Bl860c i2 attempt to install windows XP itanium edition causes system to no longer boo

[TheUbMunster]

During my adventures trying to solve this problem from this forum post, I made a Windows XP Itanium edition CD and tried to boot that (even though I found no material that would indicate that this was a supported OS). Upon executing the EFI file, it logged a couple of things, then the system "froze". I waited half an hour. SSH to iLO was still working, but I eventually reset the system, and found out that the system will no longer boot. Here is the log that iLO gives me when I try to start up the system now (reformatted for cleanliness):

Welcome to the Live Event Viewer
Use '?' for help, 'Q' or Ctrl-B to exit.
ILO 2 2 408022BA10E10001 0000000000000000 POWER_BTN_PRESSED (02 Mar 2000 05:11:57)

ILO 2 2 408021A910E10003 0000000000000000 LOCAL_BLADE_POWERED_ON (02 Mar 2000 05:11:57)

ILO 2 2 548022E710E10005 00000000000F000C SYSTEM_SOFT_RESET (02 Mar 2000 05:11:58)

ILO 2   2038BDF81E020007 FFFF006FFA220400 ACPI_ON (01 Mar 2000 05:11:58)

ILO 2 *3 B238BDF823020008 FFFF010662020400 VOLTAGE_FAULT (02 Mar 2000 05:12:03)

ILO 2 *3 B238BDF823020009 FFFF0106D3020400 VOLTAGE_FAULT (02 Mar 2000 05:12:03)

ILO 2 *5 A080252C10E1000A 0000000000000000 BLADE_FAILED_BOOT (02 Mar 2000 05:13:02)

ILO    *7 2038BDF86A02000C FFFF036F00070400 BOOT_NOT_DETECTED (02 Mar 2000 05:13:14)

[No further logs for 20 minutes, then I shut it down]

The first thing I tried was to remove the CPU/Heatsink module and reseat them (as in, remove the entire thing and then put it back, I did not separate the CPU from the heatsink), I turned it back on, the logs were the same.

I read something (can't remember where from) that seems somewhat similar to mine, is it possible that the server refuses to boot because the CMOS-esq battery in the back corner of the motherboard needs to be replaced? (I think the battery is for iLO, but not sure). If it is this battery, why would it outright prevent the server from working?

Is it possible that my attempt to install Windows XP bricked some firmware in this system? If so, that would be the first time that something like this has happened to me.

[georgek_1]

Hello TheUbMunster,

Installation of an unsupported OS may not corrupt firmware , though it may not successful .

The server mentioned BL860c i2 will not support Windows XP/10, but would support Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based systems .

Following are the supported OS for this server ;

OS Support 
HP-UX 11i v3 Data Center Operating Environment (DC-OE)
HP-UX 11i v3 Virtual Server Operating Environment (VSE-OE)
HP-UX 11i v3 High Availability Operating Environment (HA-OE)
HP-UX 11i v3 Base Operating Environment (BOE)
NOTE: For more complete and up to date information on HP-UX 11i support, please visit the HP-UX11i
website at: http://www.hp.com/go/hpux11iblades

OpenVMS 8.4 (choice of Mission Critical, Enterprise, or Foundation Operating Environment)
NOTE: For more complete and up to date information on OpenVMS support, please visit the OpenVMS
website at: www.hp.com/go/openvms

Microsoft Windows Server 2008 for Itanium-based systems
NOTE: For more complete and up to date information on Windows support, please visit the Windows
website at: www.hp.com/go/integrity/windows

https://www.hpe.com/psnow/doc/c04111681

I work for HPE/ I am an HPE Employee (HPE Community)

[TheUbMunster]

It's good to see that my attempt could not have corrupted the firmware. I do have windows server 2008 for itanium on my other itanium blade, however, the issue with this blade is that I can no longer even get to the UEFI shell. I could before, then when I attempted to run the XP installer cause the system to freeze, and upon rebooting, the system no longer gets to the UEFI shell.

Note, when I said windows XP, I was not referring to x86/x86_64 XP, I was referring to Microsoft Windows XP for Itanium based systems, which is a real thing: see here

What I'm trying to do is figure out why this system won't boot, and how I can restore it to working order.

Is there a method that I can use to "factory reset" this system to potentially fix this issue? If not, any ideas for what I can try?

[georgek_1]

Hello @TheUbMunster,

It would be difficult to say the issue without checking the logs .

You may refer the document https://support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docId=c02110937&docLocale=en_US , for checking server status/health .

Else, I would suggest you log a hardware case with HPE - if you have contract get it fixed .

I work for HPE/ I am an HPE Employee (HPE Community)

[Sunitha_Mod]

Hello @TheUbMunster,

Let us know if you were able to resolve the issue.

If you have no further query and you are satisfied with the answer then kindly mark the topic as Solved so that it is helpful for all community members.

[TheUbMunster]

@georgek_1 I have not yet been able to resolve the issue. I tried migrating the hardware (RAM, CPUS) to a different bl860c i2 to see if I could get that to work, but for some reason the blade isn't docking in the c7000 quite correctly. I need to investigate further methods to gather logs/info about the issue, but the blade doesn't "boot up" to any user controllable state, so I'm having a hard time.

[TheUbMunster]

Attempting to diagnose this issue has been the most tedious experience with this server so far. In order to connect to this ancient iLO via the OA website (I believe it's version 01.41.01), I had to set up a windows 7 virtual machine just so I could run internet explorer 9 to connect to the iLO website. Anyways, the logs within are similar to my first post, but do have some additional detail:

(Warning) ILO 2 VOLTAGE_FAULT Voltage Fault - Check all boards with this voltage. Performance Lags: B238BDF792020019 FFFF010662020400

(Critical) ILO 2 BLADE_FAILED_BOOT This blade has failed to show signs of boot.

(Fatal) ILO BOOT_NOT_DETECTED No events were recieved from system firmware FRB2/Hang in POST failure: 2038BDF7D702001C FFFF036F00070400

The "FRB2" tidbit seemed interesting, and I found this post (albeit from unrelated hardware) that indicates that perhaps I do have a hardware failiure that just happened to coencide with my Windows XP for Itanium systems installation attempt.

I'll remove one of the CPU's, try them each individually, remove some ram etc. to see if this is caused by bad hardware. Will report back.

[TheUbMunster]

I'm still unsure what to make of the long hexidecimal numbers, but I did try removing half the ram, and one of the processors (didn't fix it), then switching to the other processor (still didn't fix it), but as I was looking through the iLO log via ssh, I found out that the SL logs have a "text mode" that provides slightly more information. Much of the information is identical to what I've already stated, but I have a bit more info on the "voltage fault"

In addition to the other information, the voltage fault is accompanied by "Sensor: Voltage - V5_0 PWR" I'm guessing this refers to some 5 volt power source somewhere, but I don't know where. Given that the FRB2/Hang in POST failure is attributed to the "Processor" sensor and this voltage error isn't, I'm guessing that this voltage problem isn't from the CPU assembly.

Does anyone have any ideas?