XPS 8700 HAS BLACK SCREEN AND 5 BEEPS

Question

I have a Dell XPS 8700 that has been shutting down suddenly. I cleared all the temporary files and cache and tried to reinstall Windows 7 Pro 64 bit OS but the re-install failed before it completed. An error window came up saying "The file directory X: is corrupt and unreadable. Please run the Chkdsk utility". I clicked on the "Okay" tab for this error window but the window would not go away no matter how many times I clicked on it.

Behind the error window it says on the bottom of the screen that it is re-installing my old operating system. However, it seemed like it was not able to reinstall the old OS as long as this error window stays on the screen. I waited 6 hours and it still would not re-install the old version (progress bars moving endlessly but never finishes install) then I finally forced a shutdown. When I started up the computer again the screen was completely black and a 5 beep error code beeps.

Now, I cannot even start my computer in safe mode or get any image at all on the screen when I power it up. The monitor says it is not getting any signal from the computer. I checked the monitor cable connections and they are secure.

According to the Dell beep codes 5 beeps means a bad CMOS battery.So I changed the CMOS battery, checked to make sure that ALL cable connections were secure, and unplugged the AC cord for a few minutes, checked to see that the video card, audio card and RAM were all inserted properly but I am still unable to get any image at all on my screen. I replaced my power supply with a Thermaltake 750W Bronze unit (same one I had before replacement) It will not boot up at all. No image on screen. The computer, fans and power indicator lights are all on but nothing at all on the screen..

All the fans are working the power lights are on and the computer seems to be running but I just cannot get get ANY image at all on my screen. However, the computer is still shutting down suddenly. I was thinking it may be a defective main board or hard drive, but I am not sure. The fact that the OS re-install failed may have something to do with why I am not getting any image on the screen but I was having problems with sudden shut downs long before I tried the re-install. It could be a combination of these two things that is causing the black screen and failure to boot.

I am leaning towards it being a main board problem or a corrupt main hard drive. I think the failed re-install of the Windows 7 Pro 64 bit OS was caused by a hard shut down or a corrupt main hard drive. . I think this may be the cause of the black screen. There may be no OS or an incomplete installation of an OS. If so, I really need to recover the video and audio files that are on this possibly failed hard drive and install a new main hard drive.

How can I fix this problem?

Any help would be much appreciated.

RoHe · Accepted Answer

Unless that other PC has EXACTLY the same hardware as the XPS 8700, it's never going to boot from the SSD from the XPS 8700.

Install the SSD from the XPS 8700 as a secondary drive in the other PC. Boot from that PC's own HDD and see if you can access your files on the SSD that way.

EVGA's software won't tell you if the CPU is overheating and causing the XPS 8700 to crash. So that app tells you nothing about the CPU, its fan, or its heatsink and thermal paste.

Robert P (retired) · Answer

Hi measeburl, Thanks for posting. Here is some information you may find helpful: http://dell.to/2nvBckY

RoHe · Answer

It's possible you have an over-heating issue, one of the possibilities mentioned in the article Robert linked. In that case you'll have to remove the heat sink, clean both surfaces, apply a thin coat of fresh thermal paste (eg, Arctic Silver) and then reinstall heat sink.

Couple of things to check first...

When you replaced the battery, did you press/hold power button for ~30 sec after removing the old one, and before installing the new one?
After you swapped PSUs, did you connect the monitor to an add-in video card (if you have one) or to an onboard video port? Onboard video ports are disabled when an add-in video is card installed
Test this monitor and video cable on a different PC or different monitor/cable on this PC
If you have add-in video card, remove the card and connect monitor to one of the onboard video ports. (See #2)
Reseat RAM modules in their slots

Keep in mind that by replacing the battery, you reset BIOS to default settings and the defaults may not be suitable to boot your hardware configuration. But you have to be able to see output on the monitor in order to check BIOS settings...

measeburl · Answer

Thanks Ron.

As I mentioned to Robert, I do not think it is an overheating issue. I have two problems it would seem; a bad (SSD) hard drive with a Windows 7 OS that was not completely installed and a display issue (could be a video card problem, a bad monitor or a defective main board).

When I replaced the CMOS battery I did hold down the power button for 2 minutes before installing the new battery. The weird thing though is even after I re-installed this new battery I am still getting a completely black screen and 5 beeps on startup. The Dell beep code clearly says that 5 beeps means a bad CMOS battery but I am still getting 5 beeps after a new one was installed? Its possible that the brand new battery I bought last week was defective or bad. I think i will buy another battery at a different store.

First, I must figure out how I am going to recover my files from this failed SSD.

Any suggestions on how I should do this recovery?

measeburl · Answer

Thanks for your response Robert. I read the article but I do not think it is an overheating problem because I have an EVGA video card that has the EVGA Precision monitor feature. It tells you the temperature of the video card (which I monitor constantly) and there was no over-heating prior to or at the time of the total shut down.

