Solved Changed BIOS Battery, Can't Boot/Access Setup; However USB Keyboard OK

[Bob3677]

I have an Old/Great Dell D531 Desktop that I did two things at same time, now no boot up and can't access bios for setup changes.

1) Changed bios battery;
2) added power to USB 3.0 PCI controller card that had been installed month earlier;
3) Now boots to Dell logo and nothing else and no flashing cursor;
4) USB keyboard not getting power so F2, F8, F12, ESC do not work;
5) Years ago added a 500gb harddrive [SATA3] with three partitions (J,K,M);
6) Computer was upgraded years ago from VISTA 64 on original C drive [SATA0] to Win7 64 on new drive partition J;
7) At times the attached file info appears which maybe of help.

Any non-sarcastic advice is much appreciated since on SS and can't afford another PC.

 

[torchwood]

Hope you installed USB3 drivers, coz there arn't any in W7.

Roy

 

[Bob3677]

USB Drivers

Thanks Roy,
that's good to know once I get pc booting again. When I first installed the USB3 card I do not remember if I updated drives since it was a couple of months ago and had no spare power connectors for USB3 pci card so did nothing until recently before issue started.
After having no-boot issue, I disconnected power to PCI card but that did nothing to help boot issue.

Thanks for your input

Bob

PS: I wrongly checked my thread resolved, can I do anything to remove RESOLVED check?

 

[derekimo]

PS: I wrongly checked my thread resolved, can I do anything to remove RESOLVED check?

I unsolved it for you, but you should be able to just click the green button again to mark unsolved,

 

[Bob3677]

Swaped SATA cables and no Help

Tried swapping Harddrive cables (SATA 0 & 3) to see if that would help but no luck. What I did get was a new msg pointing to failure at [50H] . Does this help me determine my problem? What is [50H] mean; see attached image file.

 

[Bob3677]

Ok, I tried clearing CMOS on the motherboard and no improvement just a new checkpoint [7FH] as shown in attached image.

I have searched Dell technical support and no help. With all the experts out there I confused that no one has encountered anything like this before to give me some where to search for a fix to my issue.

I guess, I will have to try other forums...

Again, thanks to Roy for the only help so far.

 

[alphaniner]

CMOS checksum error is normal after replacing battery. Clearing CMOS would 'fix' that, but your BIOS is now at default. All the problems probably boil down to needing to configure BIOS.* That may be easier said than done depending on your experience, but one thing at a time.

If possible try different USB keyboards; I've seen some work during POST when others fail. Otherwise, you'll have to dig up a PS/2 keyboard. There's a reason I keep my 20 yo PS/2 around despite numerous broken keycaps repaired with superglue and pennies...

* On further investigation, those checkpoint failures are troubling assuming they correspond with those listed here:

50h The memory below 1 MB has been tested and initialized. Adjusting the displayed memory size for relocation and shadowing next.
7Fh Extended NMI source enabling is in progress

But I'd still suggest trying a PS/2 keyboard if nothing else.

 

[AddRAM]

I agree, try a PS2 keyboard and mouse.

 

[Bob3677]

PS/2 - Now I something to Work on

Thank you Alphaniner! Especially, the checkpoint appendix.
Since Addram agrees (thanks much also} I will focus on getting a used PS/2 key board, and maybe a PS/2 mouse.
I strongly believe, if I can get a keyboard to work and reset BIOS, as alphaniner fells too, all will return to normal...

Thanks much alphaniner & addram and will report results (hopefully successful).

 

[Ztruker]

Are you sure about the model number? Everything I find says it's a laptop or notebook.

Is there a full model number?

 

[oscer1]

Are you sure about the model number? Everything I find says it's a laptop or notebook.

Is there a full model number?

not sure but this is what I find for that model number but only has drivers for xp and vista 32 bit Product Support | Dell US
edit was going by his specs not the first post

 

[Bob3677]

No PS/2 Connection

Todsy, picked up a used PS/2 keyboard and when I looked at back of desktop, no PS/2 connection.
I wish I had checked for capabily sooner so I didn't waist several days.

As for model - Dell Inspirion 531. SvcTag J26CZD1

Thanks for helping

 

[Bob3677]

PC actually a Dell, not HP

Sorry for the confusion, I have updated original post to correct PC make from HP as WAS shown to Dell as NOW shown.
Item 6 shows I upgraded pc from VISTA 64 to Win7 64 (years ago).

So if I haven't pissed off everybody, maybe we can get back to steering me in what I can do to fix my issue of no keyboard capabily in order to reset BIOS.

As for PS/2 keyboard, I can't see that a PS/2 conversion to USB would help since USB outlets don't seem to be getting power; I have tried different USB memory sticks and no LED lights appear.

 

[Bob3677]

Hi all, it's been a while since last posting and just wanted to let you know, with help from another forum, was able to fix my issue.

After much trial and error, one member from Secrets forum decided (based on 50H error) my issue would be memory related issue and asked me to remove one or more of the three memory sticks. After removing first, easy access, memory stick I was able to access CMOS, then fixed sittings and all was well again with my Old/Great Dell 531 desktop. I've updated all programs and all is well as before.

Again, thanks for trying to help and wanted to provide final answer.

 

[Ztruker]

That's good news. Real glad you got it fixed.

If you can, would you post a link to the other forum so I can see it. I'm just curious and may learn something.

 

[Bob3677]

By all means, Ztruker, The link to my specific other post is below:

[SOLVED] Changed BIOS Battery, Can't Boot/Access Setup; However USB Keyboard OK | Windows Secrets Lounge

Also, in my previous "last" post I forgot to mention that desktop also worked after replacing the one memory stick that fixed the issue.

Thanks, again to all who tried to help me in windowsseven forum.