Knowledge Article: ID X0090001 " Error detected during Power-On-Self-Test (POST)

Description

A Power-On-Self-Test (POST) error occurs when the server is unable to complete POST with any of these conditions:

• Beep code on boot and no video.
• No POST or startup BIOS response at all.
• POST error with startup BIOS.

Causes

The events occur when a system does not succesfully complete the Power-On-Self-Test.

Implications

Because the system cannot complete the Power-On-Self-Test, the system cannot start. Address this alert as soon as possible.

Resolutions

1. If the server is unable to complete POST, follow the suggested actions:
   
   • Consult the Hardware Maintenance manual and the Troubleshooting Guide.
     
   • Check if any LEDs are lit. Most IBM systems have some type of Light Path Diagnostics or LED error indicators. Use any lit LEDs for assistance in determining the location of the problem device.
     
   • Examine any new hardware that was added to the system? If new hardware was added to the system, remove it. If the system functions normally without the hardware, the new hardware is likely either not installed correctly, is not compatible with the system, or is damaged.
     
   • Take the server to the minimum or the original configuration.
     
   • Beep symptoms are short tones or a series of short tones separated by pauses (intervals without sound) that occur during POST and system startup. If the system is giving beep codes, listen closely during boot and look up the symptoms in the Hardware Maintenance Manual in the topic that describes how to decipher beep codes.

2. Gather all the available information about your alert to determine why POST failed. To view the error logs, complete the following steps:
   
   • Turn on the server.
     
   • Press F1 when prompted. If there is a power-on password and/or administrator password, you must type the administrator password to view the logs.
     
   • To view the POST error log, select 'Error Logs,' and then select 'POST Error Log.'
     
   • View all other available logs such as the BMC log and the system-error log if RSA is present.

3. Contact an IBM support technician at your local IBM Support Center.

Additional information

Specific machine beep code error lists are also available for most IBM Servers:

1. Visit the "IBM System X support search" Web site. For BladeCenter x86 blade servers, visit the IBM BladeCenter support search Web site.
2. Select "Troubleshooting" for "Task".
3. Select "Product family", "Machine type" and "Operating system" values.
4. Begin the "Search".

To narrow the search, search with keywords that are related to this article, such as "POST," "beep code," and others in the "Search for" field.

To download the latest firmware:

1. Visit the "IBM System X support search" Web site. For BladeCenter x86 blade servers, visit the IBM BladeCenter support search Web site.
2. Select "Download" for "Task".
3. Select "Product family", "Machine type" and "Operating system" values.
4. Begin the "Search" by selecting the type of download in the "Refine results" list.

To find the replacement part number (or the FRU number) for the component replacement:

1. Visit the "IBM System X support search" Web site. For BladeCenter x86 blade servers, visit the IBM BladeCenter support search Web site.
2. Select "Plan" for "Task".
3. Select "Product family", "Machine type" and "Operating system" values.
4. Begin the "Search" for "system service parts."