Back To Contents Page
Checking Inside the Computer: Dell™ PowerEdge™
6300 Installation and Troubleshooting Guide
This section provides troubleshooting
procedures for components inside the computer. Before you start any of the procedures in
this section, do the following:
You need the following items to perform
the procedures in this section:
- The Dell Server Assistant CD and a blank, formatted 3.5-inch
diskette
- The Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide
- The key to the system keylocks
 |
NOTE: When you see the
question, "Is the problem resolved?" in a troubleshooting procedure, perform the
operation that caused the problem. |
The procedures in this guide require
that you remove the cover and work inside the computer. While working inside the computer,
do not attempt to service the computer except as explained in this guide and elsewhere in
Dell documentation. Always follow the instructions closely.
Working
inside the computer is safe--if you observe the following precautions.
 |
WARNING:
The power supplies in this computer system produce high voltages and energy hazards, which
can cause bodily harm. Only trained service technicians are authorized to remove the
computer cover and access any of the components inside the computer. |
|
WARNING:
This system may have more than one power supply cable. To reduce the risk of electrical
shock, a trained service technician must disconnect all power supply cables before
servicing the system. |
WARNING FOR YOUR PERSONAL SAFETY AND
PROTECTION OF THE EQUIPMENT
Before starting to work on the computer,
perform the following steps in the sequence listed:
1. Turn off
the computer and all peripherals.
2. Disconnect
the computer, peripherals, and power supplies from their AC power sources. Also disconnect
any telephone or telecommunication lines from the computer. Doing so reduces
the potential for personal injury or shock.
3. Touch an
unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis, such as the power supply, before touching
anything inside the computer.
4. While you work, periodically touch
an unpainted metal surface on the computer chassis to dissipate any static electricity that might harm internal components.
5. Never place conductive objects such
as tools, metal pens, or screws on the system board.
In addition, Dell recommends that you
periodically review the safety instructions at the front of this guide.
When following the procedures in this
guide, assume that the locations or directions relative to the computer are as shown in Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Computer Orientation
The computer is enclosed by a front
bezel and a cover. To troubleshoot problems inside the computer, you may need to remove
the cover to allow access to the system board, small computer
system interface ( SCSI )
backplane board, and external SCSI devices.
The computer cover provides a
three-position keylock that allows the following access options to the system's interior:
- The latch position (denoted by the square icon) allows access to the PCI
compartment through the PCI access door.
- The unlocked position (denoted by the open lock icon) enables the
computer cover to be removed.
- The locked position (denoted by the lock icon) locks both the computer
cover and the PCI access door.
When the system is unlocked, the latch
and unlocked positions can be accessed without the key.
Use the following procedure to remove
the computer cover:
1. Observe the precautions in Safety First--For You and Your Computer. Also observe the safety instructions at the
front of this guide.
2. Turn the keylock on the back edge
of the cover to the unlocked position (designated by the open lock icon).
If necessary, unlock the keylock using the
system key (see Figure 2).
3. Slide the cover a half-inch (about
a centimeter) or so toward the back of the computer, and grasp the top of the cover at both ends.
4. Lift the cover away from the
chassis.
Figure 2.
Removing the Computer Cover
Use the following procedure to replace
the computer cover:
1. Check all cable connections,
especially those that might have come loose during your work. Fold cables out of the way so that they do not catch on the computer cover.
 |
CAUTION:
Make sure that there are no cables or cable connectors lying on the top diskette
drive in the upper drive cage. Foreign objects on top of the drive can interfere with
drive operation and permanently damage the drive. |
2. Check that no tools or parts
(including screws) are left inside the computer.
3. Make sure the keylock on the cover
is in the unlocked position.
4. Fit the cover over the side rail at
the bottom of the chassis, and slide it closed.
5. Secure the cover with the keylock.
6. Set the keylock to the locked
position.
Use the following procedure to remove
the front bezel of the computer:
1. Remove the computer cover.
See
Removing the Computer Cover.
2. Gently pry the four tabs along the
right edge of the bezel loose with your finger tips, and disengage the three clips on the opposite edge from the chassis (see Figure 3).
3. Rotate the bezel to the left to
disengage and remove.
Figure 3.
Removing the Front Bezel
Use the following procedure to replace
the front bezel of the computer:
1. Align the three clips on the edge
of the bezel and press the bezel into place until the tabs on the opposite edge of the bezel snap into place.
