Alienware aurora PC win7 64 stuck in sleep mode w/ fans running help!

[jjr]

I have a 2011 Alienware desktop running Win7 64 Home Premium. It was running fine till today.

I went into the dell website to runs a diagnostic ( I usually do this every few months) it passed fine w/o any issues.

In the drivers section it had a urgent update in BIOS, when I went ti run it , it cane it showed that I had a newer version already installed. The update was for A04 and my current version was A11.

So the update started and it came to a point that I could cancel it which I did. Then ran another diagnositc and again it passed.

So I cliked on restart and walked away. Can back about 20 minutes later and the sleep mode Alienhead laight was slowly flashing and tthe fans were running at high speed. Also the monitor is black !

I did a manual tun off with the power botton and tried to restart with the same issue, Next I tried unplugging the PC and held the power button doen to discharge and then restarted and the same issue.

Sorry about the print size its a vision issue.

I do have Acronis backup and all original discs that came the unit.

But cant even choose the boot options

HELP

 

[oscer1]

I would check to see if anything got changed in the bios.

 

[jjr]

If you can not even turn the PC on how are you going to check anything?

Pulled and reinstalled all cards and the camos same issue.

Called Dell told me no parts available. Prob mobo and it's time to buy a new PC.

Ouch

 

[oscer1]

did not realize it did not get any screen. Just my opinion you really do not need to update any drivers or bios unless their is an issue that the update would fix. if not broke don't fix it is how I do things.

 

[TechnoMage2016]

Here's what I'd do first, if that PC were on my Tech Bench.


Remove all power, then remove the CMOS battery and leave it out for about 20 to 30 minutes. Then replace it with a NEW battery (CR2032), and then restore line power and attempt a boot up.



Dell did have some CPU's several years ago, that were defective and only a new Motherboard would fix the problem. It was about that time, that I swore off of Dell (anything).


Good Luck,
TM

 

[jjr]

Let me ask, say that it does not come back to life what options do I have? Personally I really think this is a BOIS issue?

Can I test run it w/o the internet and monitor hooked up? If it worked I should hear it start and run as it should.

Reason I ask is that the monitor etc to hook up I would have to be crawling around under neath it?

again prior to this happening I ran a complete 40 min dell diagonis in what ot passed and then I noticed that the BIOS in the Dell drivers section had a URGENT update next to it. So I went to install and while it was doing so a screen popped up saying that O had already a newer version of BIOS installed (A11) the Urgent update was for A04.

At that point I stopped the BIOS update and they ran a complete diagnosis again which it passed. Then restarted the PC and walked away for around 20 min.

when I came back the Alien head lamp that glow's on and off when it sleep mode was on and the PC fans were running full speed. At that point I unplugged the AC and helf down the power button to discharge the system.

Started up and same issue, next time I did the same thing plus pulled the CMOS batt and the ram sticks and reinstalled them and a new battery.

Restarted and now the Alien head did not glow on and off it just stayed off and the fans were still running.

When I turn it on from the power button it starts right away , lags for a second and starts again with the fans running all the time.

Would if come back to life if I just installed a new HD and reinstalled the OS?

This has nothing to do with the issue but I must ask, I have a lot of photos and documents saved on external HD's using the WIN7. If I did get a new PC that ran win 10 could I just plug in my external dock and read whats on those hard drives?

Thanks,

 

[oscer1]

Ths has nothing to do with the issue but I must ask, I have a lot of photos and documents saved on extarnal HD's using the WIN7. If I did get a new PC that ran win 10 could I just plug in my external dock and read whats on those hare drives?

Thaks,

Yes any os will read an external drive

 

[jjr]

Yes any os will read an external drive

Well.had the bat out for 35min, hooked everything back up and turned it on.

Well it's the same issue, black screen and fan running all the time.


Not a happy camper

 

[oscer1]

Well.had the bat out for 35min, hooked everything back up and turned it on.

Well it's the same issue, black screen and fan running all the time.


Not a happy camper

what battery did you take out the laptop battery or the cmos battery?

 

[jjr]

what battery did you take out the laptop battery or the cmos battery?

This is a desktop, I believe I mentioned that as well as it being a cmos battery.

End if thread, the PC is shot.

Is there any value in the case or should I just dispose of it?

 

[oscer1]

This is a desktop, I believe I mentioned that as well as it being a cmos battery.

End if thread, the PC is shot.

Is there any value in the case or should I just dispose of it?

sorry about that was thinking of another thread. should of went and looked at the first post since did not have specs listed under my systems

 

[TechnoMage2016]

This is a desktop, I believe I mentioned that as well as it being a cmos battery.

End of thread, the PC is shot.
Is there any value in the case or should I just dispose of it?

Seldom is a PC SHOT! Once in a while, when a motherboard gets zapped by lightning, but not often.
I've salvaged dozens of PC's that were basically just Thrown Out. After working on computers for over 40 years, it's now my hobby. I love restoring defunct PC's and then giving them away to the Needy.


I'm sitting here, happily running a little Toshiba laptop that was given to me by a friend who is an accomplished HAM Radio operator, but obviously not much of a Computer tech. He said the little Toshiba laptop was dead!

I brought it home, reset the Bios and was able to get it running, but granted very poorly. It came with Windows Vista on it. Boo!

I maxed out the ram, put in an SSD, and a new DVD burner and installed Windows 7/Pro/x86 and it's up and running better than when it was new. I also have a few tweaks, that Super Charge Windows to run in its very Optimum mode. (NO Safe Defaults) Just out of the box, Windows is a real dog! In just a few minutes, I can just about Double the performance of any Laptop running any version of Windows.

Total cost for this Restoration = < $100.

If you were a little closer, I'd ask you if I could have that old PC. They don't call me a "TechnoMage" for nothing. I've been known to perform Magic, using technology.

Are you planning on a trip to Florida, anytime soon?

Cheers Mate!
TM

 

[erpster4]

I have a 2011 Alienware desktop running Win7 64 Home Premium. It was running fine till today.

what was the model number of that 2011 Dell Alienware desktop, jjr?

it's most likely the motherboard (or parts of it) is failing and needs replacement

Once in a while, when a motherboard gets zapped by lightning, but not often.
I've salvaged dozens of PC's that were basically just Thrown Out. After working on computers for over 40 years, it's now my hobby. I love restoring defunct PC's and then giving them away to the Needy.

sometimes the motherboard does not fail that way by lightning zaps, TechnoMage2016. motherboard failures can also occur with bad capacitors (had those occur with some old HP brand computers) or even using mediocre power supply units (PSUs)

 

[TechnoMage2016]

As a 'Board Level Tech' I've recapped many a motherboard, PSU, etc.

But, the bad caps have now been replaced with a new generation that are more reliable.

Failing CMOS batteries are more common these days than Bad Caps, and that's why I always check the battery first if the PC is having weird problems, or just refuses to even boot up.

I was given a little HP desktop PC that was supposedly DEAD. OK, I'll take a DEAD PC! :sarc:
However, after I took it home and pulled the CMOS battery, which checked out extremely low, and put in a new battery, it booted right up to the BIOS and then worked perfectly.

It's been my experience, that when changing a CMOS battery, it's important to just leave the battery out for 20 to 30 minutes, so the CMOS (memory) chip has time to drain down to zero.

Y'all have a great day now, Y'hear?
TM