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Reset bios (or video settings in bios) for Inspiron 530 Desktop
Short version:
the bios display has a checkerboard of blank areas in the display - how do I reset the bios (or video portion of the bios)?
Longer version:
I've had the box wroking fine for several years. After a HD crash, I was starting over again with new (blank) drives, was in the process of installing Win7 on blank drive) and something crapped out - machine off and wouldn't boot to the new drive. On starting the install over, I got this problem: the bios display has 3 characters, then blank (black) space, then the next three letters. Definitely the BIOS: this happens even if no drives are connected.
Suggestions?
Old box, but I would like to get it running again. Here are the relevant specs:
1 CN481 ASSEMBLY..., CHASSIS..., MNTW, Pentium 4 Prescott DT, 3.0GHZ, 1 MEGB, 800FSB..., NON PFC..., PWA INTEGRATED...
1 DX929 Processor, E4500, 2.20, 2M, Core Duo-Conroe, M0
1 WX093 Card, Graphics, 128, 8300 MRMGA11B, NV
Davet50
14.4K Posts
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December 30th, 2010 12:00
Try a new video card. Looks like the card is failing
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
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43.6K Posts
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December 27th, 2010 22:00
Did you format the new hard drive before attempting to install Windows?
You can try this:
Power off and unplug
Press/hold power button on tower for ~15 sec
Open the case and remove the motherboard battery
Press/hold power button again for ~30 sec
Reinstall the battery (right-side-up!)
Now start the install over again by formatting the new drive. Have only mouse, monitor and keyboard attached during the installation. (Make sure the network/modem cable isn't connected.)
Ron
ausbert
4 Posts
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December 29th, 2010 09:00
Thanks Ron - will try tonight.
ausbert
4 Posts
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December 29th, 2010 19:00
No go. did that series, and also used the CMOS reset jumper (Clearing CMOS Settings - http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/inspd530/en/OM/HTML/appendix.htm#wp1141353 )
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
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43.6K Posts
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December 30th, 2010 09:00
What color is the power button? Blue/Amber; Solid/Blinking?
Are you sure the motherboard battery is good?
Strip it down to bare minimum. Disconnect all drives, remove all PCI cards. If you an add-in PCI-e video card, also remove that and use the on-board graphics output. Reseat all RAM modules and all cables. Then do the "battery thing" again.
If none of that helps, could be a motherboard failure. :emotion-9:
Ron
ausbert
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January 1st, 2011 18:00
it was indeed the video card - behavior followed the vid card when I switched to another box. Thanks everyone!