XPS 8930, powering on issues

Question

This desktop is about 3 years old, received it on April 2018. Today I decided to clean the exterior of the desktop and used some Lysol wipes to wipe it down. Open the interior and cleaned the fans out a bit with the same wipes. I avoided all the hardware and wires. When I tried to boot the computer up an hour later, it worked just fine. About 10 minutes in, the monitor flashed a blue screen and then it powered off. I have since tried to power it on and it would not stay on for longer than one second, if even that. I have tried removing the ram, 4 sticks to 1 stick. Each attempt accompanied by same result. Each time I attempt to power the desktop on, I get a single orange flash(not sure if that’s an indicator or just computer turning on) and that lasts less than one second. I seen the two fans turn on but the psu fan does not. So I thought it’s the psu. I swapped the psu with another one I have and same result. Now I’m completely lost as to what went wrong and how I could fix this. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I’m not 100% sure on full specs of the desktop now. The only hardware that was changed or replaced was 1) The ram, I removed the single stick and put in 4x8 gb ddr4 ram sticks. Each stick is G.Skill and same ram. 2) I put in an GTX 1080. Everything else about the desktop came as it. I believe rest of hardware is 256 ssd.

redxps630 · Answer

Try clear CMOs https://www.dell.com/support/manuals/en-us/xps-8930-desktop/xps-8930-service-manual/procedure?guid=guid-2a199221-cdfc-4dfe-b196-da786913bc78〈=en-us and replace CMOs battery if possible even though pc is relatively new.

RoHe · Answer

One blink = System board: BIOS and ROM failure.

In addition to clearing BIOS and replacing the battery, check that all cables are securely connected to the motherboard. Also check that the video card is still fully/correctly seated in its slot. There's a "hook" on the bottom corner at back end of the card which has to lock into the "catch" on end of the x16 slot.

Also check the PCI-e power cable from PSU to the video card is fully seated, if your card has that connector.

And keep in mind the PSU fan in the XPS 8930 is "demand only", meaning it only spins when necessary to cool the PSU, not all the time.

Ironbomb · Answer

When I swapped the PSU, I used the cables that came with the different PSU. So yes, I used different cables for each psu.

I only took the ram sticks out when I thought that was the issue and the easiest test I could run. I pulled one stick out at a time and tried to power it up, didn’t work.

I checked all cables just now when I replaced the coin cell.

Ironbomb · Answer

I just replaced the coin cell batter with an old one I had. The computer still does not POST. I think that’s the term, sorry I’m not the most tech savvy.

i quadruple checked all wiring to make sure they are plugged in properly. I made sure they are secure as well.

What else can I try and anyway to pinpoint what is the issue?

When I press the power button, it’s an amber light and just goes straight off. No beeps no other flashes.

If I hold the power button for 30 seconds and try to power it up, I got a two flash then three flash. I feel like that sequence changes every time I do it though. This is the first time I’ve seen it flash the 2:3 sequence like 5 times before going to a 2:1 sequence and stopped flashing.

Ironbomb · Answer

The one blink, if you can even consider it that is the blink when I attempt to power up the desktop. I’m not sure how to do anything to the BIOS, does it require the system to boot? Right now it won’t even stay powered on when I press the power button. I think the term is NO POST. I’m learning as I’m doing this right now.

Ironbomb · Answer

I just threw* in completely new ram stick in to test if it was the ram. I tested all 4 slots and it still wouldn’t boot up. I removed the ssd to see if it would be that, assuming it doesn’t require that for the computer to stay power up. That didn’t work either. Components left on the computer to test would be motherboard and cpu? Anyway to test them without swapping parts for them? I don’t have any spare parts for those two as far as I know...gotta dig through old parts and see.

redxps630 · Answer

Re: I just replaced the coin cell batter with an old one I had

you need to replace with brand new battery if possible. Also follow instruction of clearing CMOs is essential step to rule out bios setting corruption, if not already done.

RoHe · Answer

@Ironbomb  - 2-5 flashes:2 flashes = no RAM detected5 flashes = CMOS battery failure 2-1 flashes:2 flashes = no RAM detected1 flash =   System board: BIOS and ROM failure So until you install a fresh battery, as was mentioned above, you can't go any further. After you remove the old battery that's in there now, press/hold power button for ~30 sec and then install a fresh battery. Make sure the battery is + side up and fully/correctly snapped into the battery socket. And you also need to put back the original RAM. Randomly putting in a RAM module, which may not be compatible, won't tell you anything. You should put the original RAM in after you remove the old battery and press/hold the power button and before you install the fresh battery. The first RAM module should go in 2nd slot from CPU. Next one goes in 4th slot from CPU, with retention clips matching the color of 2nd slot. If you have more than 2 modules, put the next one in 1st slot from CPU and last one in 3rd slot.  NOTE: RAM modules need to be matched so if yours are different sizes, eg 8 GB and 16 GB, they need to be paired, so -for example- put 16 GB modules in slots 2 and 4, and 8 GB modules in slots 1 and 3.

Ironbomb · Answer

@redxps630

I tried that method - following the steps you provided in your previous post - though it wasn't with a brand new battery. As a temporary fix, I just pulled the ssd/ram out and put them into another setup I have.

@RoHe

I am sorry if I wasn't clear about the flash sequence. The sequence now that I think about it - I am not sure if it was 2:3 or 3:2. The 5 was referencing how many times the sequence happened, not the number of flashes in the sequence. It would flash the sequence 5 times before it stopped. I have tested the ram and ssd just now by placing them into a temporary setup I have and using that right now.

RoHe · Answer

@Ironbomb - XPS 8930 only uses single digit flashes as error codes so it doesn't matter the order of the groups of flashes

2 = No memory or RAM detected

3 = System board or chipset error

Until you clear BIOS and install a brand new battery, you won't be able to understand/fix the problem(s).

XPS Desktops

XPS 8930, powering on issues

Was this post helpful?