Intel® Server Products – Intel® Server System Boot Issues...

This troubleshooting wizard is an interactive diagnostic tool that can help you resolve system boot issues.

Choose your scenario:

I am building a system for the first time.

I have a system that used to work, but it now has an issue.

Choose your scenario:

I added new hardware.

I updated my BIOS or firmware.

I did not change anything.

To gather useful information from your server, download the Configuration Utilities for your server.

Run the System Event Log (SEL) Viewer utility and look for reported errors.
Run the System Information Retrieve Utility (sysinfo) and look for issues.

We're sorry you were not able to fix the problem by using this troubleshooting wizard. If you have the same issue, or a different issue has occurred, restart the troubleshooter.

Please contact Intel Customer Support for more help.

For the best customer support experience, be ready to provide the following information:

SA# and serial number
Exact symptoms of the problem
What you have already tried

When you plug the power cord in, the front panel LED should blink briefly, then become solid green, indicating the system has good standby power.

Do you see a steady green LED on the front panel?

The front panel LED is not lit.

My front panel has the green standby power LED lit.

The LED indicates the system has power.

What happens to the chassis fans when the power button is pressed?

The chassis fans start spinning.

The chassis fans do not spin.

The board might not be getting the power-on signal, the power supply could be insufficient, or there is a ground issue. Unplug the front panel cable from the motherboard, and use a screwdriver to close pins 11 and 13 on the front panel connector.

You can also try the following:

Change the power cable.
Use a different power outlet.
Bypass the UPS, if you are plugged into one.

Remove the power cord from the system for 20 seconds.

Power the system back on, Press F2 to enter the BIOS, and press F9 to reset to factory defaults.

If the issue persists, do a BIOS recovery. You can usually find BIOS recovery files and instructions in the latest Firmware Update Package.

New hardware can require an updated BIOS or firmware to work correctly, or the hardware might not be compatible with your system.

Update your system, using the latest firmware update package.
Check the product compatibility list.

For rack systems with multiple PCI and PCIe* riser slots, some slots are not available if only one CPU is installed. To maximize use of riser slots, install two CPUs.

There is either a lack of clean power to the system, or the front panel board might not be working. Check for a ground or short issue. Remove the board temporarily from the chassis, and reattach the power, front panel, and other connections.

Do you see the correct LEDs in this situation?

The front panel LED is not lit.

The green standby power LED on the front panel is lit.

Now that the LED is showing good power, reintegrate the board inside the chassis, and recheck all of the power and cable connections.

Do you see either the BIOS or the motherboard logo, followed by the initial operating system (OS) screen (sometimes called a splash screen)?

I see the OS starting to load.

I only see the BIOS screen, or the board logo.

I do not see anything.

Check your monitor LED to make sure it has power, and remove and insert the video cable again. Listen for beeps from the board during power-on.

My monitor LED shows no signal.

I do not hear any beeps.

I hear beeps.

Quick, quiet beeps are USB devices initializing. Loud, slow beeps indicate an issue. See the Technical Product Specification appendix for beep codes.

Are there any LEDs lit on the board itself?

Yes

No

If there are LEDs on the board, but the system does not start, there is a lack of good power to the system.

Try the following:

Change the power cable.
Use a different power cable.
Bypass the UPS, if you are plugged into one.

Try the following, progressing through the steps provided, until your problem is resolved.

Check for diagnostic or error messages:
1. Reboot your system.
2. Press F2 to enter the BIOS, and change the Quiet Boot option to disabled.
3. Click Save, Exit, and reboot.
4. Watch the monitor for diagnostic or error messages.
Unplug any add-in cards from the system. Remove all but one processor and one DIMM.
Update to the latest firmware from Intel Download Center

If the OS finishes loading, update to the latest firmware and drivers from the Intel Download Center.

If the OS halts or errors during loading, check the OS logs for more information or assistance.

Note: Some older Intel® Server Boards are not compatible with the Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 V2. See the processor compatibility page listings, select your server board, and confirm that your board is compatible.

Some Intel Server Boards might require a BIOS upgrade before installing an Intel® Xeon® Processor E5 V2.

Is your board and processor compatible, and are you using the latest BIOS available?

Yes

No

If you still do not hear any beeps, power-off the server, remove all memory, then power-on again. You should hear three beeps.

I still do not hear any beeps.

I hear three beeps.

Three beeps indicate that the issue is not with the processor. The memory is either not fully seated, is bad, or is not compatible with this motherboard. Check the Memory and Hardware Compatibility for your product.

Try the following:

Use a different monitor and/or video cable.
If you are using an add-in video card, remove it and use the onboard video connector.
If your server has multiple video connectors, use a different connector.

If the board LEDs are lit, check the front panel or the cable, as they might not be fully connected, or they could be faulty. Unplug the front panel cable from the motherboard, and use a screwdriver to close pins 11 and 13 on the front panel connector.

Does the system start up?

Yes

No

Because the system starts manually, reintegrate the board back into the chassis. Power on the system, using pins 11 and 13 on the front panel connector. Firmly reseat the front panel cable, on both the motherboard and the front panel.

Did it solve the problem?

Yes

No

Thank you for using this troubleshooting wizard to resolve the problem!
We recommend you check Intel's support website first whenever you need assistance with an Intel product.

Check the CMOS Clear and the BIOS Recovery jumpers on the motherboard. Make sure both are in the Default position.

Select Your Language

Using Intel.com Search

Quick Links

Recent Searches

Advanced Search

Only search in

Intel® Server Products – Intel® Server System Boot Issues Troubleshooting Wizard

Warranty and Replacement

Need more help?