2. Reinstall the computer cover.
See Replacing
the Computer Cover.
Accessing the interior of your system
requires disassembly of various components, depending on the task that you need to
perform. The following sections describe how to disassemble system components to access
the PCI expansion cards, microprocessors or memory module, system board, SCSI backplane
board, and power supply paralleling board.
The PowerEdge 6300 system provides an
access door to the PCI expansion card compartment (see Figure 4)
for easy installation and removal of the expansion cards. To open the access door, the
keylock must be in the latch position (designated by the square icon) or the unlocked
position (designated by the open lock icon).
Figure 4.
Accessing the PCI Expansion Cards
To access the microprocessors or the
memory module inside the system, you must remove the interior support panel (see Figure 5). To remove the support panel, turn the thumbscrews on the
left side of the panel, rotate the panel outward slightly, lift the hinge side of the
panel to clear the tabs from the hinge slots, and remove the panel.
To access the system board, you must
remove all expansion cards in addition to the support panel. For instructions on removing
the expansion cards, see Removing an
Expansion Card.
Figure 5.
Removing the Support Panel
To access the backplane board or the
power supply paralleling board, you must open the system board tray to the service
position (see Figure 6). To open the system board tray, release
the tray latch at the back lower corner of the tray and pull the tray open to the first
slide position. To remove the tray completely, pull the tray slightly outward (or upward
if the system is mounted horizontally) to clear the slide catch and then pull the tray out
of the chassis.
Figure 6.
Opening the System Board Tray
In Figure 7, the
cover on the right side of the computer is removed to provide an interior view. Figure 7 also identifies the drive bays. Refer to th is illustration to locate interior features and components
discussed later in this guide.
The system board--the large, vertical,
printed circuit board at the left side of the chassis--holds the computer's control
circuitry and other electronic components. Some hardware options are installed directly on
the system board. The external drive bays provide space for up to three half-height
5.25-inch drives, typically CD-ROM drives or tape drives. The diskette drive bay holds a
3.5-inch diskette drive. The hard-disk drive bays provide space for up to six 1.6-inch or
1-inch SCSI hard-disk drives. These hard-disk drives are connected to a SCSI host adapter
on the system board or on an expansion card via the SCSI backplane board.
When you look inside the computer, note
the DC power cables leading from the power supply paralleling board. The power cables
supply power to the system board, SCSI backplane board, externally accessible drives, and
any expansion cards that connect to external peripherals.
The wide ribbon cables are the interface
cables for internal drives. For
non-SCSI drives such as the diskette drive, an interface cable connects each drive to an
interface connector on the system board or on an expansion card. For SCSI devices,
interface cables connect externally accessible SCSI devices and the SCSI backplane board
to a SCSI host adapter either on the system board or on an expansion card. (For more
information, see Installing Drives in the External Bays
and Installing Hard-Disk
Drives.)
During an
installation or troubleshooting procedure, you may be required to change a jumper or
switch setting. For information on the system board jumpers, see
Jumpers and Switches.
Figure 7. Inside the System (Right-Side
View)
The Dell OpenManage Hardware
Instrumentation Package (HIP) server management application monitors critical system
voltages and temperatures, the system cooling fans, and the status of the SCSI hard-disk
drives in the computer. The application generates alert messages that appear in the simple
network management protocol (SNMP) trap log file. See Messages and
Codes, for a listing of these alert messages. (More information about the Alert Log
window and options is provided in the Dell OpenManage HIP online help and the HP OpenView
NNM SE 1.2 With Dell OpenManage HIP 3.2 User's Guide.)
Liquid spills, splashes, and excessive
humidity can cause damage to the system. If an external device (such as a printer or an
external drive) gets wet, contact the device manufacturer for instructions. If the
computer gets wet, complete the following steps:
1. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
2. Let the computer dry for at least
24 hours.
Make sure that it is thoroughly dry before
proceeding.
3. Remove all expansion cards
installed in the computer.
See Removing an Expansion Card.
4. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
Does the system have power?
Yes. Go to step 5.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
5. Turn off the system, disconnect it
from the AC power source, remove the computer cover, and reinstall all expansion cards you
removed in step 3.
See Removing an Expansion Card.
6. Replace the computer cover, and
reconnect the system to the AC power source.
