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Power problems

Use the troubleshooting tables to find solutions to problems that have identifiable symptoms.

  • Follow the suggested actions in the order in which they are listed in the Action column until the problem is solved.
  • If an action step is preceded by (Trained technician only), that step must be performed only by a trained technician.
  • Go to the support website at the Lenovo Support Portal to check for technical information, hints, tips, and new device drivers or to submit a request for information.
SymptomAction
The power-control button does not work, and the reset button does not work (the server does not start).
Note
The power-control button will not function until approximately 5 to 10 seconds after the server has been connected to power.
  1. Make sure that the power-control button is working correctly:
    1. Disconnect the server power cords.
    2. Reconnect the power cords.
    3. (Trained technician only) Reseat the operator information panel cable, and then repeat steps a and b.
      • (Trained technician only) If the server starts, reseat the operator information panel. If the problem remains, replace the operator information panel.
      • If the server does not start, bypass the power-control button by using the force power-on jumper (see System-board switches, jumpers, and buttons). If the server starts, reseat the operator information panel. If the problem remains, replace the operator information panel.
  2. Make sure that the reset button is working correctly:
    1. Disconnect the server power cords.
    2. Reconnect the power cords.
    3. (Trained technician only) Reseat the operator information panel cable, and then repeat steps a and b.
      • (Trained technician only) If the server starts, replace the operator information panel.
      • If the server does not start, go to 3.
  3. Make sure that both power supplies installed in the server are of the same type. Mixing different power supplies in the server will cause a system error (the system-error LED on the front panel turns on and the PS and CONFIG LEDs on the operator information panel are lit).
  4. Make sure that:
    • The power cords are correctly connected to the server and to a working electrical outlet.
    • The type of memory that is installed is correct.
    • The DIMMs are fully seated.
    • The LEDs on the power supply do not indicate a problem.
    • The microprocessors are installed in the correct sequence.
  5. Reseat the following components:
    1. Operator information panel connector
    2. Power supplies
  6. Replace the components listed in 5 one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time.
  7. If you just installed an optional device, remove it, and restart the server. If the server now starts, you might have installed more devices than the power supply supports.
  8. See Power-supply LEDs.
  9. See Solving undetermined problems.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail A error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. (Trained technician only) remove microprocessor 1 if the Pwr rail A error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  3. (Trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail A error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. (Trained technician only) remove microprocessor 2 if Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the IMM2 event log:
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCI riser-card assembly 1
    • PCI riser-card assembly 1
    • Fan 1
    • DIMMs 1 through 6
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional PCI adapter power cable (if one is present)
    • Fan 2
    • DIMMs 7 through 12
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional DVD drive (if one is installed)
    • Hard disk drives
    • DIMMs 13 through 18
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCI riser-card assembly 1
    • PCI riser-card assembly 1
    • Fan 4
    • DIMMs 19 through 24
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
    • Fan 3
    • Hard disk drives
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is lit, or the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the IMM event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the IMM event log:
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCI riser-card assembly 2
    • PCI riser-card assembly 2
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the components one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the IMM event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
  5. Follow actions in Solving power problems, if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
  6. Replace the power supply if the OVER SPEC LED on the light path diagnostics panel is still lit.
The server does not turn off.
  1. Determine whether you are using an Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) or a non-ACPI operating system. If you are using a non-ACPI operating system, complete the following steps:
    1. Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete.
    2. Turn off the server by pressing the power-control button and hold it down for 5 seconds.
    3. Restart the server.
    4. If the server fails POST and the power-control button does not work, disconnect the power cord for 20 seconds; then, reconnect the power cord and restart the server.
  2. If the problem remains or if you are using an ACPI-aware operating system, suspect the system board.
The server unexpectedly shuts down, and the LEDs on the operator information panel are not lit.See Solving undetermined problems.