Netserver E800 will not boot

[Curtiss Barrett]

I am running Windows NT Server on a Hewlett Packard Netserver E 800. Yesterday, I rebooted the Netserver because the keyboard was not responding properly. The Netserver has since refused to boot back up again. It goes through the RAM test, identifies the IDE and SCSI devices, and that is as far as it goes. I cannot enter the BIOS setup - the bottom of the screen shows Entering Setup . . . but nothing else happens. The system appears to lock up, as the keyboard numlock and caps lock keys no longer work. I have moved the processor chip / RAM / IDE devices / SCSI devices / PCI NIC to another E 800, and the only change is that the keyboard numlock and caps lock keys still work at least, they change the light on the keyboard). Any suggestions?

[e4services]

Did you try changing things out? CPU may be? You did say by switch the components to another systemboard the problem did not go away, correct?

[Curtiss Barrett]

Yes, I did try switching componenents. I used RAM from another server, I used a different processor chip, I removed the PCI NIC. I also took the drives in the cage from another E800 and tried to boot them in the box that's giving me grief, and it still didn't want to start.

However, I have found that if I remove all IDE and SCSI devices, clear the BIOS three times (using the dip switch), and boot with only the boot SCSI drive attached, the server will eventually start. I just have to restart the boot process many times to get it going.

Could it be a bad boot drive?

[e4services]

Well at this point, I would susspect either the Systemboard or the power supply in the case as the problem.

[Curtiss Barrett]

Thanks for giving me your input on this. In the end, I worked with this server for four days and decided to replace it instead of wasting more time on it. It's looking more and more like a motherboard problem all the time.

[Terri Harris]

This is probably too late but a basic troubleshooting step for Netservers is to clear CMOS (clear the current BIOS configuration).

1. Power off & locate system switches.
2. Move the CLEAR CMOS/CLEAR Config switch to the opposite position
3. Power up. It should report a configuration error and stop during POST
4. Power off. Move switch back to original position.
5. Power up & see if F2 can now be accessed. If so, select F9 for factory defaults, then save & exit.