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Checking the Basics: Dell™ PowerEdge™
6300 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
If your Dell PowerEdge 6300 computer
system is not working as expected, start your troubleshooting with the procedures in this
section. This section guides you through some initial checks and procedures that can solve
basic computer problems. It can also direct you to the appropriate section in this guide
for detailed troubleshooting information and procedures to solve more complex problems.
 |
NOTE: When you see the
question, "Is the problem resolved?" in a troubleshooting procedure, perform the
operation that caused the problem. |
If the system is behaving erratically,
back up the files immediately. See the documentation that came with the operating system
for instructions on how to back up the files.
The
following procedure leads you through the checks necessary to solve some basic computer
problems:
1. Was an alert message issued by the
Dell OpenManage Hardware Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management application?
Yes. Go to Alert Log Messages.
No. Go to step 2.
2. Is the computer wet or damaged?
Yes. Go to Checking Inside the Computer.
No. Go to step 3.
3. Perform the steps in Checking Connections and Switches.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The power to the
computer system was faulty, or the connections to the computer system were loose. You have
fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 4.
4. Follow the procedures described in Look and Listen.
Did the computer system complete the boot
routine?
Yes. Go to step 5.
No. A serious malfunction
may have occurred. Go to Getting Help.
5. Did you receive a system message or
beep code?
Yes. Go to Messages and Codes.
No. Go to step 6.
6. Verify the settings in the System
Setup program as explained in The System Setup Program.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The system
configuration information was incorrect. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 7.
7. Run the Dell Diagnostics as
described in Running the Dell Diagnostics.
Improperly set switches and controls and
loose or improperly connected cables are the most likely source of problems for the
computer, monitor, or other peripherals (such as a printer, keyboard, mouse, or other
external equipment). A quick check of all the switches, controls, and cable connections
can easily solve these problems. Figure 1 shows the back
panel connections on the computer. Figure 2 shows the front panel
controls and indicators on the computer.
Figure 1. Back
Panel Features
Figure 2 . Front
Panel Features
Complete the following procedure to check
all the connections and switches:
1. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals (such as the monitor, keyboard, printer, external drives, scanners,
and plotters). Disconnect all the AC
power cables from their power sources.
2. If the computer is connected to a
power strip, turn the power strip off and then on again.
Is the power strip receiving power?
Yes. Go to step 5.
No. Go to step 3.
3. Plug the power strip into another
electrical outlet.
Is the power strip receiving power?
Yes. The original
electrical outlet probably does not function. Use a different electrical outlet.
No. Go to step 4.
4. Plug a lamp that you know works into
the electrical outlet.
Does the lamp receive power?
Yes. The power strip is
probably not functioning properly. Use another power strip.
No. Go to step 5.
5. Reconnect the system to AC power.
Make sure that all connections fit tightly
together.
6. Turn on the system.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The connections were
loose. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 7.
7. Is the monitor operating properly?
Yes. Go to step 8.
No. Go to Troubleshooting the Monitor.
8. Is the keyboard operating properly?
Yes. Go to step 9.
No. Go to Troubleshooting the Keyboard.
9. Is the mouse or printer operating
properly?
Yes. Continue with Look and Listen.
No. Go to Troubleshooting I/O Ports.
Looking at and listening to the system is
important in determining the source of a problem. Look and listen for the indications
described in Table 1.
Look/Listen for:
|
Action
|
An error message |
See Messages
and Codes. |
Alert messages from the Dell OpenManage HIP software
|
The server management software has detected a problem inside the
computer. See Alert Log Messages. |
The monitor's power indicator |
Most monitors have a power indicator (usually on the front
bezel). If the monitor's power indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting the Monitor.
|
The keyboard indicators |
Most keyboards have one or more indicators (usually in the
upper-right corner). Press the <Num Lock> key, the <Caps Lock> key, or the
<Scroll Lock> key to toggle their respective keyboard indicators on and off. If the
indicators do not light up, see Troubleshooting the Keyboard. |
The diskette-drive access indicator |
The diskette-drive access indicator should quickly flash on and
off when you access data on the diskette drive. If the diskette-drive access indicator
does not light up, see Troubleshooting the
Diskette Drive Subsystem. |
The hard-disk drive activity indicators |
The hard-disk drive activity indicators should quickly flash on
and off when you access data on the hard-disk drives. On a system running the Microsoft® operating system, you can test the drive by
opening Windows Explorer and clicking the icon for drive C. If the hard-disk drive access
indicator does not come on, see Troubleshooting SCSI Hard-Disk
Drives. |
A series of beeps |
See Messages
and Codes. |
An unfamiliar constant scraping or grinding sound when you
access a drive |
Make sure the sound is not caused by the application you are
running. The sound could be caused by a hardware malfunction. See Getting Help for
instructions on obtaining technical assistance from Dell. |
The absence of a familiar
sound |
When you turn on the system,
you should hear the hard-disk drives spin up, and
the system trying to access the boot files from the hard-disk
drive, the diskette drive, or the CD-ROM drive. See Running the Dell Diagnostics. If the system does
not boot, see Getting
Help. |
|
NOTE:
For the full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the abbreviation
and acronym list. |
|
If you have not resolved the problem
after looking at and listening to the computer, continue with the instructions in The System Setup Program.
You can easily correct certain system
problems by verifying the correct settings in the System Setup program. When you boot the
system, the system checks the system configuration information and compares it with the
current hardware configuration. If the system hardware configuration does not match the information recorded by the System Setup program,
an error message may appear on the screen.
This problem can happen if you changed
the system's hardware configuration and forgot to run the System Setup program. To correct
this problem, enter the System Setup program, correct the corresponding System Setup
setting, and reboot the system. See Chapter 4, "Using the System Setup Program,"
in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for detailed instructions on using
the System Setup program.
If you are experiencing problems with the
system, you may have a conflict between the information stored by the System Setup program
and the Resource Configuration Utility (RCU). Although the RCU can read changes from the
System Setup program, changes are not recorded into configuration memory until you run the
RCU and save the new information. See Chapter 5, "Using the Resource Configuration
Utility," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for detailed
instructions on using the RCU and saving new information.
If after using the RCU you have not
resolved the problem, see Running the Dell Diagnostics.
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