Hi,
The F1 ... F2 message indicates the system "thinks" there is a problem and is attempting to alert you of this fact. Unfortunately, not all error conditions will post a message on the screen.
The primary things to check are the power supplies, ensure both (if installed) are plugged in and functional. Try reseating any external peripherals. Ensure the system case is closed properly. Another thing to try is running the EISA Configuration Utility. If any changes have been made in the System BIOS or memory added, the EISA Config must be run to record these changes. Simply boot to the floppy that the download creates, save and exit.
PowerEdge 4200 EISA System Configuration UtilityFile Name: EISA_D08.EXEhttp://support.dell.com/filelib/format.aspx?ReleaseID=R19422
PowerEdge 4200 Specifications:http://docs.us.dell.com/docs/systems/srav_ii/Diagnostic Utilities:File Name: DIAG388J.EXE http://support.dell.com/filelib/format.aspx?ReleaseID=R20104 Latest System BIOS Update:File Name: BR2A0505.exehttp://support.dell.com/filelib/format.aspx?ReleaseID=R13151
Similar issue here (No SCSI Boot Device FoundSCSI BIOS not installed!) but with a PE 1600SC. Had to install NT4 on it, and have added another 72-GBHdd for mirroring, and an Adaptec SCSI card for an ADIC tape backup system, have no other issues except for the F1 to continue, F2 to run setup utility. Have tried all recommendations on the Dell board, reseating hardware, blowing out the NVRAM, fiddeling with the BIOS, reinstalling from scratch, (even trying 2000 to see if this was an NT problem) and this one as a long shot. It is more of an annoyance than a real problem, I would just hate to have to drive 35 miles to reboot a server.
Please help...I will buy the beer!
I dont have much to add, except to assure you that the "SCSI bios not installed" message is not the problem, it just happens to be on the screen when the F1 ... F2 prompt appears.
The "SCSI bios not installed" message is a normal informational message. The bios will only install on the first bootable media found at post. Most PowerEdge Servers have multiple scsi devices installed. The "SCSI bios not installed" message will appear for every Scsi controller, except the one with bootable media.
You can disable the Scsi bios on the Adaptec controller in the CTRL-A Scsi Select Utility to remove the "SCSI bios not installed" message.
I have the same problem with two that I have. In short the problem is likely related to the amount of memory in the server. Reduce the amount to the smallest of the sims and reboot again, press F2 to acknowledge the memory change and reboot once more, the problem goes away. I never could solve this so the servers now sit on a shelf.
Pat Chartrand
It still has the same amount of RAM that it came with from the factory. After thinking about it I rememeber that I had to add a HDD after I blew 2000 away and installed NT. Maybe that is it? Would a memory upgrade perhaps fix the problem? If it is the HDD that I added, can I remove all but the HDD that has the OS on it and start from scratch? Is there another workaround?