Click the "Get help now" button on the lower right.

Thank you for your reply. I had already done as you suggest but after 3 days I have no solution.

Does anyone know why plugging the power cable into the PC would start the  XPS8950 without the power button on the front panel being pressed? When the PC is shut down by holding the power button for several seconds, it turns off but after the button is released the PC comes straight back on - but does not seem to boot. There is no video output of any description.

Comments welcomed.

There is a setting in BIOS as to what happens when you lose power, probably set to power on when power is restored.

Wondering if you got a New one or a refurbished one?

Are you connecting the monitor to the proper Video port? The Discrete card or the Built-in Intel one? Should work with either, but you never know?

Did you ever see the Dell Logo on the Monitor?

Have another PC? Can you create a Bootable CD/DVD or even a bootable FLash drive? If so, does that boot? Windows Media Creation tool could be a good choice if made on another PC.

Does press F12 or F2 when booting do anything (I know you might not see the screen)?

Try removing ALL non-Dell shipped devices, only have the Dell Keyboard and Mouse on. Same results?

Do you know the cable and monitor are good?

Thanks for all the comments.

This is a new PC bought from Dell.

I have tried the display port and the HDMI.

I don’t have another PC.

I never see the Dell logo - never see anything on the screen.

I haven’t tried the F12/F2 keys but will do so.

The monitor and cable are known to be good.

Same results with all peripherals disconnected.

@Traveller417 - When you say "LEDs flashing on the keyboard", do you mean continuously or just the standard startup blinks?

Are keyboard and mouse connected to the two USB2 ports (#7) on the back panel? Got a different USB keyboard you can plug in one of the two USB2 ports?

Since you have an add-in video card, the monitor needs to be connected to that card, not to the onboard Intel Graphics DisplayPort.

If your monitor has its own On-Screen Display (OSD), open it by pressing button(s) on the monitor. Make sure the Input setting matches the type of port you're using to connect to the PC.  If it's set to "auto-detect", try changing that to the specific input port you're using, eg HDMI.

Are you powering the monitor on a few sec before powering the PC on?

It doesn't sound like you received a proper working computer.  Your best option is returning it for refund and shop for another one.  Else, after your free return period is pass, you will be stuck with a machine with some hidden issues or a repaired unit. 

Thank you for all the comments above.

There are no lights, flashing or otherwise, on the keyboard. The keyboard just appears dead at all times. I have tried another known good keyboard connected via USB and it also remains apparently dead.

Pressing F2 or F12 does nothing.

Powering on the monitor before or after the PC makes no difference.

The monitor does not have a menu allowing for input selection. It is an Eizo Coloredge 241W, an excellent and very expensive monitor with very good colour stability. It has two inputs both using DVI connections. Before placing the order for the new PC, I discussed its compatibility with the sales people who consulted their technical experts. The advice was that the Eizo was compatible but would need a DVI to display output adaptor - which was purchased as part of the order.

The monitor is connected to the PC’s graphics card.

I have tried connecting the PC to a TV with a HDMI lead and the TV reported “No input signal”.

As far as getting a refund is concerned, OK, but Dell offered the XPS 8950 at a reduced price for a short period which saved me £200. If I get a refund, Dell will surely say I have to pat the additional £200 to re-order. It is a lose -lose situation.

Well, at this point, I'd open the case can check ALL parts to see if they are fully seated... even to the point of disconnecting them and re-inserting them. Possible a lose component (disk drive, RAM, PCI-e cards, PSU, and possibly the CPU and Heatsink) as one of these could cause the PC not to operate.

Otherwise, if that proves to be not the problem, call Sales and talk to them, they said the monitor would work.

I assume you are in the UK? Did you get the system from the UK made for the UK? Wondering if there is a power issue? PSU not working could be a problem here too?