7. Run the System Set Test Group in
the Dell Diagnostics.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. The system is
operating properly.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
If the computer was dropped or damaged
while being moved, you should check the computer to see if it functions properly. If an
external device attached to the computer is dropped or damaged, contact the manufacturer
of the device for instructions or see Getting
Help, for information on obtaining technical assistance from Dell. Follow these
steps to troubleshoot a damaged computer:
1. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
2. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
|
CAUTION:
See Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge. |
3. Check all the board and card
connections in the computer.
Check the following connections:
- Expansion-card connections to the system board
- Drive carrier connections to the SCSI backplane board
- Verify all internal cable and component connections.
Make sure that all cables are properly connected and that all components are properly
seated in their connectors and sockets.
- Replace the computer cover and reconnect the system to the AC power
source.
6. Run the System Set Test Group in
the Dell Diagnostics.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. The system is
operating properly.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
If an error message indicates a problem
with the battery, or if the System Setup program loses the system configuration
information when the computer is turned off, the battery may be defective.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot the
battery:
1. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
2. Remove the computer cover.
See
Removing the Computer Cover.
|
CAUTION:
See Protecting Against Electrostatic Discharge |
3. If an expansion card blocks your
access to the battery, remove the expansion card.
See Removing an Expansion Card for
instructions.
4. Check the connection of the coin
cell battery to the system board.
Is the battery firmly installed in the
battery socket on the system board?
Yes.
Go to step 6.
No. Go to step 5.
5. Reseat the battery in its socket.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The battery was
loose. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 6.
6. Replace the battery.
See Replacing the Battery for instructions
on replacing the battery.
|
WARNING:
There is a danger of a new battery exploding if it is incorrectly installed. Replace the
battery only with the same or equivalent type recommended by the manufacturer. Discard
used batteries according to the manufacturer's instructions. |
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The battery's charge
was low. You have fixed the problem.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
7. Reinstall the expansion cards
removed in step 3, if applicable.
8. Replace the system cover, and
reconnect the system to the AC power source.
The redundant power supplies in Dell
PowerEdge 6300 systems are controlled by the power supply paralleling board. The two
indicators on the back of the power supply (see Figure 8) signal
the status of each power supply. If the red power-supply fault indicator lights up, the
power supply should be replaced.
Figure 8. Power
Supply Features
Follow these steps to replace a power
supply:
1. Disconnect the AC power cable from
the power outlet, and then disconnect the other end of the cable from the power supply.
2. Remove the AC power cable from the
cable strain-relief clips.
3. Remove the power supply (see Figure 9):
- Push in on the power supply handle and slide the handle to the left
(or upward if mounted in the horizontal position) to release it.
- Rotate the handle outward and then slide the power supply out of the
chassis.
Figure 9.
Removing the Power Supply
4. Slide the new power supply into the
chassis to the point where the power supply initially stops.
The outer edge of the power supply should
be flush with the chassis.
|
NOTE: Do not use excessive
force when sliding the power supply into the chassis. |
5. Using both hands, slide the power
supply handle to the left (or up if the chassis is mounted horizontally) so that the two ends of the handle engage into the slots in the chassis, and then
rotate the power supply handle to the closed position.
The handle acts as a lever to push the
power supply into the proper position inside the chassis.
6. Slide the handle to the right (or
down if the chassis is mounted horizontally) so that the latch engages into the slot in the chassis.
|
NOTE: The power supply will
not function until the latch is engaged. |
7. Connect the AC power cable to the
power supply and route the cable through the strain-relief clips on the power supply handle.
8. Connect the AC power cable to the
power outlet.
1. Check the AC power outlet and power
cable (see Checking Connections and Switches).
2. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect all the AC power cables from their power sources.
3. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
4. Check the power cable connections
to connectors POWER1, POWER2, and POWER3 on the system board .
See Figure 1
for the location of these connectors.
5. Check the cable connections on the
power supply paralleling board (see Table 1).
Table 1. Power Cable Connectors on the Power Supply Paralleling Board
|
Connector
|
Cable Connection
|
PS1.PB1 and
PS1.PB2 |
To the power connector on the first power supply |
PS2.PB1 and
PS2.PB2 |
To the power connector on the second power supply |
PS3.PB1 and
PS3.PB2 |
To the power connector on the third power supply |
PWR1 |
To POWER1 connector on system board |
PWR2 |
To POWER2 connector on system board |
PWR3 |
To POWER3 connector on system board |
FD |
To diskette drives and other devices in external drive bays |
HD_B/P |
To POWER connector on SCSI backplane board |
NOTE: For the
full name of an abbreviation or acronym used in this table, see the abbreviation and
acronym list. |
A total of five cooling fans are
installed in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 system chassis; two fans are located at the front of
the system board tray, and three fans are mounted in a removable assembly adjacent to the
hard-disk drive bays.
