Hi again!
Thank you all for all the help! I tried everything I could think of and all
your suggestions to no avail. I got to looking at the cmos battery and
thought, it's not old enough to have gone bad but decided to change it
anyway and the computer booted up and is running very well right now. Who
knew it could be the cmos battery? LOL! Anyway thanks so much for all the
help. I'm so glad I got it fixed!
Gloria
----- Original Message -----
From: "Venkat Viswanathan" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Sunday, September 16, 2007 2:20 AM
Subject: [PCBUILD] Dell won't bootþ‏
original msg.(clipped)
<<<< Thank you so much for offering help. I still can't get it to boot. I
have tried all your suggestions. I just tried the ram in another computer
and it worked fine and showed the correct amount so I now know it's not the
ram that is bad. It has to be something on the motherboard. Maybe a bad ram
slot?
Gloria >>>>
...mmmmmm very surprised because this is what dell manual for xps 400 says.
(i don't think it could be the ram slot)
if diagnostic lights 1 & 2 DO NOT BURN and 3&4 BURN THEN
" Memory modules are detected, but a
memory failure has occurred.
. If you have two or more memory
modules installed, remove the
modules, reinstall one module (see
page 74), and then restart the
computer. If the computer starts
normally, reinstall an additional
module. Continue until you have
identified a faulty module or
reinstalled all modules without error.
. If available, install properly working
memory of the same type into your
computer (see page 74).
. If the problem persists, contact Dell
(see page 126)."
the manual also has further diagnostic measures as given below
<<<< Dell Diagnostics
CAUTION: Before you begin any of the procedures in this section, follow the
safety instructions in the
Product Information Guide.
If you experience a problem with your computer, perform the checks in
"Solving Problems" on
page 37 and run the Dell Diagnostics before you contact Dell for technical
assistance.
NOTICE: The Dell Diagnostics works only on DellT computers.
1 Turn on (or restart) your computer.
2 When the DELLT logo appears, press <F12> immediately.
If you wait too long and the operating system logo appears, continue to wait
until you see the
Microsoft® Windows® desktop. Then shut down your computer (see page 63) and
try again.
3 When the boot device list appears, highlight Boot to Utility Partition and
press <Enter>.
4 When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want to
run.
Dell Diagnostics Main Menu
1 After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click
the button for the
option you want.
2 If a problem is encountered during a test, a message appears with an error
code and a
description of the problem. Write down the error code and problem
description and follow
the instructions on the screen.
If you cannot resolve the error condition, contact Dell (see page 126).
NOTE: The Service Tag for your computer is located at the top of each test
screen. If you contact Dell,
technical support will ask for your Service Tag.
Option Function
Express Test Performs a quick test of devices. This test typically takes 10
to
20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part. Run
Express Test first to increase the possibility of tracing the
problem quickly.
Extended Test Performs a thorough check of devices. This test typically
takes
1 hour or more and requires you to answer questions
periodically.
Custom Test Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests you want
to run.
Symptom Tree Lists the most common symptoms encountered and allows
you to select a test based on the symptom of the problem you
are having.
Troubleshooting Tools 57
3 If you run a test from the Custom Test or Symptom Tree option, click the
applicable tab
described in the following table for more information.
4 Close the test screen to return to the Main Menu screen. To exit the Dell
Diagnostics and
restart the computer, close the Main Menu screen.>>>>.
if you are quite convinced that it is a motherboard problem then it may need
specific tools and more knowledge than i have to troubleshoot.
you can check the " capacitors" (sort of very small cylinders") normally
surrounding the CPU and see if any have a blown up top ( sort of conical
instead of very flat)
also place the palm of one of your hands on the metal surface of your hard
drive ( this will depend on how DELL have mounted it....very proprietery)
and see if you feel a slight vibration to check that the HDD IS OK.
hereagain latest HDD'S have barely audible vibration.
HTH and good luck---Venkat
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