Can't get Compaq Proliant working

[cjackson]

Purchased a 'restored' Compaq Proliant ML310 PC. It has DVD drive, two 40 GB HDs, 1 MB RAM. 2 GHz processor. No Operating System. When brought up, it goes through POST and then stops. It does not recognize the DVD drive or the floppy drive. I have tried all the recommended keystrokes to get into the BIOS during POST. None work.

I have found out that this is a Server, using IDE RAID technology and BIOS. Has anyone any suggestions?

I have gone on the HP/Compaq page and found many pages of manuals for the ML310 but before downloading and printing out all these thought maybe someone would have an approach for me. I just want to install an OS and use this PC.

Thanks for any help.

C. Jackson

[Paul Komski]

Detach all drives (indeed as much extraneous stuff as possible) from the mobo and see if you can get the system to complete the POST and get into the BIOS. Just one (any) piece of bad hardware, including a bad PSU, can cause such failures.

[david eaton]

1 MB RAM.
WTF! If that is correct, then even Win 98 will have a problem, Win XP won't even install on that. Get some more memory, if the board will accept it.

[Paul Komski]

A P4 Server would never have just 1MB RAM.

[SufferWell1396]

haha he MUST have ment 1GB.
1MB is like... CPU cache for a P4 XD.
and + i HIGHLY doubt there was ever a stick of DDR/DDR2 made with only 1MB of RAM.

[cjackson]

My screwup. PC has two 512 MB memory sticks. 1 GB. PC goes through entire POST and then stops. I've tried the F1, F2, F10 and Delete keys, which most Compaqs respond to, but nada. (Unit has no OS but I wanted to load Windows XP - Pro. Need CD drive to do this.

No problem with POST, except that the DVD ROM isn't detected. (Floppy drive also not detected). Checked cable (cable select) and jumper. All OK. Tried another DVD ROM that worked in another PC, still not detected. If I could get into the BIOS, might be able to do something.

Never worked with a server before. This has IDE RAID interfaces. BIO is IDE RAID from LSI Logic Corpn.

What am I missing? Bought this from Computer Geeks and it's on a 90-day warranty, but hate to find a box to ship it back and pay $33 shipping charge if I can get it to work.

Charlie J.

[mjc]

Have you looked through any of the manuals yet?

Some server type machines require a 'management' program to access the BIOS/settings...the manual should tell you if that is the case. Also, the manual should outline the BIOS reset procedure...

If nothing else, try holding down a key on the keyboard to simulate a stuck key keyboard error...that usually gives you an option to enter the BIOS.

[Paul Komski]

PC goes through entire POSTDoes this include a successful POST beep and have you tried a "bare-bones boot"?

Not all BIOS show opticals during the POST; most do but not all. However that is the first piece of hardware I would leave completely out of the mix. You describe the HDD architecture as IDE/RAID but most of the series have both an IDE and a SAS or SCSI interface, which is not quite the same thing, since both IDE and SCSI can be configured for RAID. Any SCSI devices must also be properly terminated.

There are also a number of different versions of the ML310 - the original and then G2, G3, G4 and G5 series so getting the correct documentation is helped if you know which of these five is the correct one.

As far as I can discern older Compaq servers used the usual System Configuration Utility using F10 but more modern ones use RBSU (ROM Based Setup Utility) using F9 during start up.

RBSU User Guide (http://h20000.www2.hp.com/bc/docs/support/SupportManual/c00191707/c00191707.pdf) which is for G5 but may shed some light.



the manual should outline the BIOS reset procedure...The only reference I have come across is to remove the CMOS Battery. If this is done then on re-entering the RBSU one needs to enter the chassis serial number to proceed with configuring.

PS One oddity, if you can call it that, with a recent HP/Compaq I saw that would not boot was caused by the air baffle that surrounds the CPU/HeatSink not being in place. I had the case open and the baffle pulled out and it took me a while to realise it would not boot in such circumstances.

[Sylvander]

What kind of keyboard are you using to input the F10?

Do you think the BIOS sees the keystroke?
i.e. Is the keyboard working during POST?

Do you start from cold and blip F10 repeatedly?

Product search results
Support & Troubleshooting
proliant ml310 (http://h20180.www2.hp.com/apps/Lookup?h_lang=en&h_cc=uk&cc=uk&h_page=hpcom&lang=en&h_client=S-A-R135-1&h_pagetype=s-001&h_query=Proliant+ML310&submit.x=5&submit.y=9)

[cjackson]

Paul; MJC;Syl:

All good things to try. Have downloaded maint manual but don't know if PC is G2,3,4, or 5. Nothing on PC labels. Main manual shows PC is cabled as IDE. Removed CMOS battery and POST occurs as before. Have tried F1, F2, F9, F10 & Delete keys during post and get 301 error, along with key designation (e.g. 3B 301 key error) so PC sees keyboard.

Will download and check out RBSU Guide and others. A lot of pages -- some manuals 90+ pages, so this will be a lot of work, but have the time -- retired.

CFJ

[Paul Komski]

http://ps-2.kev009.com:8081/pcpartnerinfo/ctstips/bd7a.htm

May not be the same as for your own KB but it looks likely that a Key is stuck. F1 for the same code in the above link. If that is the case then the treatment is obvious.

[cjackson]

Finally returned PC to seller, since it was on 30-day warranty.

CFJ