The three-fan assembly for the hard-disk
drives is hot-pluggable. That is, you can remove the entire three-fan assembly and replace
it with another entire three-fan assembly while the system is running. If you wish to
replace the individual fans in the assembly, you must turn off the system before removing
the fan assembly to prevent system overheating while the fan is replaced.
On the two-fan assembly for the system
board, you can hot-plug the individual fans, but only a single fan at a time. Because the
fans in the two-fan assembly can be removed and replaced without removing the assembly
from the system, you can replace either fan while the system is running. However, if you
need to remove the two-fan assembly, you must turn off the system before doing so.
|
CAUTION:
You can hot-plug the three-fan assembly only if you immediately install a
replacement assembly. Removing the three-fan assembly from a running system for any period
of time beyond what is needed for immediate replacement can result in system overheating. You can only hot-plug the fans in the two-fan assembly one fan at a
time. Removing more than a single fan from operation at one time can result in system
overheating. |
If the Dell OpenManage HIP
server-management application program issues a fan-related error message, follow these
steps to troubleshoot the problem.
|
NOTE: You can perform the
following procedure with the system turned on or off. |
1. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
2. Check the fan cable connections as
follows:
For the two-fan assembly for the system
board, check the connections between the fan connectors and the extension cables extending
from the system board.
For the three-fan assembly for the hard-disk
drives, remove the assembly and reinstall it, making sure that the electrical connector is
fully seated.
Do the fans operate properly?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Replace the defective fan or fan assembly as described in the
following subsections.
Follow these steps to replace a
defective cooling fan in the two-fan assembly for the the system board.
|
NOTE: You can perform the
following procedure with the system turned on or off. |
1. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
2. Identify the defective cooling fan
in the assembly.
Before removing the fan, note the direction
of the airflow.
3. Disconnect the cooling fan's power
cable from the extension cable attached to the appropriate FAN connector on the system board.
4. Remove the faulty cooling fan from
the fan assembly by releasing the two fan retention tab s on
the assembly (see Figure 10).
Figure 10.
Removing a Cooling Fan in the Two-Fan Assembly
5. Remove the four push pins that
fasten the finger guard to the old fan and attach the guard to the new fan. Make sure that the guard is placed on the correct side of the fan relative to
the direction of the airflow.
6. Insert the replacement cooling fan
into the carrier, and snap the two fan retention tabs back into position.
7. Connect the cooling-fan power cable
to the extension cable attached to the system board.
The cooling fan should begin operating.
8. Replace the computer cover.
Follow these steps to replace the
three-fan assembly for the hard-disk drives.
|
NOTE: You can perform the
following procedure with the system turned on or off. |
1. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
2. Lift up on the release latch on the
back of the three-fan assembly and slide the assembly out of the system (see Figure 11).
Figure 11.
Removing the Three-Fan Assembly
3. Slide the new replacement assembly
into the system, making sure that the electrical connector is fully seated.
The cooling fans should begin operating.
4. Secure the fan cables using the
cable management clip on the chassis by the fans.
5. Replace the computer cover.
If an error message indicates an
expansion-card problem or if an expansion card seems to perform incorrectly or not at all,
the problem could be a faulty connection, a conflict with software or other hardware, or a
faulty expansion card. Follow these steps to troubleshoot expansion cards:
1. Start the Resource Configuration
Utility, and verify that all Peripheral Component Interconnect (PCI) expansion cards have been configured correctly. Save the configuration before exiting
the utility.
See Chapter 5, "Using the Resource
Configuration Utility," in the Dell Power-Edge 6300 Systems User's Guide for
instructions.
2. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
3. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
4. Verify that each expansion card is
firmly seated in its connector.
Are the expansion cards properly seated in
their connectors?
Yes. Go to step 6.
No. Go to step 5.
5. Reseat the expansion cards in their
connectors.
See Removing an Expansion Card and Installing an Expansion Card for
instructions on removing and replacing expansion cards.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The connection was
loose. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 6.
6. Verify that any appropriate cables
are firmly connected to their corresponding connectors on the expansion cards.
