Dell XPS 410 Will not boot what so ever.

[Jake1211]

So, a while back my Dell XPS 410 stopped working completely and will not boot or display anything on screen. I have no clue what the problem is but it started this when i removed a Creative Soundblaster PCI card. When i press the power button, it powers on, but will not display image, and the 1 2 3 4 LED indicator on the front wont display a code. So i sent it to my dads friend and he "supposedly" looked at it and said it was the video card. I have not gotten around to testing it yet. While my pc was gone, i went out and bought another PC which has no PCI expansion ports, only PICe ports. So i will test the video card on that pc. I do not know what color the power button is, as i am partially color blind and rely on others to help me with that but i will ask. The power supply has been replaced and i tried multiple PSU's. The hard drive still works fine and is in my current PC. RAM is not faulty, as it has been tested. Not totally sure about the processor because i have no way to test it and can not get into BIOS. The light on the mother board was green last time i asked someone. I have only tried the VGA output on the video card, but not the DVI or SVideo so i think i will try that as well.

I pretty much tested all hardware and i think it is the MB or the Video Card. I just want to figure this out so i can buy a replacement part, as this was used as a server type PC.

Any other info needed, let me know.

 

[fireberd]

As you were inside the PC to remove the SoundBlaster card, you many have accidentally disconnected a cable or one that is partially connected. Check the "innards" to see that everything is connected/connected properly.


Do you get any beeps when you first power it on?

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Jake mate can you boot into the BIOS and see what is hooked up??

Hum missed the BIOS bit try removing the CMOS battery - replace and then try again.

 

[Jake1211]

Fireberd, all connectors are connected as they should be. Also, no beeps.

ICit2lol, i removed the cmos battery and i am going to let it sit for a couple of minutes so the capacitors get drained.

 

[Jake1211]

I am also going to test the video card now.

 

[Jake1211]

I am going to take a guess and say it is the video card. But if it can still display, how come it wont on the XPS 410? I just tested it on a Dell Inspiron 3847 and the pictures show exactly i what i saw.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Looks like it might be a monitor pixel problem too Jake although the card is not out of the woods.

Try this mate LCD Dead Pixel Test Backgrounds

 

[Boozad]

Does that say 'This copy of Windows is not genuine' in the bottom right hand corner?

 

[Jake1211]

Does that say 'This copy of Windows is not genuine' in the bottom right hand corner?

Yes, yes it does. I have the OEM disk, but have not gotten around to it yet.

 

[Jake1211]

Looks like it might be a monitor pixel problem too Jake although the card is not out of the woods.

Try this mate LCD Dead Pixel Test Backgrounds

Moniter works fine on my other pc.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok mate well there is something wrong with the media you are trying to install from and I suggest you use this http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html
Pick the right version ISO from that listing because picking one that isn't the original version will only put you back where you are see my pic.
All you need is the original activation code to get going. I personally like the disk ISO but the stick way is just as good whatever way you pick you need to sewt the BIOS to boot from that device.

 

[Boozad]

Does that say 'This copy of Windows is not genuine' in the bottom right hand corner?

Yes, yes it does. I have the OEM disk, but have not gotten around to it yet.

Please install a genuine copy of Windows as the forum doesn't allow support for pirated software.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

As Boozad says mate and use that tutorial link I sent - if you have no activation code on that sticker then you might be having to purchase an OEM version.

 

[Jake1211]

I believe you all misunderstood me, I ordered a OEM Windows 7 Home Premium disk from Dell.com which is where i bought my pc. I got this ISO from microsoft.com and it is NOT a pirated version. I only had this ISO and it will not accept my key so i had to get the OEM disk, and have not gotten around to backing up important files and reinstalling it. I only use this version because i got a virus and it destroyed everything. Again, not pirated, just not activated. There is nothing wrong with my computer i tested the card in, and it has nothing to do with my issue. I am asking for help with my Broken Dell XPS 410, not my perfectly functional Dell Inspiron 3874. I only used the Inspiron to test that card and that is that. Again, the Inspiron with the non-activated OS has no purpose for this thread or to help seek my resolution, it was only used to test a piece of hardware, nothing else.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Hum What I do not understand Jake is are you trying to install a later version of 7 or Vista with that OEM you bought from Dell which seems to me a roundabout way of getting one unless you got it cheap as opposed to getting it from a store.
I ask because when I was in the UK last year my brother had bought Dell 7 disk and it was a flipping disaster and we ended up having to contact Microsoft and get them to ok the activation code for that disk for an ISO I downloaded for him from the tutorial by gregrocker. see post #11 for it.
That installed with no hitches at all.

 

[Jake1211]

Hum What I do not understand Jake is are you trying to install a later version of 7 or Vista with that OEM you bought from Dell which seems to me a roundabout way of getting one unless you got it cheap as opposed to getting it from a store.
I ask because when I was in the UK last year my brother had bought Dell 7 disk and it was a flipping disaster and we ended up having to contact Microsoft and get them to ok the activation code for that disk for an ISO I downloaded for him from the tutorial by gregrocker. see post #11 for it.
That installed with no hitches at all.

I have the disk for it and i know it will work. I have a Genuine Copy of Windows 7 and just did not reinstall it yet because i need to backup my files.

 

[ICIT2LOL]

Ok Jake mate try backing up with this unless you have some other method you prefer.
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/73828-imaging-free-macrium.html

If you do get any problems at all with that Dell disk then as long as you have the activation key / code then you can use this
http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/219487-clean-reinstall-factory-oem-windows-7-a.html#post1839164 if you do just make sure you pick only the ISO for the version you have paid for - see pic

 

[badger906]

I currently have a dell xps 420 sat on my desk that im trying to fix for someone. it has the same weird pixelated display as above (and no its not screen related as ive attached it to my usual test monitor that fuctions perfectly)

im not 100% but I think for these to function properly they have to have every factory component attached..
for example this one ive only attached one hard drive to, when you go to boot it says no ata drive detected, press f1 to contiune, press f1 and it boots.. thats rather magical for something that isnt seen by the bios/mobo!!