. The system rebooted and all was fine.

Next, I returned to the HP download page and saw that the latest BIOS was 2010.02.26, BUT DID NOT NOTICE THE IMPORTANT NOTE THAT I HAD TO ALREADY BE RUNNING A MORE RECENT BIOS TO UPGRADE.

So, I upgraded to 2010.02.26. All looked good for the upgrade, but when I got the screen to power cycle to reboot, the reboot sent nothing to the console (no nice HP graphic while it POSTs). I rechecked the web and then noticed the important note and I should have upgraded to 2009.11.03 first (if the note is to be believed).

So, I am stuck with a system that the green power light goes on (and stays on), but it won't even start to boot (no output on the concole).

I looked at the documentation and it says I can recovery the firmware, but putting the 2009.11.03 boot rom on a USB Floppy and calling the file AMIBOOT.ROM. I went out and bought a floppy drive and put the file on it, but the system doesn't even begin to access the USB Floppy (just the green power light on and some other lights on the motherboard/P400 controller light up).

I then saw that there is some "crisis recovery jumper" somewhere on the motherboard that the Maintenance and Service manual is supposed to tell you where it is, but doesn't. I do see a 2-pin jumper labeled P26 on the motherboard that is supposed to set the Chasis ID1 or ID2. It says to open up the server and jump pins 2 and 3, attach the floppy, and connect power. Then, it should access the floppy. But, nothing happens when I change this P26 jumper. Maybe this isn't the "crisis recovery jumper"?

So, I am stuck. Can anyone help? The system is really a D2D2503i/EH945A Backup server but is just a DL165 G5 with some extra parts (including the P400 controller with BBWC).

I've tried all sorts of other things, but so far, nothing is responsive. I can get to the BMC through the web interface, but nothing looks odd and there doesn't seem to be anyway to flash the BIOS through the web interface. I can telnet to the BMC but I don't know any commands to this. I am new to HP servers, and just want to get the BIOS reflashed and working again.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Kevin Heatwole — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 18:01:40 GMT

BTW, I did search the web for advice how to recover AMI BIOS. It said that if the floppy isn't accessed with the AMIBOOT.ROM file on it, then I should press CTRL-HOME as soon as possible after power is applied to the server.

Nothing I do seems to get a response from the floppy. So, I'm still thinking that maybe the "crisis recovery jumper" is somewhere I'm not seeing and when I find it, I can reflash this BIOS.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Kevin Heatwole — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 23:42:43 GMT

I'm about to give up on this. Nothing I try seems to work.

The documentation for the DL165 G5 says there is a 2 pin jumper at P9 on the motherboard. But, P9 is just a couple soldiers. I found jumpers at P20, P26, P27, and P28. None of them changed to get any activity on the USB Floppy.

The documentation also mentions an HP Crisis Recovery Floppy, but I couldn't find any such animal in all the web (there was reference to Phoenix BIOS recovery floppy, but never for the AMI BIOS.

The BIOS chip itself is soldiered to the motherboard (why would they do that to a part that might need to be replaced?).

Anyway, I've tried everything I can think of. The documentation gives hope that you can just put the ROM on a floppy and it will pick it up. I guess my BIOS isn't messed up enough to get it to look for the floppy. Indeed all lights are green except that the system status light on the motherboard is blinking green (like it would during power up, but it never stops blinking green).

Any ideas at all?

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Popadic — Sat, 24 Apr 2010 15:37:21 GMT

Same for me

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Matt Palmer_2 — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:10:54 GMT

Hi,

I dont have a DL165 G5, but on the 360s and 380s there is a redundant ROM on the board(not sure if the 165 offers the same?)

Maybe you could enable the 'other' ROM if there is one and try a recovery from there?

