ML350 gen9 with "POST Error: 261" after flashing new ME firm. from Xeon V3 to V4 procedure

[Mauro23]

Hi everyone,

as many other subjects you can find with no solution here :

https://community.hpe.com/t5/proliant-servers-ml-dl-sl/gen9-update-from-v3-to-v4-intel-xeon-processor/m-p/7127504 

https://community.hpe.com/t5/servers-general/ml350-g9-me-firmware/td-p/7155159?nobounce 

https://community.hpe.com/t5/proliant-servers-ml-dl-sl/hpe-dl380-gen9-sps-update-requied/m-p/7221924 

I am running after applying the procedure " c04849981" (available here : https://internal.support.hpe.com/hpesc/public/docDisplay?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c04849981) to migrate from Xeon V3 to Xeon V4 the error "POST Error: 261-Server Platform Services Firmware requires update. Action: Please run the Server Platform Services Firmware Flash Component to update this firmware." at each startup. I tried to flash "cp029724.exe>" with Windows server 2012, 2016 and 2019 as well as Windows 7 with no success. In the following thread : "https://community.hpe.com/t5/proliant-servers-ml-dl-sl/dl380-gen9-sps-update/td-p/7085985 " the person said that he succeeded in flashing it in Windows 7 with Bios 2.30, i tried with no success on my side, even with Bios 2.42.

V4 CPU runs fine as well as V3, but always this POST message and the degraded state of the server in ILO.

I am a bit stuck. Thanks for the help.

[support_s]

System recommended content:

1. HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen9 Server Maintenance and Service Guide

2. HPE ProLiant ML350 Gen9 Server User Guide

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[Mauro23]

The procedure was applied a numerous amount of time already, and the outcome is, the POST Error 261 i am describing. Doesn't solve the issue.

[Mauro23 · Accepted solution]

Problem solved, i applied almost the same procedure as described in this topic : https://community.hpe.com/t5/proliant-servers-ml-dl-sl/dl360p-g8-post-message-261-server-platform-services-firmware/td-p/6309861 

On my side, i only desoldered the ME chip, i did not touch the BIOS one.

By the way, pay attention that the 2 chips aren't exactly the same, one is double the size than the other, don't mix them up.

At first boot, i still had the POST 261 error, even with the old ME version flashed to the ROM (the 3.0.6.267.1).

Instead of desoldering and flashing the bios ROM as well, i tried one more time with BIOS 2.30 and Windows 7 64bits to flash the new ME version through the file "cp029724.exe" and i succeeded to get rid of the POST error and have the firmware back in my ILO firmware overview page :

3 days of try and error to get this done, this is insane, but at least, now it works. I used the well known TL866 II+ programmer to get the job done, between 100 to 130€ or even cheaper if you are patient on Ali.

Good luck to save your boards folks.

[Sunitha_Mod]

Hello @Mauro23,

That's Excellent! 

We are extremely glad to know you were able to find the solution and we appreciate you for keeping us posted. 

We hope this helps the other users in the Community. 

[Mauro23]

Thanks, in addition, i am sharing the bin file extracted from the ME eeprom so that if people don't have another Gen9 working, they can still save themselves from this situation.

https://mega.nz/file/8xljhQRK#dQhFAyNRfUiUFhZw-jqMAS_ldCuk9oTFmf3hanrDFow