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December 20th, 2012 16:00

XPS One A2010 - No boot/Blank Screen

Hello,

I received a Dell XPS One A2010 machine that was updated with Windows 7.  It worked for about a month but now when I power it on, I immediately hear the fans come to life, the power button on the left side of the monitor goes blue, as does the monitor screen button in the right hand corner on the front ... but I never get a picture.  Have to hold the power button down for ten seconds in order to turn off the machine.

Here's what I've done so far:

-Held power button down for 15 seconds, let go. Pulled power from back of machine.  Held power button down again for 15 seconds, let go. Opened up machine, removed motherboard battery, held power button down another 15-30 seconds. Waited about 30 minutes, put battery back in ... right side up ... closed up machine restarted.

-This time I actually got a screen to come up with messaging (see below):

**********************
[logo image for American Megatrends at top of screen with URL for www.ami.com]

Press F11 if you want to boot from the network
Press F12 for BBS POPUP
Initializing USB Controllers .. Done.
2048MB OK
USB Device(s): 1 Keyboard, 1 Mouse, 1 Hub
Auto-Detecting 3rd Master..IDE Hard Disk
3rd Master : WDC WD5000AAKS-75A7B0  01.03B01
                  Ultra DMA Mode-5, S.M.A.R.T. Capable but Disabled.
Auto-detecting USB Mass Storage Devices ..
00 USB mass storage devices found and configured.

ODD detect failure
CPU fan failure
System fan failure
COMS checksum error
CMOS Date/Time Not Set
Press F1 to Run SETUP
Press F2 to load default values and continue
********************************************

So, I pressed F1 and ran through the SETUP, resetting the proper date and time.  Also noticed the BIOS was 2.0.4, which is an earlier version.  Decided not to update the BIOS after reading about others having issues with an updated BIOS on XPS One rigs.  Saved my changes and was instructed to hit F10 in order to "Save My Changes and EXIT."  Well, after hitting F10 my machine instantly went back to no picture with the fans still running.

Noticing the Fan Failure error messages, I turned off the machine, opened it up, took out and thoroughly cleaned all the fans. Then I took out the video card/heat sink all-in-one part to inspect it.  Looked good from my eyes.  Replaced everything and turned the machine on.  Same thing.  No picture, blue lights on again, and fans running.

Questions:
—Can I assume the problem is not the video card/heat sink since I received and can see those messages/instructions on my screen?
—Does it seem from my post that the motherboard is toast?
—Could this be an issue with the previous owner's IT department installing Windows 7 on a previous Windows Vista machine?

Any advice/suggestions/things to try/solutions would be most helpful.  Trying desperately to get this machine up and running to give to my daughters by Christmas.

Many thanks,
Joe

6 Operator

 • 

2.6K Posts

December 20th, 2012 18:00

Hi joe,

I must appreciate the ease with which you are handling this technical issue on your computer.

Please try the below steps to isolate the problem:

  1. Remove all the external peripherals, the power cable from the computer. Press and hold the power button for 20 seconds. This process will drain all the static energy from the computer. Reconnect the power cable back in the computer.
  2. Now try running diagnostics by switching on the desktop computer by tapping F12 at dell logo to enter “One-time boot menu”.
  3. If the diagnostics displays an error, please reply with the right error message.
  4. If unable to run the diagnostics check for beep sound or flashing lock lights when the system is turned on.

Please reply the results along with the beep sounds, link lights patter on the right side of the screen and errors on the screen.

2 Posts

December 20th, 2012 20:00

Thanks for replying Nikhil D.

Unfortunately, not being able to see anything on the screen precludes me from being able to tap F12 at the Dell logo.  But, I went ahead and tried everything you said to do anyway, hoping I would at least see any flashing lock lights on the monitor or hear beep sounds ... of course, I did not.

All I get when powering on the monitor is the immediate turning on of the inner fans, a blue power light, and blue monitor power button (which will not turn off when pressed).

So, to sum up:  No beep sounds. No flashing lights pattern. No picture/video/screen activity, so no error messages that I can see.

This is quite frustrating to say the least.  Any one else out there can help me?

6 Operator

 • 

2.6K Posts

December 21st, 2012 01:00

Hi Joe,

The issue appears to be a problem with motherboard of the computer, which needs to be replaced.

If the computer has active warranty, I would be glad to arrange a service on the computer.

Please provide system’s Service Tag and contact details so I may access your system records and check for further course of action. To send me a private message click my user name, click Add as friend, click on Start Conversation to send a private message.

Check warranty status: http://dell.to/zEE2Cm

In case of expired warranty scenario, we would not be able to extend warranty entitled services.

Please contact spares and services to purchase the parts.

4 Posts

March 12th, 2013 05:00

Hello Joeytheg. Ironically I am experiencing the exact same issues that you are experiencing.

