HP XW4600 fails hard drive funnel seek test

[cliffie7]

I have a few of the HP xw4600 series computers.  Some of them will pass without any issues. Others will get to the Funnel Seek Test on the hard drive and lock up the computer system at 1% of the test.  If I upgrade the BIOS to the newest version for that machine, it will pass all tests.  However, that is not a solution for our environment.  I have tried testing different hard drives, but that doesn't address the problem for that specific computer.  I have also tried testing the system with a PCI sata card and it froze in the same spot.  So, any ideas on what the cause could be?  Memory, hard drive firmware, processor?

Any help is appreciated. - Cliff

[James_PCD]

Hello Cliff,

I am sorry to hear of the issues you are having in troubleshooting the systems under test.  Unfortunately I can only assist with issues with our products.  It is quite possible that the calls being made from our product to the drives, could not be properly supported in the BIOS revisions on the system, thus causing a lock up.  This theory is supported by your statement "If I upgrade the BIOS to the newest version for that machine, it will pass all tests."  As a result, it is very that the lockup is being caused by memory, hdd firmware or the processor.