Power problems

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

Two column table for documenting the symptom and the corresponding action for power problems.

  • 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.
Symptom Action
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 1.a and 1.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 2.a and 2.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 ratings of power supplies in the server will cause a system error (CONFG icon will be shown on the LCD system information display panel if one is available).
  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 step 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 Pwr rail A error has been recorded in the system 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 system 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 system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove DIMMs 1 through 12 if Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the system event log.
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the DIMM one at a time, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the system event log again, the DIMM that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. (Trained technician only) remove microprocessor 2 if Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the system event log.
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the Processor; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail C error has been recorded in the system event log again, the Processor that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove DIMMs 13 through 24 if Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the system event log.
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail D error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the DIMM one at a time, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail B error has been recorded in the system event log again, the DIMM that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Optional DVD drive (if one is installed)
    • Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
    • LCD monitor connected to front VGA port (if one is present)
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 2
    • Riser-card assembly 2
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail E error has been recorded in the system 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 system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 3
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly 3
    • Rear Hard disk drives
    • Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1
    • Riser-card assembly 1
    • PCIe Solid state drives
    • PCIe Solid state drive backplane assembly
    • USB devices
    • SD adapter
    • LCD monitor connected to rear VGA port (if one is present)
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail F error has been recorded in the system 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 system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Raid Card in Raid slot
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) in PCIe slot 4
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) in PCIe slot 5
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1
    • Riser-card assembly 1
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 2 (or Rear Hard disk Drives in Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 2)
    • Riser-card assembly 2 (or Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 2)
    • Microprocessor 2
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the system 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 system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) in PCIe slot 5
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) in PCIe slot 4
    • Raid Card in Raid slot
  5. (Trained technician only) remove all components
  6. (Trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  7. Reinstall the Microprocessor 1; then, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail G error has been recorded in the system event log again, the Processor that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective Processor.
The Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 3
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly 3
    • PCIe Solid state drives
    • PCIe Solid state drive backplane assembly
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the system 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 system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly 3
    • Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 3
    • PCIe Solid state drive backplane assembly
    • PCIe Solid state drives
The Pwr rail I error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail I error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail I error has been recorded in the system 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 I error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
    • Hard disk drive backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
    • Hard disk drives at backplane assembly 1 and/or backplane assembly 2
The Pwr rail J error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove Fans 1 through 6 if Pwr rail J error has been recorded in the system event log.
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail J error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the Fans one at a time, restarting the server each time. If the Pwr rail J error has been recorded in the system event log again, the Fan that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
The Pwr rail K error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail K error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1 (or Rear Hard disk Drives in Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 1)
    • Riser-card assembly 1 (or Rear two Hard-disk-drivekit on Riser 1)
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCIe slot 4
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCIe slot 5
    • Raid Card in Raid slot
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail H error has been recorded in the system 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 K error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
    • Raid Card in Raid slot
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCIe slot 5
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in PCIe slot 4
    • Riser-card assembly 1 (or Rear two Hard-disk-drivekit on Riser 1)
    • Optional adapter (if one is present) installed in riser-card assembly 1 (or Rear Hard disk Drives in Rear two Hard-disk-drive kit on Riser 1)
The Pwr rail L error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail L error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor
    • PCI Riser Card Assembly where the optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor is installed
      • Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail L error has been recorded in the system event log again, (trained technician only) replace the system board (see Removing the system board and Replacing the system board).
  4. Reinstall the component one at a time, in the order shown, restarting the server. If the Pwr rail L error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
    • PCI Riser Card Assembly where the optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor is installed
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor
The Pwr rail M error has been recorded in the system event log.
  1. Disconnect the server power cords.
  2. Remove the following components if the Pwr rail M error has been recorded in the system event log:
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor
    • PCI Riser Card Assembly where the optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor is installed
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
  3. Restart the server. If the Pwr rail M error has been recorded in the system 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 M error has been recorded in the system event log again, the component that you just reinstalled is defective. Replace the defective component.
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable (if one is present)
    • PCI Riser Card Assembly where the optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor is installed
    • Optional PCI adaptor power cable-correlated PCI adaptor
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.
Parent topic: Troubleshooting by symptom