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September 11th, 2025 01:13
Dell PowerEdge T620 won’t power on after NVRAM clear
Hey all,
I’ve got a Dell PowerEdge T620 that’s giving me trouble. Before all this, it would at least try to boot — fans spun up, power button lit green, etc.
Here’s what happened:
System wasn’t displaying anything, so I tried clearing NVRAM.
I moved the NVRAM_CLR jumper to reset, then put it back to default.
I also pulled the CMOS battery for about 5 minutes.
After putting everything back, the server is now completely dead.
Current symptoms:
Power supply (i only have 1) has a green light.
Front LCD panel works (it detects lid removal, shows messages).
Green LED on motherboard is lit (standby power present).
But: power button does not light, no fans spin, no POST.
What I’ve tried so far:
Verified jumpers are in default positions.
Full discharge: removed AC, held power button, battery out >10 minutes.
Tested with minimum config (1 CPU, 1 DIMM in A1).
Reseated RAM, power connectors.
Other notes:
This all started only after trying to clear the NVRAM
Does anyone know any other steps to diagnose this
Dell-Martin S
Moderator
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3.5K Posts
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September 11th, 2025 14:31
Here are the next steps you should take for a full diagnosis:
1. Confirm NVRAM and Jumper Integrity
Double-check the NVRAM clear jumper's position. While you've already done this, a misplaced jumper is the most common cause of this issue. The NVRAM_CLR jumper is typically labeled on the motherboard. Ensure it's in the correct default position. On a T620, the default position for this jumper is usually pins 1 and 2.
2. Clear Fleeting Fleeting Static Faults
Sometimes, an NVRAM clear can be incomplete due to residual static charge. Perform a thorough "flea power drain."
Unplug all power cords from the server.
Hold the power button on the front of the server for at least 30 seconds.
Remove the CMOS battery again and let the server sit for at least 1 hour.
After an hour, reinsert the CMOS battery and plug in the power cord.
Attempt to power on the server.
3. Inspect the Motherboard and Components
A component that was previously borderline may have failed due to the power cycle.
Visually inspect the motherboard: Look for any signs of physical damage, such as burnt components, bulging capacitors, or scorch marks. Pay close attention to the area around the NVRAM jumper and the iDRAC chip.
Check the CPU and RAM seating: Even with a minimum configuration, re-seating them one more time can sometimes resolve connection issues that were not apparent. Ensure the CPU is fully seated in its socket and the RAM modules are firmly clicked into their slots.
Swap out the single CPU and RAM: If you have a second CPU and spare DIMM, swap them out to eliminate the possibility of a dead CPU or RAM stick that's preventing the power-on sequence.
4. iDRAC Reset
The iDRAC (Integrated Dell Remote Access Controller) is the component that manages the server's power-on sequence. Since the NVRAM clear can affect the iDRAC, a specific reset may be required.
You can attempt to reset the iDRAC from the server's front panel, but since the system won't boot, this is not a viable option.
A "hard reset" of the iDRAC is performed by disconnecting all power and waiting, which you've already tried. There isn't a separate physical iDRAC reset button on the T620.
At this point, if the previous steps haven't worked, it is highly likely the system board is the issue
DELL-Rey G
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1K Posts
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September 15th, 2025 17:44
This is probably not it, but I saw it once. The power button was jammed and was forcing the system to stay off.
Rey
#iwork4Dell