EDIT: Well, it might not be a LOSE-LOSE situation if you get an operating XPS. Pretty sure Dell should be able to just replace it as not operating. However, you'd be getting a refurbished unit. Slight configuration difference too possibly, but at a minimum, what you ordered. Getting a working one is a WIN in my book. Right now, you've got a boat anchor.

Thanks again.

Yes, I am in the Uk and it came as one would expect equipped for the UK power system. 

I will bear in mind your loose component suggestion.

I am hoping to get a Dell engineer to look at it because the deal included 1 year on-site support, but at the moment they say it is not justified!

I  am interested in your comment that Dell would replace is as not working. Would I really then be obliged to accept a reconditioned model?

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@Traveller417 wrote:

 

I  am interested in your comment that Dell would replace is as not working. Would I really then be obliged to accept a reconditioned model?

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As far as I know and in  my experiences with my 8940 and other Dell's I had, that is all they do, will not provide a NEW unit. They call it an 'exchange'. Happened to me when I had the Nvidia Problem. In that case they would 'capture' my XPS. I would be given a 'similar' model, and 8940 if available (REFURBISHED) or and 8950 if not (REFURBISHED). I'd be given the Configuration details as well to agree to for the exchange.

Check this link for the UK, might be different in the US, https://www.dell.com/learn/uk/en/ukcorp1/terms-of-sale-consumer-warranties but as I said, you will win as you do get a working system (hopefully). Not that the RETURN if you decide to do that also had 'collection fees' that are subtracted from the refund... a bigger loss.

Since you appear to have some issues with Support, I suggest you post in here, https://www.dell.com/community/Customer-Care/ct-p/Care and see if you can get some satisfaction that way?

Thanks for the comments. I will look at this although I am briefly away from home so my update will be a bit delayed. However, I will post again asap.

@Traveller417  - I'd suspect the GPU either popped out of the slot and/or the PCI-e power connector from the PSU isn't connected correctly.

First, confirm the PCI-e connector is correctly attached to the top of card. 

There's typically a "hook" on the inner bottom corner of the GPU card (corner closest to center of motherboard) that has to catch the end of the PCI-e x16 slot. If that wasn't seated correctly, the card could have come out of the slot during shipping. So carefully re-seat the card in the slot, and re-confirm the status of the PCI-e power connection.

If that doesn't help, you could physically remove the GPU from the PC and plug the monitor into the Intel Graphics DP port, assuming it has a DP input.

And by all means, contact Dell Tech Support again. If necessary, ask for a Level 2 support agent...

This is the latest situation following  a further conversation with Dell support. I was told that there were only two options. One was to return the PC and receive a refund, and the other was to purchase a “compatible “ monitor. I had already been assured by their sales people that my Eizo monitor was compatible. However, I have also connected the PC to my TV with a direct HD MI cable. The TV reported no signal present.

I refused both these options since they involve spending several hundred pounds extra. I was also told that an on-site visit was not justified. The contract I signed includes 12 months premium on-site support.

After an hour, it was finally and reluctantly agreed that a technician will call tomorrow. I will therefore await his/her verdict before checking anything else. However, the visit will take place “only if the parts are available”.

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@Traveller417 wrote: However, the visit will take place “only if the parts are available”.

 

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What THAT means is that Dell has scheduled a visit WITH parts being sent to the 3rd party Support person/company.

So, no part arrives for them visit, the visit would/should be rescheduled. I wouldn't worry about that unless a day or two goes by without a notification of a rescheduled time.

Suspect from your last comments that it didn't work with a TV either that a new Video card was shipped.

If it was indeed the video card, then you should have been able to pull the card (in case it was shorting out or somehow causing other parts not to work) and use the Intel connections? That might have worked as an added test to verify if the video card was good or not?

OK, an update although the computer is still not functioning.

A field engineer called as promised and replaced the motherboard - no difference. Another field engineer called the following day and replaced the graphics card - no difference. The decision now is to take the computer back to their lab and work on it. I await the collection of the PC from my home.