For instructions on which cables should be
attached to specific connectors on an expansion card, see the expansion card's
documentation.
Are the appropriate cables firmly attached
to their connectors?
Yes. Go to step 8.
No. Go to step 7.
7. Reconnect the cable connectors to
the appropriate connectors on the expansion cards.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The cable connections
were loose. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 8.
8. If applicable, inspect all jumpers
and configuration switches on each expansion card.
For instructions on jumpers and
configuration settings, see the expansion card's documentation.
Is each expansion card configured
correctly?
Yes. Go to step 10.
No. Go to step 9.
9. Reconfigure the card according to
the instructions in the card's documentation.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The memory
configuration of the card was incorrect. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 10.
10. Remove all expansion cards.
See Removing an Expansion Card for
information on removing expansion cards.
11. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
12. Enter the System Setup program,
and update the system configuration information.
See Chapter 4, "Using the System Setup
Program," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for instructions.
13. Run the RAM Test Group in the Dell
Diagnostics.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. Go to step 14.
No. See Getting Help, for information on obtaining technical
assistance.
14. Turn off the system, disconnect it
from the AC power source, and remove the computer cover.
15. Reinstall one of the expansion
cards you removed in step 10, and repeat steps 11 through 13.
16. Repeat steps 11 through 15 for
each of the remaining expansion cards that you removed in step 10.
Have you reinstalled all of the expansion
cards without encountering a test failure?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. See Getting Help, for information on obtaining technical
assistance.
A system memory problem can be a faulty
dual in-line memory module (DIMM) or a faulty system board. If a random-access memory
(RAM) error message appears, the system probably has a memory problem.
When you turn on or reboot the system,
the Caps Lock and Scroll Lock indicators on the keyboard should flash momentarily and then
turn off. If the Num Lock category in the System Setup program is set to On, the Num Lock
indicator should flash momentarily and then remain on; otherwise, it should turn off.
Abnormal operation of these indicators can result from a defective DIMM in socket DIMM A.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot
system memory:
1. Turn on the system, including any
attached peripherals.
Is there an error message indicating
invalid system configuration information after the memory count completes?
Yes. Go to step 2.
No. Go to step 12.
2. Enter the System Setup program to
check the Total Memory or System Memory setting.
See Chapter 4, "Using the System Setup
Program," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for instructions.
Does the amount of memory installed match
the Total Memory or System Memory setting?
Yes. Go to step 12.
No. Go to step 3.
3. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the AC power cable from its power source.
4. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing the Computer Cover.
5. Remove the support panel.
Turn the two thumbscrews on the support
panel and pull the tabs on the right side of the panel out of the slots in the chassis.
6. Remove the memory module.
Hold the module by the corners where the
handles are and carefully pull the module out until the edge connectors are free from the
system board connector.
|
NOTE: Be careful not to
touch components or gold edge connectors on the module. |
7. Reseat the DIMMs in their sockets.
See Adding
Memory for instructions on removing and replacing DIMMs.
8. Replace the memory module.
Hold the module by the corners with the
DIMM sockets facing down. Ease the module into the correct slot guides until it is
touching the system board connector. Press the module carefully but firmly into the system
board connector and rotate the handles closed.
|
NOTE: Before closing the
handles, make sure the memory module is aligned with the system board connector. |
9. Replace the support panel.
Align the panel so that the two tabs are to
the right. Fit the tabs into the two slots on the chassis back and swing the panel closed.
Secure the panel with the two thumbscrews.
10. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
11. Enter the System Setup program and
check the System Memory setting again.
Does the amount of memory installed match
the System Memory setting?
Yes. Go to step 12.
No. Go to step 13.
12. Reboot the system, and observe the
monitor screen and the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators on the keyboard.
Does the monitor screen remain blank, and
do the Num Lock, Caps Lock, and Scroll Lock indicators on the keyboard remain on?
Yes. Go to step 13.
No. Go to step 15.
13. Turn off the system, disconnect it
from the AC power source, and remove the computer cover.
14. If possible, swap the DIMM in
socket DIMM A with one of the same capacity, reboot the system, and observe the monitor
screen and the indicators on the keyboard.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Go to step 15.
15. Run the RAM Test Group in the Dell
Diagnostics.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
Troubleshooting video problems involves
determining which of the following is the source of the problem: the monitor, the monitor
interface cable, the video memory, or the video logic of the computer. You can also have a
high-resolution video expansion card installed, which overrides the video logic of the
computer.
