ProDesk 400 G2 MT - Motherboard replaced, BIOS errors

[Hollinch]

Motherboard defective, after replacing motherboard the POST reported

921-Front USB 1 Not Connected

512-Rear Chassis fan not detected

The motherboard was delivered with BIOS version 2.45, I have upgraded to 2.47 and 2.49 (latest), reset the BIOS to defaults, to no avail. The messages persist.

I have also reset the CMOS using the instructions found, but this did nothing to fix the issue.

Searching on the subject reveals more issues with at least the rear chassis fan not being detected. Any issue with the BIOS perchance?

Thanks for any assistance in the matter.

Kind regards,

Jaap

[Hollinch · Accepted solution]

OK I have found the issue and fixed it.

These motherboards are apparently used in multiple possible configurations, and by defining the feature set in the BIOS, the intended features are enabled and/or disabled. I had to find the same type of machine to copy the feature string and apply it to this machine, as the original motherboard had completely died; it wouldn't even power on.

With the correct features applied, the machine now boots without error messages.

Regards,

Jaap

[ADSWF]

Hello,

I have exactly the same problem (bios error 512 and 921) when I changed the motherboard.

I upgraded to 2.47 and 2.49 but no effect.

I compare an another PC (same configuration and same model) which is in 2.45 version. 

I used the same options, but I still have those errors.

I don't understand how did you do to fix it, can you give us more details please ?

Thank you

sincerely

[ADSWF]

I found the problem. I read more carefully the documentation of the motherboard.

In the Bios, I pressed CTRL+A (some values appears in "system IDs menu". So, in security -> system IDs -> I filled "Asset Tag", "Chassis number", "Product Name", Sku Number (=product number), BUILD ID and Feature Byte (appears on a sticker under the PC).

I saved the settings and no errors anymore at the reboot.

Sincerely

[Skylarking]

So now i've learnt that featurebyte is also used to control aspects of the hardware configuration which can result in warnings when certain hardware like fans are not attached

However i'm surprised you found references to CTRL-A in HP customer documentation. I've never found anything documenting featurebytes/buildID in anything the customer has access to (though there is some HP internal stuff about this floating in cyber space).

Previously, i learnt that featurebyte and buildID were used when doing a HP system revovery. using HP's System Recovery Disks. These use the BuildID within BIOS to identify that the correct recovery disks are being used while featurebyte seems to control what OS version is installable and what other software could also be installed during the recovery process. 

As an example, 67=Win7, 6b=64 bits, 5j-BDRW, C7T=CT.MT (presumably a mini tower), 7d=freedos, 8H=Ggraphics card, 3f=PROD_MSOFFPRO (presumably MS office Pro install), 6U=Raid_1, 9c=Raid_Onboard, 7a=W333 (3 year parts, labour and onsite warranty) with many many others.

As one can seen, sometimes buying a second hand mobo where featurebyte is 7d (freedos) when the original system came with Win7Pro could mean you can't recover using HP's system recovery Disks.

I wish HP were a little more open as to how the featurebyte and BuildID are used by the BIOS as it could result in people being better informed and able to ask the correct questions if buying second hand mobos OR know that they need to enter some BIOS data when buying new mobo's.

Such openness could save people (along with HP's own support center) considerable time and cost trying to work out why things don't function as expected when replacing motherboards. This is expecially the case for those that replace their failed mobo with with a second hand mobo's (where such data is already defined and unalterable within BIOS). 

I guess multinationals have developed a love of secrets and closed systems while we owners are taken for an expensive ride...:smileysad:

[ADSWF]

I bought many motherboards for all our HP Pcs on our network. In there boxes there is a documentation "Replacing the system board". At the last page we can read this :

Updating the BIOS
1. locate the following information on the bottom of the chassis:
-BUILD ID
-Feature Byte
-Product Name
-Chassis Serial Number
-SKU Number

2. Start or restart the computer
3. Press and hold the F10 key until the system enters setup mode
4. Press Ctrl+A (enables editing of the System ID fields).

5. Select Security -> System Ids.

6 . Select each of the fields from step 1, and enter the appropriate information.

7. Press F10 to accept the changes.

8. Select File > Save Changes and Exit, and Press Enter.

I was very surprised that those number control the system. 

Thank you for your post.

Sincerely.