I did take the main hard drive out and hooked it up to another computer. It did show that Windows 7 was beginning to load but it always ends with an error window saying Windows could not be opened.

I then launched Startup Repair but that always ends up saying that Windows could not repair it. This is obviously a result of the failed attempt to re-install Windows 7. Now, I am VERY worried that I may not be able to recover the files I have on this main hard drive. I have an EXTREMELY important project on this hard drive and I am very worried that I may not be able to recover it.

At this point, at looks like I have two big problems with this computer. A corrupt main hard drive that has an incomplete OS install and a display problem.

My biggest concern is the recovery of the files on this bad hard drive. I can buy another computer (as a last resort) but I cannot replace these important files. I will deal with the black screen issue after I figure out how to recover my lost files.

This hard drive is a Samsung SSD which makes me worry even more. Research has told me that recovering lost files on a failed SSD is not always possible because of the TRIM feature.

Would you happen to know the best program to use for recovering lost files on an SSD? What would be the best way of pefforming this task?

measeburl · Answer

Okay. I will try to install the SSD in the other computer as a secondary drive. I will let you know the outcome. Thanks Robert

measeburl · Answer

I just hooked up my failed SSD as a secondary hard drive on my second computer and all of my files are still there Phew!! I am so relieved to see those files!

Now, I will work on fixing the sudden shut-down and the black screen problems on my primary computer.

Thanks Robert!

RoHe · Answer

Glad you rescued your files from the SSD. Do yourself a favor and make another backup copy on an external HDD or on DVDs, or both, just to be safe!

Now you have to figure out if the problem(s) with the XPS 8700 is the motherboard, SSD, or video card or a combination...

And for the record, I'm not convinced it isn't just CPU overheating, along with a corrupted Windows install on the SSD.

Did you have a power surge or power failure which might have damaged components?

Did you test the monitor on a different PC or a different monitor on this PC?

I presume you installed the SSD and loaded Windows on it. So where's the original boot hard drive that came with this system? If you didn't wipe it, connect that HDD to the SATA0 port, instead of the SSD, and see if it boots now.

Did you try removing the video card and connecting the monitor to onboard video? Do this without the SSD installed or with the original HDD installed.

It's possible the new battery is dead or -no offense- you installed the new one up-side-down..?? Remove it and press/hold power button for ~30 sec. Inspect the battery socket for dust and fingerprints. Wipe the battery with a lint-free cloth to remove any fingerprints. Hold it by the edges and reinstall right-side-up. See what happens without the SSD installed or with the original HDD installed.

measeburl · Answer

I have ordered some thermal grease for the heat sink.

There was no power surge that I know of in my house.

I am going to test the monitor on another computer.

I will try booting on the original hard drive that came with the system.

I will try removing the video card and connecting to onboard video tonight.

As for the battery, I did install it correctly. However, I am going to buy another new battery. The one I just bought is a Duracell. I will buy an Energizer this time for they are the most reliable of the battery companies in my opinion.

I will let you know the results of my efforts.

Thanks again Robert.

RoHe · Answer

OK, let us know what you find with those tests. (Been called a lot of things in my life, but 'Robert' isn't one of them!)

measeburl · Answer

Sorry, Ron. I thought it was Robert who had responded with the most recent advice. My mistake.

measeburl · Answer

I disconnected the monitor and tested it on another computer. It works just fine.

I took the CMOS battery out again and re-installed it. I am still getting those 5 beeps at start-up. The Dell beep code clearly states that 5 beeps is a CMOS battery problem. It MUST be something to do with the battery. I am going to buy another brand new battery (Energizer) and try that next.

RoHe · Answer

I disconnected the monitor and tested it on another computer. It works just fine.

I took the CMOS battery out again and re-installed it. I am still getting those 5 beeps at start-up. The Dell beep code clearly states that 5 beeps is a CMOS battery problem. It MUST be something to do with the battery. I am going to buy another brand new battery (Energizer) and try that next.

Yes, it probably has something to do with the battery, but not necessarily in the way you think...

The voltage sensor on the motherboard might have failed so it's unable to detect voltage from the battery and that causes BIOS to report a battery problem with 5 beeps. That's why I suggested you examine the battery socket for dirt or damage.

And make sure the battery retaining clip moves back into the correct position after installing the battery. You might try GENTLY pressing down on the battery after the retaining clip is back in position.

If that voltage sensor failed, I don't know if there's any fix, other than replacing the motherboard. So if the PC is under warranty, you should contact Dell Tech Support asap.

measeburl · Answer

I thought from the beginning that I may need to replace the motherboard. Before I do that though I will do all the things you mentioned regarding the battery and the unit that holds it in place.

I'll keep you posted.

Thanks Ron.

Michael

measeburl · Answer

I ordered some parts (thermal grease, battery, etc...) that will take a few days to be shipped to me. I will resume my diagnostic efforts when these parts arrive. Michael

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XPS 8700 HAS BLACK SCREEN AND 5 BEEPS

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