HP Z420 won’t boot

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I am trying to get an old HP Z420 working. This unit has a XEON E-5 processor and 16 GB RAM. I have spent more in time and hardware then the unit is worth. The problem I have is that with all the diagnostics and YOU TUBE videos I have tried I now have a unit with a replacement/used motherboard, replacement/used processor, replacement/used power supply, 16 GB of replacement DDR3 Ram. I am using an HD5450 PCI-E video card. All the previous hardware is removed and now all I get at power-on (plug in of power cord) is a group of 5 red lights, and no boot. I would like to get this unit working, if possible, but I am at my wits end as what I should do next. I hope someone will have the key to a successful fix. Thank you all for whatever help you can provide.

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Change the CR2032 battery for a fresh one.  Most users of Z420 seem to be using ECC or registered ECC ram, are you?

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anonymous wrote:

Change the CR2032 battery for a fresh one.  Most users of Z420 seem to be using ECC or registered ECC ram, are you?

This! The Xeon E5 CPU needs registered memory. It would have a part number such as PC3-12800R on the module. The R is important, U or E will not work.

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steeviebops,

Thank you for your wonderful reply. The memory that came with the machine was NOT REGISTERED, and memory I had for another Dell machine was not registered either. I am ordering some, crazy as it sounds, so I can put this machine to a working state. Since I have a spare Motherboard, power supply, and CPU, if this works maybe I’ll set up a second machine and then retire from this hobby.

Thanks again for your reply,

Kenataskwoody

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Steeviebops,

I finally got the registered memory and still the same problem. Now with only 1 stick of ram and a video card installed and a new CMOS battery installed all I get when I plug unit in is 5 flashes of red light in groups of 3 or 4, then fans turn on at very high speed, but no boot or video.

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For initial boot, until the bios settings can be accessed, many computers need to have one of the graphics cards they were designed to be sold with.  Not other cards that could be compatible once bios settings are changed.  This thread if the links work discussed which cards the Z420 was shipped with.  If your current graphics card is not on the list, consider using one of those.  https://h30434.www3.hp.com/t5/Business-PCs-Workstations-and-Point-of-Sale-Systems/Z420-does-it-have-an-on-board-basic-video-port/td-p/7045987

Sorry for steering you towards the registered ram.

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