4550 boot problem / tech support almost worthless / diagnostic lights

Within 1 year you can get a replacement system once you get an authorization from tech support. Tell them your 4550 is inoperable and that your previous attempts at fixing it have not corrected the problem. Be firm but polite, always redirecting the conversation toward getting a replacement system. If they stall after this approach, read them the riot act. Remember, they have to give you the same configuration that was shipped to you, so if you have changed anything, return the system to it's shipped configuration.

This was the methodology I used with a cdrw problem and I had a replacement in 2 days.

Good luck,

NFFAA

Dell Dimension 4400,1.6ghz p4,768Mb ddr sdram,20gb primary hd, 60 gb slave(both wd) ,radeon 7500 64 mb ddr video,sb live 5.1 digital audio,Harmon Kardon speakers, 4 port firewire, 4 port usb,hp930c, hp 5400c, sony trv 330 digital camcorder, intel pro pac webcam ,dell E151FP lcd monitor, 24x nec cdrw, 48x samsung cdrom.Palm IIIxe.

if your diagnostic lights at the back indicate a YYGG, then that will be a memory problem.

if you remove the memory modules, do you get the same diagnostic lights? if not what are they?

if you get the same diagnostic lights, turn off the computer again then remove the IDE cables, memory modules and the expansion cards. turn on the computer and check the diagnostic lights. check also if you are getting any beeps when you turn the machine on. if you don't get any beeps, you have a bad motherboard. if you get a beep, check the lights at the back. if you get the same lights then you have a bad memory module. if you get a different set of lights, that could mean another thing. you'll have to post what the diagnostic lights are.

you'll find more information about the diagnostic lights from http://premiersupport.dell.com/docs/systems/dim4550/advanced.htm#1118998

Message Edited by marco27 on 10-28-2003 05:41 AM

could you verify the quad again,.. if the light (A) is blinking, try to remove all the expansion cards,.ie modem, nic.. etc

then remove the falt gray cables, (IDE cables) all!

then remove me module,

if the light (A) would still flicker, then you have isolated the problem to three parts, MOBO, PRC and or PSU.

if you call dell tech support and get routed to india, maybe they can send out all the parts because they might not know how to fix it..

if you get routed elsewhere, maybe you will be able to find a better solution..

and please do not be mad at tech support, they always try to help you!

hope this helps

marco:

I pull the memory chip out and get 6 beeps upon startup, with no signs of the drives clicking on and off.  The lights are then Green, Y,Y,Y.  If the problem is memory, it is more complicated than just the chip though.  I bought another chip from compusa (yes I checked the specs) and I have the same problem.  Also, it seems rather strange that the memory error would cause a flashing light A (green and yellow).  The timing of the flashing is the same as the powering on and off of the drives.  I don't have access to the dell premier site, so I cannot see what the codes mean.  Is tehre anything there about flashing light A?

cereal: 

I have gone through and unplugged the cards and drives one by one and altogether.  Always the same combination of lights.  What are MOBO, PRC and or PSU?  Do you have a reference to what a flashing A led means?

Thanks a bunch guys! 

oakguy,

green, yellow, yellow, yellow, means that the memory is not being detected by the board.

what are the specs of the memory modules you installed?

have you tried installing the memory module you got from dell into the other memory slot?

when you installed the new memory modules what are the diagnostic lights at the back?

also you may want to try reseating the processor.

good luck!

try to remove everything from the computer,  the motherboard shall only be connected to the PSU- power supply unit, PRC- processor , mobo is the mother board..

see if you would still get the flashing A(amber) it you do, you might need to replace the MOBO and / or the PRC

To reinforce what has been said in other replies, my 4550 arrived dead out of the box with the EXACT same problem that you are having several months ago.

After being told it was a video card problem and being sent two new video cards over the first week or so, I finally got to a tech who immediately recognized it as a memory problem. 

When the new memory arrived, all was fine.   For a while, anyway.

I share your frustrations.....I am on my 15th Dell between home and work and have had more problems with this machine than all of the others put together.  The memory problem, one new monitor, three new video cards, three cordless keyboards/mouse (worthless as far as I am concerned) and three hard drives--as I write I am waiting on a rebuilt computer following my latest problems (after more than 40 hours spent with tech support, "repairing" XP, reformatting and reinstalling windows at least ten times, unistalling and then intalling practically every device repeatedly).....all for what I believe now was another memory problem.

I want to remain brand loyal as all my other experiences with Dell have been so positive.  Might be hard to do, however.  Good luck.   

oakguy2000,

do you still have warranty for your computer? it would be advisable to call dell technical support for a replacement of the motherboard and memory modules. otherwise, a call to dell spare parts division would help you to purchase a motherboard and memory modules.

Sounds like a flaky DIMM socket on the mb or the CPU is ditzed.

All,

Did anyone every figure out what the original combination of diagnostic lights means for sure:

Message Edited by easperhe on 01-14-2006 01:43 PM