It is driving me crazy and without anything on the screen I am helpless. If you do in fact find a solution

to your problem would you please let me know what this problem is. Thank you so much. If I find out anything

I will let you know as well. I had read that these symptoms may contribute to the CPU being burnt out from 

overheating. I had taken out the fan and the thermal thingy which is directly behind the fan and that thing was completely full of dust

I had noticed that the top of my system was real hot at times but thought that was normal. Now I am thinking that it wasn't. So this leads

me to believe that the CPU is a strong possibility of this cause. But I am not definite of this.

Please let me know what you find out ok? 

Thanks Joeytheg! 

3 Posts

August 10th, 2013 10:00

Hello,

I have a similar pattern except that when I turn my XPS One on, the long blue light and the smaller blue lights all blink together every 4 seconds.

Please HELP me understand what's going on and if it can be fixed.

 

Thanks

Conrad

9 Posts

August 12th, 2013 18:00

I have a Dell XPS One (A2010) that started out never posting, and a blank display.

Based upon my experience, I determined it was most likely a video card issue.  I got a replacement and the system would post and there was hard drive activity consistent with the OS booting, but only a blank display.  It would also shutdown gracefully after pushing the power button for a second.  

I then tried the next cheapest part to replace, the inverter.  No change with the replacement inverter.

Recently, I purchased a new display, and no change with the new display.

So I am pretty much to the point of replacing the entire motherboard, but I thought it was worth asking here if anyone else has had this issue and what the resolution to their problem was.  

9 Posts

August 19th, 2013 15:00

conradspa the blinking lights PROBABLY indicates a bad video card.  That is what mine did anyway.  Replaced that and I got the system to POST but still no display for me.

9 Posts

August 19th, 2013 15:00

Also, I have now replaced the motherboard and still no change.

In short, started with no post, no display, no hard drive activity.

1) Replaced video card, have POST and hard drive activity, no display.

2) Replaced inverter, no change.

3) Replaced LCD, no change.

4) Replaced motherboard, no change.

What else could it be?  

3 Posts

August 19th, 2013 17:00

TRY this most simple of ALL solutions. Replace the battery on the motherboard - a little CR2032 battery. Booted right up. I literally took this thing apart and tested each component separately and found nothing wrong with them. Then in some obscure forum I saw someone say something about this CMOS battery. So I changed it, put the system back together and voila, IT WORKS! Amazing that something so small and insignificant can bring this entire machine to its knees and Dell has absolutely no help on this subject. Shame on you Dell. Good Luck folks and let me know if this did the trick

9 Posts

August 20th, 2013 07:00

I'd be interested in the testing methods because I just replaced the CMOS battery and so far, no change.  I haven't tried every combination of my replacement versus original equipment however.  

If there are other tests I could run, I'd be interested.

9 Posts

August 20th, 2013 15:00

I did see a flash of the backlight today, but only for a briefest instant.  I am thinking that maybe there is a power supply issue, or both inverters are bad, but power supplies sell for WAY too much.

1 Message

October 27th, 2013 19:00

Had same issues with mine, changed out the processor  all good.

4 Posts

December 21st, 2013 20:00

I know it's about 3 months later. However, I've got three 2010. And I've had this happen a few times. It's your power supply. Recommendations just buy one on eBay. I got one for $90.00. I Installed in about 10 min now I’m up and running again.

9 Posts

February 23rd, 2014 07:00

I have replaced the power supply now and there is no change. I see a flash of the backlight when I initially power the system on, then the post beeps and nothing displayed. To recap, initially the system would not post. I attributed this, correctly, to a failed video card. Replaced it and I'm reasonably certain I could boot into Windows though I couldn't see anything. There was appropriate POST beeps and hard drive activity light consistent with Windows booting. When I waited for the hard drive activity light to stop, I could then press the power button and there would be hard drive activity consistent with Windows shutting down and the system would power off. I replaced the inverter, but I lost track of which power leads were connected where on the inverter board. (IF anyone knows where the pink and blue leads connect for certain PLEASE let me know). Anyway, no change. I replaced the LCD. No change. I replaced the motherboard. No change. I replaced the CMOS battery with a new one. No change. I cleared the BIOS config, now I can't boot into Windows but otherwise, no change. Finally, I bought a power supply, as recommended, and replaced it and you guessed it, no change. So I guess, besides maybe getting the inverter connected incorrectly, I have tried replacing every part that I could even remotely imagine could cause my issue. I have devoted a lot of time to figuring this out and I almost always solve a system problem. Help!?!

27 Posts

March 8th, 2014 06:00

I have the same prob. Posts properly but nothing on display... I don't even get a backlight flash.... I've tried swapping out cpu.and ram... Posts with or without gpu card so that doesn't seem to be the issue..... I haven't checked the inverter yet however I'm shining a light on the thing and I don't see anything on the display.... so its either a dead lcd (highly unlikely) to its not getting enough juice from the PSU maybe? Is there anyway to test it with a multimeter?

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