The following procedure troubleshoots
problems with the video memory and video logic only. Before you begin, perform the
procedure found in Troubleshooting the
Monitor to determine whether or not the monitor is the source of the problem.
If you have a high-resolution video
expansion card, first complete the steps in Troubleshooting
Expansion Cards to verify that the card is configured and installed correctly.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot the
video subsystem:
1. Run the Video Test Group in the
Dell Diagnostics.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics.
Most of the tests in the Video Test Group
are interactive; that is, you must respond before the diagnostics continues with the next test.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. It is not a video
hardware problem. Go to Finding Software Solutions.
No. Go to step 2.
2. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the AC power cable from its power source.
3. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
4. Determine whether a video expansion
card is installed.
Is a video expansion card installed?
Yes. Go to step 5.
No. The on-board video
controller is faulty. See Getting Help, for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
5. Remove the video expansion card,
and repeat step 1.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. The video expansion
card is faulty. See Getting Help, for instructions on
obtaining technical assistance.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
A system board problem can result from a
defective system board component, a faulty power supply, or a defective component
connected to the system board. If an error message indicates a system board problem,
follow these steps to troubleshoot the problem:
1. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
2. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing the Computer Cover.
3. Remove all expansion cards except
the SCSI host adapter card and the video expansion card (if they are installed).
4. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
5. Enter the System Setup program, and
update the system configuration information.
See Chapter 4, "Using the System Setup
Program," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for instructions.
6. Run the System Set Test Group in
the Dell Diagnostics.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. Go to step 7.
No. Go to step 12.
7. Turn off the system, disconnect it
from the AC power source, and remove the computer cover.
8. Reinstall one of the expansion
cards you removed in step 3, repeat steps 4, 5, and 6, and continue with step 9.
9. Replace the computer cover, and
reconnect the system to the AC power source.
10. Run the System Set Test Group
again.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. Go to step 11.
No. Go to step 12.
11. Repeat steps 7, 8, and 9 for each
of the remaining expansion cards you removed in step 3.
Have you reinstalled all of the expansion
cards without encountering a test failure?
Yes. Go to step 12.
No. The expansion card is
faulty. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
12. Disconnect the keyboard and reboot
the system.
Does the system boot successfully?
Yes. Go to step 13.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
13. Swap the keyboard with a
comparable working keyboard, and run the System Set Test Group again.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
If the monitor displays a system error
message indicating a diskette drive problem during execution of either the boot routine or
the Dell Diagnostics, the problem may be caused by any of the following conditions:
- The system configuration settings do not match the physical diskette
subsystem configuration.
- The diskette drive cable is not properly connected or is faulty.
- An expansion card is interfering with proper drive operations.
- A diskette drive may be improperly configured.
- The diskette drive is faulty.
- The computer's power supply is not providing sufficient power for the
drives.
- The computer's diskette drive logic is faulty.
Follow these steps to troubleshoot the
diskette drive subsystem:
1. Enter the System Setup program, and
verify that the system is configured correctly for the Diskette Drive A setting.
See Chapter 4, "Using the System Setup
Program," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for instructions.
2. If the system configuration
settings are incorrect, make the necessary corrections in the System Setup program, and then reboot the system.
3. Run the Diskette Drives Test Group
in the Dell Diagnostics to see whether the diskette drive subsystem now works correctly.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics for more information.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. If you were in the
middle of another procedure, continue with the next step in the procedure you were
performing.
No. Go to step 4.
4. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
5. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
6. Remove the support panel.
Turn the two thumbscrews on the support
panel and pull the tabs on the right side of the panel out of the slots in the chassis.
7. Check the diskette drive cabling.
Is the diskette drive securely connected to
the diskette drive interface cable connector?
Is the diskette drive interface cable
connector securely connected to the interface connector (labeled "FLOPPY") on
the system board?
Is the drive's DC power cable firmly
connected to the drive?
Yes. Go to step 10.
No. Go to step 8.
8. Reconnect the cable connectors.
9. Replace the support panel.
Align the panel so that the two tabs are to
the right. Fit the tabs into the two slots on the chassis back and swing the panel closed.
Secure the panel with the two thumbscrews.
10. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
11. Run the Diskette Drives Test Group
in the Dell Diagnostics to see whether the diskette drive subsystem now works correctly.
