Dimension 4100 POST failure with beep and diagnostic codes

Question

I have a Dimension 4100 thats having two possibly related problems on bootup.

MY COMPUTER:
Dimension 4100, Pentium III, 1 Ghz
512Mb RAM
BIOS version: A06
Operating System: Windows ME
40 Gb hardrive.
Purchased: 4/2001

Can anyone suggest a cause or solution that I haven't tried?

PROBLEM #1: BEEP CODES - 1 OR 2 DURING POST.

Roughly half the time I get a beep code (1 or 2 beeps) during POST. It always happens before the screen in Problem #2 displays. It almost always happens when booting from a complete shutdown.

The Dell System Reference Interpretation of the Beep Codes:

One beep: Indicating a memory refresh failure.
Two beeps: Indicating memory parity cannot be reset.

WHAT I'VE DONE:
Dell System Reference recommends reseating the memory modules.
I reseated the modules - no difference. I replaced the two 256Mb memory modules with the single 128Mb module that came with the unit (in socket 0) - no difference. I removed the 128Mb module and replaced the two 256's one at at time - no difference.
All RAM modules are Dell brand selected from the database on Dell's website.

I'm getting ready to replace the battery to see if that makes a difference.
The computer's 4 years old and never had a battery change.

PROBLEM #2: SCREEN INTERRUPTS BOOT - BAD DIAGNOSTIC CODE TOO.
This problem now occurs EVERY time I boot up. It used to be intermittant but kept getting worse.

When booting up the computer stops at the following screen and requires pressing the Delete key to continue:

Copyright 1996-2000 Intel Corporation

EA81510A.10A.0027.P08.0011280951

Dell Dimension 4100
BIOS Version A06
Intel(R) Pentium(R)III processor, 1 GHz
512MB PC133 System RAM

Legacy Keyboard . . .Detected
Legacy Mouse . . . . Detected
USB Legacy . . . . . Enabled

Fixed Disk 0: Maxtor 5T040H4
(UDMA=l00MHz)
ATAPI CD-ROM LG CD-RW CED-8080B

Press Del to Resume

At this point the Diagnostic Lights on the back of the unit show the following:

A - YELLOW, B - GREEN, C - YELLOW, D - YELLOW

According to Dell references this indicates a "PCI Bus Failure". They recommend removing all cards to see if there is a resource conflict. I have not done this yet.

WHAT I'VE DONE:
Checked System Setup to see if anything seems incorrect - looks ok.
Went into System Setup and disabled "Quick Boot" and "Quiet Boot", to try and see the POST process. According to Dell Docs enabling "Quick Boot" allows some POST tests to be skipped, and enabling "Quiet Boot" covers the POST message with the Dell logo.
However after saving the changes and rebooting there was no change in the booting process. It starts up, maybe a beep code occurs (see problem #1), then the above screen, that's it. In fact, it seemed to do it more often after this change in System Setup. I re-enabled "Quick Boot" and "Quiet Boot". Nothing else in System Setup was changed.

Anybody have any other ideas of things to check?

Jthoma4

Majestic · Answer

I suspect changing the battery will resolve the problem.  Since a failing battery can also corrupt the hardware information stored in the NVRAM, I would also clear the NVRAM as long as you will have the battery out.  Just follow these steps to do a 'hard' reset of the NVRAM.....   With the machine unplugged from the wall remove the battery from the motherboard.  Then with the machine still unplugged press the On button for several seconds to dissipate any remaining electrical charge on the motherboard.  Then re-install the battery, plug the machine back into the wall and see if it will boot normally.

jthoma4 · Answer

Got it. I'll clear the NVRAM when replacing the battery.
I think I'll also get some compressed air and clean the dust off the board and memory sockets. I've had someone post with the same problem and that solved it.

Checking through this forum it seems a lot of people with Dimension 4100s have had this problem. A number of people have traced it to the hard drive - a Maxtor 40Gb (which I do have).

I've also been experiencing a lot of lockups requiring manual reboot.
This may be related to the current problems or could be another problem altogether.
Video especially seems to be a problem.

Thanks,

Jthoma4

Marty3473 · Answer

I have recently developed the same POST failure on my 4100. Diagnostic codes show PCI Bus Failure.

I ran Belarc advisor, which reported a SMART failure on my HD (Maxtor 60GB). I downloaded and ran the Maxtor PowerMax HD diags and it also reported a SMART failure. Everest diags show the SMART failure to be repeated Spin Up Attempts or something similar.

Even with the above, the system does start/run normally after pressing the Del key after the POST fail. I will replace the hard drive soon.

Another issue with my current state is that I can not get into the CMOS configuration screen at boot. Pressing the Del key just takes me into Windows from the failed POST. Is there some other way to get to CMOS settings?

