XPS 9000 won't boot up

jrp01 

What colour is the power button LED, is it blinking, solid, or off?

Are there any 'Beeps'?

The XPS9000/435T Setup Guide and troubleshooter, is here,

<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>

Bev.

jrp01

From the Dell troublestooter.

If the power light is solid white, and the computer is not responding — The display may not be connected or powered on. Ensure that the display is properly connected and then turn it off, then back on.

No difference, check the monitor by connecting it to a know working computer.

Monitor works, open the case, remove and replace the video card, no difference, try installing a knowing working PCIe x16 video card.

Bev.

I should add that Dell replaced 3 hard drives under warranty which has expired. I am thinking power supply?? or motherboard.

I just rebooted it again , probably 10th time. Now it shows the Dell logo. The progress bar is stuck about 80% across to the right. Tried pushing the F2 and then the F12 during boot, but no change.

I powered it off and back on. Now says missing operating system.

jrp01

Try running Dell Diagnostic's extended test.

The instructions for using Dell's Diagnostics Utility, are HERE

You may need to use the Drivers and Utilities DVD to run diagnostics.

Starting Dell Diagnostics From the Drivers and Utilities disk.

Insert the Drivers and Utilities disc.

Shut down and restart the computer.

When the DELL logo appears, press F12 immediately.

When the boot device list appears, highlight CD/DVD/CD-RW and press .

Select the Boot from CD-ROM option from the menu that appears and press .

Type 1 to start the CD menu and press to proceed.

Select Run the 32 Bit Dell Diagnostics from the numbered list. If multiple versions are listed, select the version appropriate for your computer.

When the Dell Diagnostics Main Menu appears, select the test you want to run.

Bev.

Tried that ,it locked up after starting the test. There was no diagnostic code. It did stop responding to the key board.

It is now running the PSA test again. I guess I should let it do that for up to 20 min. even though I am not sure it is progressing. Looks stuck on memory test.

I think it's fried got the windows DVD to load, but said it couldn't use the hard drive.

jrp01

Possibly a failed hard drive, check the system setup, to see if the hard drive is recognzed.

Bev.

When I finally got the Windows DVD to load and attempted to reinstall. It showed the hard drives, I was unable to reinstall windows to either one. I even tried to reformat the drive, but it wouldn't perform the task.

I'm ready to give up on this computer. I have always bought Dell (11 or 12) have  5 right now. Very dissapointed in current computere. I think that they only fixed the symptom (hard drive fail 3 times) not the cause. Does anybody know if they have a trade in policy?

Thanks

JP