See Running the
Dell Diagnostics for more information.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Go to step 12.
12. Repeat steps 4 and 5, and remove
all expansion cards.
See Removing an Expansion Card for
instructions.
13. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
14. Run the Diskette Drives Test Group
in the Dell Diagnostics to see whether the diskette drive subsystem now works correctly.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. An expansion card may
be conflicting with the diskette drive logic, or you may have a faulty expansion card.
Repeat steps 1, 2, and 3.
No. Go to step 13.
15. Repeat steps 4 and 5, and
reinstall one of the expansion cards you removed in step 10.
See Removing an Expansion Card for
instructions.
16. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
17. Run the Diskette Drives Test Group
in the Dell Diagnostics to see whether the diskette drive subsystem now works correctly.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. Go to step 18.
No. Go to step 19.
18. Repeat steps 15 through 17 until
all expansion cards have been reinstalled or until one of the expansion cards prevents the system from booting from the diagnostics diskette.
19. Repeat steps 4 and 5. Verify that
the drive's termination is enabled and that the drive-select jumper is set to the DS1
position.
|
NOTE: Some diskette drives
may require you to remove the drive from the computer to change the drive's termination
and drive-select settings. |
For information about the drive's
termination and drive-select settings, refer to the documentation for the drive.
Is the drive configured correctly?
Yes. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining technical
assistance.
No. Go to step 20.
20. Correct the drive-select jumper
and drive termination settings.
21. Replace the computer cover,
reconnect the system to the AC power source, and turn on the system.
22. Run the Diskette Drives Test Group
in the Dell Diagnostics to see whether the diskette drive subsystem now works correctly.
Do the tests complete successfully?
Yes. You have solved the
problem.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
A SCSI tape drive can be an internal
device installed in one of the externally accessible drive bays or an external device that
attaches to a SCSI host adapter connector on the back panel of the computer. The SCSI tape
drive is controlled by a SCSI host adapter card installed in the computer, which may also
control other SCSI devices connected to one or more SCSI cables. SCSI devices often
require device drivers for the particular operating system being used by the computer
system.
Tape drive problems often result from a
defective tape drive, a defective tape cartridge, or software. Follow these steps to
troubleshoot a SCSI tape drive:
1. Remove the tape that was in use
when the problem occurred, and replace it with a tape that you know is not defective.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The original tape was
defective. Replace it with a new tape. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 2.
2. Reboot the system and press
<F2> to enter the System Setup program.
Is Secondary SCSI set to Enabled?
Yes. Go to step 4.
No. Go to step 3.
3. Verify that any required SCSI
device drivers are installed on the hard-disk drive and are configured correctly.
See Chapter 3, "Installing and
Configuring SCSI Drivers," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide for
instructions on installing and configuring the SCSI device drivers for the system's
on-board SCSI host adapter or Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller host adapter card.
For any other type of SCSI host adapter card, see the documentation that accompanied the
SCSI host adapter card.
Are the drivers installed and configured
correctly?
Yes. The SCSI device
drivers were installed or configured incorrectly or were corrupted. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Go to step 4.
4. Reinstall the tape backup software
as instructed in the tape-backup software documentation.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The tape backup
software was corrupted. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 5.
5. Reboot the system and check for the
presence of the tape drive during the optional ROM scan
sequence.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The drive is
correctly cabled and is receiving power. Go to step 10.
No. Go to step 6.
6. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
7. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing
the Computer Cover.
8. Remove the support panel.
Turn the two thumbscrews on the support
panel and pull the tabs on the right side of the panel out of the slots in the chassis.
9. Check the SCSI cable connections to
the tape drive and to the SCSI host adapter connector. If the tape drive is an internal device, check the DC power cable connection to the tape
drive.
Are the cables firmly connected?
Yes. Go to step 11.
No. Go to step 10.
10. Reseat the cable connectors,
replace the support panel, and replace the computer cover. Reconnect the system to the AC power source and turn it on.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Go to step 11.
11. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the AC power cable from its power source. Then remove the computer cover.
12. Remove the tape drive. Then verify
that the tape drive is configured for a unique SCSI ID
number and that the tape drive is terminated or not terminated as appropriate.
See the documentation for the tape drive
for instructions on selecting the SCSI ID and enabling or disabling termination.
Is the tape drive configured correctly?
Yes. Go to step 15.