HTH

Matt

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Matt Palmer_2 — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:23:42 GMT

Hi,

just another thought. I know you said you get no console. - Have you tried to hit the console using the iLO port? might be you can reset through there?

thanks

Matt

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Popadic — Sun, 25 Apr 2010 14:25:06 GMT

The problem is that there is no documentation on where is this jumper.
The Server Maintenance and Service Guide document is wrong.
:(

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

ServerSoft — Mon, 26 Apr 2010 14:28:22 GMT

If you cannot find any solution to this, I've used aqstech.com for server bios repair in the past. They're good.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Gene Fox — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:11:08 GMT

Did you ever find a solution to this problem? It seems I am now in the same boat.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Kevin Heatwole — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 16:21:11 GMT

No solution yet. My DL165 G5 is just a big paper weight.

I'm sure there probably is some way to trigger the ROM to reload the BIOS, but I couldn't figure it out and the documentation is inconsistent at best on how to recover from disaster.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

David Philander — Sat, 24 Jul 2010 18:34:09 GMT

Did you manage to resolve this issue with your DL165 G5. I'm having the same problem after a firmware update. The fans running at high speed and nothing happens during startup.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

PaulCh — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 08:11:55 GMT

Hi colleagues,
I am in the same position with my ProLiant DL185 G5. It is a cactus after updating ROM with recommended update - cp013066.exe. Update finished with message Successful and asked to restart server. Now:
- fans are running on high-speed,
- screen is black,
- NumLock is working on keyboard first 5 second after restart,
- Power-button is not working (can only unplug the power cables),
- Heartbeat is blinking on motherboard,
- SW4 to reset the BIOS doesnâ t help,
- no attempts to rear from USB-FDD or USB-key with BIOS updates,
- BIOS chip is soldered in.
Did anyone have any luck with this?

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Ed Andrade — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 16:40:53 GMT

I'm having the same problem and have gone through the same steps. So if anyone has any resolutions to this I would love to hear them as well.

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

PaulCh — Mon, 09 Aug 2010 23:06:29 GMT

Hi colleagues,

I have no luck so far with this problem. I spent about 30 hours all together. There are some interesting links I managed to find but cannot implement. Probably you will have more luck/knowledge (or find something else):

1) General BIOS flashing facts. I learned several interesting things from here.
http://miro.pair.com/BIOS_Information.php

2) Flashing soldered BIOS connecting directly to by serial cable
http://mondotech.blogspot.com/2009/05/asus-p5b-deluxe-bios-recovery-spi-flash.html

3) How to fix boot-block and force BIOS to read from FDD or USB-stick
http://www.ehow.com/how_2185633_fix-boot-block.html

4) Direct micro-chip programming documentation, general information and etc for SST 49LF080A flash-memory chip.
http://www.sst.com/products/?inode=41352

Good luck!

HP official phone helpdesk is useless. Actually they are worse than useless - they are wasting my time - they put call on hold and never pick it up! I also sent an email more than one week ago and still receive no answer beside auto-reply. This is the last year my company pays for HP "unlimited support".

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Nitin100 — Sat, 14 Aug 2010 21:39:02 GMT

Any update?

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Pascal Normandin — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 14:08:27 GMT

Has anyone been able to resolve this issue? I'm having the exact same problem.

Thanks

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Fabrice Bacchella — Thu, 07 Oct 2010 14:25:33 GMT

Just get bitten by this trap too. How many servers have been destroyed by this â upgradeâ ?

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Kim Gregersen — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 08:15:58 GMT

Why has HP not come back with a solution to this mess yet?

Now i'm stuck with a server, that I cant do anything with.

Has anyone found a solution for this ?

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Thomas Clodfelter — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 16:27:09 GMT

Me as well on a DL185G5. HP Update breaks server. May be cause for legal action...anyone? HP needs to address this!

Re: Help! BIOS update failed to reboot DL165 G5

Michael A. McKenney — Wed, 26 Jan 2011 22:24:05 GMT

I had firmware 9.2 break two servers in December. HP will say you did not follow the procedures to upgrade. Try suing them.

Get a Carepaq and have them replace the hardware.