BIOS recovery - Proliant Microserver N36L

[DavidGryts]

Hi,

I was about to update the BIOS in our Microserver with the "Online ROM Flash Component for Windows - HP ProLiant MicroServer"-tool. Unfortunately, as so often, Windows suddenly freezed (!) and after appr. ~20 minutes of an unresponsive machine (mouse, keyboard etc.) I didn´t have any other choice but to reboot the server. Lets just say the machine doesn´t even POST now =/


Diagnosis:

In standby powerbutton lights amber (normal)

1. After pressing the powerbutton it turns green (normal)
2. Fans start to spin (normal)
3. No beeps (not sure if normal)
4. Hard drives initiates and scratches for a second (normal)
5. Optional DVD initiates and starts spinning.
6. During this time the USB-flash key (if connected) also blinks for a short while.
7. USB connected keyboard does not initiate (LEDs=dark) (not normal)
8. The "HP Health LED" is dark/inactive all the time (not normal)


I´ve tried the following attempts to restore the AMI BIOS:

1. Downloaded the "Systems ROMPaq Firmware Upgrade for HP ProLiant MicroServer (For USB Key-Media)", installed it on a USB key (FAT32 formatted) according to the instructions and plugged it into the machine before power-on.

2. Tried taken the same files and burned it on to a CD (both regular and bootable).

3. Taken only the BIOS rom file (from downloaded package) to a USB and CD, renamed it to AMIBOOT.ROM, HPBIOS.ROM.


The installation manual also shows a BIOS recovery jumper (J25) where Open=Normal, Short=BIOS Recovery. Funny thing is that the machine came with the jumper shortened on the board,.. typing error or did someone in the HP-factory messed up?? Anyway, I think I´ve tried all the procedures above with the jumper both on and off the 2pins..and well...surprise, none of these methods works. Regardles of input media nothing happends with the machine. I´ve also tried hitting Ctrl+Home (standard AMI BIOS command) but it doesn´t seem to affect the events since the keyboard is probably not even initiated.

I´m pretty screwed right? The only hope I have is that "something" seems to be searching the CD (not just constant spinning) during power-on when a media is present. I sence that the key here could be some fancy name on the .rom file but since I´ve alredy tried the normal ones, what to do?

Is there any friendly soul out there who has any suggestions??

Best regards / David

[Johan Guldmyr]

Hey!

I am not at all familiar with the micro servers, but on the HP Proliant servers it's possible to clear the NVRAM using a jumper on the system board. Is there anything similar to that on this one?

[Suman_1978]

Hi,

There is a "Clear CMOS jumper" check the attached image for location.

Clear CMOS jumper (J19)
1-2 Normal
2-3 Clear CMOS

Good Luck

[Suman_1978]

Forgot to attach image.

[DavidGryts]

I´ve cleared CMOS both with jumper setting and removal of battery. But isn´t CMOS only user specific data stored in the EPROM? not the actual startup instructions right? Anyway.. no change of state clearing the CMOS =(

The issue here is probably a total corrupt BIOS and whether boot block is featured in HPs hardware or not?

""AMI has an embedded recovery technique in the 'boot block' of the BIOS. In the event that the BIOS becomes corrupt the boot block can be used to restore the BIOS to a working state. The routine is called when the 'system block' of the BIOS is empty or corrupt. The restore routine when called will access the floppy drive or equal looking for a file named AMIBOOT.ROM.""

And even if it is, how does the procedure work.. not like normal AMI BIOS M/B anyway. HP hasn´t directly been educational in the subject. Like mentioned before there IS a jumper for BIOS recovery (se attached file)but a describtion on how it works can´t be found anywhere

/ David

[Johan Guldmyr]

Maybe that is something HP Support can assist you with? Unless somebody here knows more about it.

[Ali]

Hi David,

Bios recovery will not work unless you put the jumper on (Short=BIOS Recovery) and update the system BIOS while jumper is short.

once system bios is sucessfully updated/flashed and system has been power cycled, you may put the jumper back on normal.

hope this helps,

thanks,
Aftab

[DavidGryts]

Hi there,

I've already done that since the jumper was short when it arrived from the reseller (shouldn't that one be left open when delivered btw?). Regardless of jumper position the server makes no attempt to beep or initiate any flash sequence.

I bet it requires some sort of keystroke combination to force a bios update, but how do i accomplish that without any initiated USB-host controller on a server missing PS-2 port =/

[Ali]

Hi David,

I understand the situation.

If disaster recovery for system bios does not work then only way to fix the issue to get the system board replaced.

this is considered as system down situation and I would suggest to log a case with HP lets HP engineer does the job for you.

thanks.

Aftab

[mrblack]

I have the exact same issue.

How did yours get resolved in the end? Did the bios recovery jumper setting work for you?

In the documentation it says it is J25 but on the board it is labelled as J26...

[Johan Guldmyr]

Maybe the system board have been updated?

[mrblack]

Maybe... but how does the BIOS recovery jumper work? I have tried removing it and booting up but no difference.

[adencool]

i got this from another site:
tranlated hence bad english (i cant be bothered to clean it up, but it kinda makes sense)

(note i have the same problem, going to try this next week once i can get my hand on a sata drive)

Below is a sequence of actions to restore the BIOS. To restore the necessary SATA CD / DVD, connected to the SATA on the board. You also need to find a jumper "Clear CMOS", is located in the center of the front edge of the board. He has two positions "reset", when two nearest shorted pin and the "normal", when two further pins are shorted. All off and turn on the computer should not make a button, but pulling the plug.

1. Should prepare a CD with a single file AMIBOOT.ROM. The file must be based on our flash BIOS, for example O41093010.ROM from hp drivers support page. write to the disk in the format of ISO, better file name in big letters.

2. Clear CMOS jumper set to reset the position and turn on comp. Logo lights up red. Waiting for a couple minutes and turn off comp.

3. Reposition the jumper in normal position and turn on comp. It will be seen that except for promotion will drive one more treatment CD, in the logo will change its color from red to yellow and blue. Computer goes into normal boot mode.

[roncpa]

I've followed the procedure suggested by adencool without success: step 1 and 2 OK, at step 3 the CD remain inactive and logo dark.

More activities whith USB key plugged into m/b connector: the key led lights up as well as all keyboard leds, but nothing more, even pressing Ctrl+Home.

I've tried changing filename on CD and key: AMIBOOT.ROM, HPBIOS.ROM and O41011711.ROM.

Any help will be appreciated.