No. Go to step 13.
13. Reconfigure the tape drive's SCSI
ID and termination settings as appropriate. Reinstall the tape drive, replace the computer cover, and reconnect the system to the AC power
source and turn it on.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The tape drive was
configured incorrectly. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 14.
14. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source. Then remove the computer cover.
15. Replace the SCSI cable that
connects the tape drive to the SCSI host adapter. Replace the computer cover, and then reconnect the system to the AC power source and turn
it on.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
Hard-disk drive problems can be caused
by a number of conditions, including problems with the drive itself, the SCSI backplane
board, or a cable connected to the SCSI backplane board.
The SCSI backplane board monitors the
SCSI hard-disk drives connected to the backplane board. In the event of a drive failure,
systems using the optional Dell PowerEdge Expandable RAID Controller host adapter card
will issue the following signals using the drive indicator lights adjacent to each SCSI
hard-disk drive:
- If a drive shows signs of imminent failure, the drive online indicator
stays on , and the drive failure indicator blinks on briefly
each second.
- If a drive has failed, the drive online indicator turns off , and the drive failure indicator blinks off briefly each
second.
Other drive indicator patterns are
listed in Table 2.
Table 2. SCSI Hard-Disk Drive Indicator Patterns
|
Condition
|
Indicator Pattern
|
Identify drive |
All three drive status indicators blink simultaneously. |
Drive being prepared for removal |
The three drive status indicators flash sequentially. |
Drive ready for insertion or removal |
All three drive status indicators are off. |
Drive being prepared for operation |
The drive online indicator is on. The drive activity light may
flash briefly. |
Drive bay empty |
All three drive status indicators are off. |
Drive predicted failure |
The drive online indicator is on. The drive failure indicator
blinks on briefly each second. |
Drive failed |
The drive online indicator turns off. The drive failure
indicator blinks off briefly each second. |
Drive rebuilding |
The drive online indicator blinks rapidly. |
Drive online |
The drive online indicator is on. |
Use the following procedure to
troubleshoot a hard-disk drive problem.
|
CAUTION:
This troubleshooting procedure can destroy data stored on the hard-disk drive.
Before you proceed, make sure you have backed up all the files on the hard-disk drive. |
1. If the on-board SCSI host adapter
is being used to control the SCSI backplane board, reboot the system and press <F2> to enter the System Setup program.
Is Primary SCSI A set to Enabled?
Yes. Go to step 3.
No. Go to step 2.
2. Change the Primary SCSI A setting
to Enabled, and reboot the system.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Go to step 3.
3. Verify that the SCSI device drivers
are installed and configured correctly.
See Chapter 3, "Installing and
Configuring SCSI Drivers," in the Dell PowerEdge 6300 Systems User's Guide to
determine which drivers are required and how they should be installed and
configured.
Are the required SCSI device drivers
installed and configured correctly?
Yes. Go to step 5.
No. Go to step 4.
4. Reinstall and/or reconfigure the
required SCSI device drivers. Then reboot the system.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. You have fixed the
problem.
No. Go to step 5.
5. Remove the drive carrier and
install it in another drive bay.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The SCSI backplane
board has a defective connector. See Getting
Help, for instructions on obtaining technical assistance.
No. Go to step 6.
6. Turn off the system, including any
attached peripherals, and disconnect the system from its AC power source.
7. Remove the computer cover.
See Removing the Computer Cover.
8. Check the SCSI cable connections to
the SCSI backplane board and to the SCSI host adapter. Check the DC power cable connection to the SCSI backplane board.
The SCSI cable may be connected to the SCSI
host adapter on the system board or to a SCSI host adapter card in an expansion slot. See
Installing Hard-Disk Drives,
for the location of the cable connectors on the SCSI backplane board and the SCSI host
adapter.
Are the cables firmly connected?
Yes. Go to step 10.
No. Go to step 9.
9. Reseat the cable connectors, and
then reconnect the computer and peripherals to their AC power sources and turn them on.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The cable connections
were faulty. You have fixed the problem.
No. Go to step 10.
10. Partition and logically format the
hard-disk drive. If possible, restore the files to the drive.
To partition and logically format the
drive, see the documentation for the computer's operating system.
Is the problem resolved?
Yes. The hard-disk drive
format was corrupted. You have fixed the problem.
No. See Getting Help, for instructions on obtaining
technical assistance.
Back To Contents Page