Thanks,

Marty

Majestic · Answer

Marty, thanks for the insight into your boot up problem.  The information you offered may help others in a similar situation.  As for your inability to access the BIOS Setup..... do you have an USB - wireless keyboard installed?  If so then the system will not recognize the keyboard until Windows installs the necessary drivers.  A way around the problem is to use a PS/2 style keyboard to access your BIOS Setup and then enable the setting for Legacy USB Support.  That option can be found under the Peripheral Configuration sub-menu of the Advance menu of the BIOS Setup program.  With that option enabled the BIOS will support USB devices like the keyboard until the drivers are loaded in Windows. If that setting is already enabled or you are using a PS/2 style keyboard then try tapping the DEL key as soon as the system starts booting up.  Also try the F2 key.  I recall past postings here where people reported the F2 enabled them to enter the BIOS Setup on your model. If all else fails you can force the system into the BIOS Setup program at boot up by using the Configuration Jumper on the motherboard.  The system will then boot to the BIOS Setup program with an added Maintenance Mode option in the menu.  Click here for your model's on-line User Guide and the section pertaining to the Configuration Jumper for your reference. Message Edited by Majestic on 12-07-2005 08:15 AM

Marty3473 · Answer

Thanks, Majestic.

I have the standard Dell PS2 keyboard. I will try your suggestions re: tapping the Del (or F2) key right away. Thanks for the link to the jumper setting to boot into maintenance mode. I hadn't found that.

jthoma4 · Answer

The hard drive seems to be a strong suspect for many of us with this "PCI Bus Failure - Have to hit Del to boot the computer" problem. I have an old Western Digital 13.6GB ATA/66 EIDE hard drive that still works. I may swap out my current drive with the Western Digital and see if I have the same problem.

You don't think it would screw up the computer do you, to install an older hard drive? The Dimension 4100 manuals say it takes 1 inch drives with either an ATA-66 or ATA-100 interface. This Western Digital is an ATA-66, although it used the old 40 conductor, 40 pin cable. The Maxtor uses the 80 conductor, 40 pin connectors.
I THINK it would be compatible.

I may not even have to install the operating system - since the problem occurs in the POST phase. Install the drive, configure the system setup, reboot. If it stops and demands "Del", then keep looking. If it boots up fine, go out and get a new hard drive.

Besides. I used Dell diagnostics to create a disk for running SMART tests. My HD failed the SMART test - twice.

Well, what do you think?

Majestic · Answer

Jthoma4,   'This Western Digital is an ATA-66, although it used the old 40 conductor, 40 pin cable. The Maxtor uses the 80 conductor, 40 pin connectors.  I THINK it would be compatible.'   A 80 conductor, 40 pin, ribbon cable will work just fine on the WD drive.  The extra conductors in the cable are there to provide a clearer/cleaner signal for data transfers at the higher ATA-66/100/133 speeds.  If the WD is ATA-66 then is should be on a 80/40 cable anyways.   'If it stops and demands 'Del', then keep looking. If it boots up fine, go out and get a new hard drive.'   You may have to clear the NVRAM after installing the drive just to be sure that the BIOS is using the latest hardware configuration information.   If after the NVRAM is cleared and the problem continues then keep looking. Message Edited by Majestic on 12-14-2005 07:41 AM

jthoma4 · Answer

Aha! It was the Maxtor hard drive!
I ran the Dell diagnostics and it gave a SMART failure on each test of the drive.

I replaced the drive with a Western Digital 80 GB.
The computer booted straight into the operating system. No stopping during POST and demanding I press the Del key. No PCI bus failure indications. No memory parity error beep codes. Just booted right up.

One problem. The Western Digital disk setup software (Data Lifeguard 11.1).
If I copy the files as instructed the underlying DOS filenames are sometimes changed.

In Windows 95 through ME the long filename feature is actually a work-around.
The operating system itself still uses 8-character filenames with a 3-character extension. For long filenames the filename is truncated and numbers are substituted. For example: LongFileNameOne.exe is actually called LongFi~1.exe, LongFileNameTwo.exe is LongFi~2.exe, etc.
These DOS filenames are sometimes changed during the Data Lifeguard copying. In the Registry some files are listed using these DOS filenames. So, filename gets changed + Registry has old filename = software problems.
Also files that are open do not get copied.

I tried booting from the WD Data Lifeguard CD and using the partition copy utility.
The original DOS filenames do get copied exactly, but Norton Disk Doctor reported the boot sector showing incorrect free space. Apparently the original Master Boot Record got copied too - still showing a 40 GB drive instead of an 80 GB.

Anybody got a recommendation for software to copy your hard disk files?

So folks if your machine stops during POST and you have to press the Del key, and your diagnostic lights show a "PCI bus failure" suspect your hard drive.
But you might consider a commercial disk imaging package.

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Dimension 4100 POST failure with beep and diagnostic codes

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