Compaq Proliant ML370 - how to get into the BIOS?

[Andre Seel]

Hello, I've got an old Compaq Proliant ML370 machine, I think with less then / or with about 1 GHz processor. I can not start the server anymore. If I start from the CD/HDD/or Floppy it would begin and wouldn't do anything at a certain point.

I guess one of the hardware parts are broken, so I'd like to check it out in the BIOS. The problem is - I can not get into BIOS, I have tryed different buttons, it wouldn't work...

If I start with the StartSmartCD, it would not start also.

Can anybody tell me, how can I get into the BIOS / or how can I handle this problem?

[CA859951]

You can access the "bios" from the System Partition by pressing F10 when the server boots up.

Do you get video? If so, what gets displayed?

Do you get any POST errors on the screen?
Do you get any POST Beeps codes?

If you boot off of Floppy can you get a DOS instance?

You can try to run the diagnostics from Floppy using the HP Server Diagnostics:
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/18396.html
you will need one disk for this.

You can try to configure the server using the System Configuration Utility:
http://h18023.www1.hp.com/support/files/server/us/download/13227.html
You will need four disks for this.

The System Configuration Utility is the "bios" or configuration utility for the server.

Let us know?

[Andre Seel]

Hi John - thank you for your answer.

I can not start from the FLOPPY, because it begins to start from the floppy and just at the point where you can see: "MS DOS is starting...", this case "-" starts to blink and it happens nothing thereafter.
The same happens, if you would start the Windows from the HDD - it would begin to load and as far as you see the logo of Windows 2000 Server(at the beginging) it would stay so and do nothing anymore.. The same happens if you are trying to install a new copy of Windows 2000 Server, it would just begin, load the files and then break on a certain point.
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I have here some information, what happens, while I am trying to get into the BIOS:

While starting the server a logo of COMPAQ Proliant appears.

Thereafter comes the following:

512 MB Detected

COMPAQ System BIOS -P17 (04/02/2001)
Copyright 1982, 2001.....

Processor initialized with 933/133 Mhz with 256 Kbyte Cache

COMPAQ Integrated Smart Array Controller (ver 1.42) 1 Logical Drives
SCSI Port 1, ID 06: COMPAQ 12/24GB DAT DRV Tape Drive

He asks me to press F10 to access the ROM based Utility

Here I press:

Option ROM Configuration for Arrays, version 1.0
Copyright 1999, COMPAQ Computer Corporation

Integrated Smart Array Controller

Detected Logical Drive Configuration
18.2GB RAID 1 drive, fault tolerant with no online spare

Physical Drives Assigned
SCSI Port2: ID 00, COMPAQ BD0186459A 18.2GB drive
SCSI Port2: ID 01, COMPAQ BD01864552 18.2GB drive

Press to delete the logical drive configuration
Press to exit

Here I press

It tells me:

Press to access the Configuration Utility

Here I press:

The System Partition Utilities are not available on this system
Press any key to continue..

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This is a strange thing. While the Server is initializing the hardware on it - it would just show the DAT drive, but I can not see the HDD's, except I would press to enter the ROM-based config. utility. Is it ok like this? I mean is it normal?

The other thing is, if I start Windows from the HDD - it would begin to load, that would mean, that the HDD is working.. ?! (at least at the begining)...

I had a similar problem with my home pc, and there has been the CPU the problem. The processor had more then 90% Degrees (Celsius) temperature...

Where and how can I check the temperature of the CPU? If just from the floppy - its not possible - so what can I do in this case?

[Andre Seel]

Can somebody help me to find the server-specific troubleshooting guide for the following machine:

COMPAQ Proliant ML370 P17 ??

Thank you in advance.

[CA1175938]

Did you find a resolution? Mine is doing the same thing. I can not get past the Starting windows at the Windows 2000 Family screen.
Susan