Updated BIOS; computer won't work!

Question

I had a hard drive crash about a month ago and was told by the tech that the newest drivers for my system were loaded from Dell.com.  Unfortunately, the system would crash (BSD) about 20% of the time.  This happened primarily when the computer was going into or coming out of stand by.   The Microsoft error site told me to come to Dell and update my BIOS.  Sure enough, the BIOS was old for my model (Dimension 8400).  I downloaded the updated BIOS and instructions, then (per the instructions) double-clicked the downloaded file.  I could tell the update was taking place, and expected to computer shut-down and reboot to complete the BIOS update process.  Unfortunately as the computer was trying to shut-down the system again crashed and gave me the BSD.   Everytime I try to restart the computer at this point, my computer beeps loudly 4 times, the fan accelerates, the computer beeps loudly 2 more times and the fan accelerates to full speed.  The screen remains blank and the computer does nothing else except run the fan at full speed.   Any help with this is appreciated.   Thanks, Brad in Dallas

RoHe · Answer

The only 4 beep code in the 8400 manual is 1-1-2 (Microprocessor register failure).
http://snipurl.com/1uhnc

Try this:
Disconnect PC from the wall and press/hold the power button on the tower for ~15 sec. Open the case and remove the battery from the motherboard. Press/hold the power button again. Replace the battery (right side up!) and close the case. See if it'll boot now. And if battery is more than ~2-3 yrs old, this might be a good time to install a new one.

If it still won't boot, check the color of the 4 diagnostic LEDs on the rear of the tower, and look up the error code at the link above.

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 12-01-2007 05:53 PM

Raisincain007 · Answer

Thanks Ron, for your reply.  I did as you suggested and unfortunately the problem remains.   I am inclined to think that this has more to do with the attempted BIOS update that anything else, since this was the process that was interupted during the attempted update.    Again, any replies are appreciated.

RoHe · Answer

Some times when the system won't restart after a bios flash, removing the battery fixes it, some times... What color are the diagnostic LEDs on rear of tower? Ron

Raisincain007 · Answer

Hi Ron,   Actually tried the 'battery-out' fix again and it worked; thank you!   I also got the BIOS upgraded; my original problem.  I do have one other problem, however.  When the computer first starts it tells me that it can't find a drive; it reads 'Floppy diskette seek failure'.  It then gives me the option for F1 to continue or F2 to run setup.  This computer has never had a floppy drive; it has its' hard drive, a DVD-ROM, a DVD R\W, and two external hard drives that I turn on only when needed for backup (They are not on now).  Any idea how to address this?

RoHe · Answer

Ye ole battery trick to the rescue, again! :)

Grrrr... Dell is such an idiot! :D
The default BIOS setting is to have the floppy drive controller enabled, even though these days most systems don't ship with a floppy drive installed. When you pulled the battery you forced the system to reset BIOS to factory defaults.

Run BIOS setup (F2 before XP starts to load) and look for the option to disable the floppy drive controller. This is different than having the floppy drive in the boot sequence. Set the option to Off.

From 8400 user manual
http://snipurl.com/1ulag
Diskette Drive - Identifies and defines the floppy drive attached to the FLOPPY connector on the system board as Off, USB, Internal, or Read Only.

I tend to doubt this will fix your original BSOD problem. But lets get this cleaned up before opening that can of worms...

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 12-03-2007 05:58 PM

Raisincain007 · Answer

Hi Ron.   I can't thank you enough for your help.  I was able to find the floppy default on the setup page and change it so that that problem no longer exist.   As you correctly ascertained, while all of this is a step in the right direction, it has not solved my BSOD problem.  I have only received one since my BIOS upgrade, which is great, but any help you can offer in this regard continues to be appreciated.   Thank you, Brad in Dallas

RoHe · Answer

Little by little... ;)

Next time you get a BSOD, copy down (You do remember pencils and paper?) the exact and complete text and post it here. Without knowing what the error message is, there's no way to help fix it. And I can't read your screen from here... :D

Ron

Raisincain007 · Answer

Well, unfortunately I didn't have to keep you waiting long.  Here is the error message:   ***Stop: 0x00000008E (0xC0000005, 0xBFA380DD, 0xF0586250, 0x00000000)   ****  nv4_disp.dll - Address BFA280DD base at BF9D5000, DateStamp 470588d1       Help!

RoHe · Answer

Looks like nvidia video card. Correct? Try uninstalling graphics driver, reboot and reinstall it. But see if there's an updated version for your video card, first. Ron

Raisincain007 · Answer

Hey Ron,   I followed your suggestion, and I *think* I reloaded the driver correctly, but I am not sure.  I am going to try again tomorrow, but as of now I am crashing more than ever so please don't go anywhere!   Brad

Raisincain007 · Answer

Hi Ron,   Well here is the latest BSOD message:   ***Stop: 0x00000008E (0xC0000005, 0xBFA280DD, 0xEE14422C, 0x00000000)   ****  nv4_disp.dll - Address BFA280DD base at BF9D5000, DateStamp 470588d1   Basically all that has changed was this part on the first line:   0xBFA380DD, 0xF0586250   Any suggestions?   Thanks, Brad in Dallas

RoHe · Answer

Still looks like an nVidia driver error. You never actually said you have an nVidia card in this 8400... ?

Reboot and press F12 before XP starts to load. Go to Utilities partition and run the hardware tests, expecially on video card.

Assuming no video card errors, download the latest video driver, on another PC if necessary, and burn on a CD. Assuming you have a geForce 6800 in the 8400, Dell's latest driver is here, though it's kinda old:
http://snipurl.com/1v0gv

You can get the latest driver directly from nVidia here. Be sure to check that it's compatible with your video card:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/winxp_163.75.html

1. Reboot in Safe Mode (F8 before XP starts to load)
2. Open Device Manager and expand list under Display adaptors
3. Right-click and uninstall nvidia display adaptor
4. Exit Device Manager and reboot normally
5. Temporarily turn off your anti-viral software
6. When the hardware wizard requests, point it at the CD with the driver
7. Reboot normally and don't forget to reactivate antiviral software

Ron

Message Edited by RoHe on 12-09-2007 03:45 PM

Raisincain007 · Answer

Hi Ron,   I tried the above, but still get the same result.  Any other ideas before I take this machine into the local shop?   Thanks, Brad

RoHe · Answer

Grrrr.....

Still same BSOD error message?

If you haven't already done it, power off and press/hold the power button on front of tower for ~15 sec. Open the case and chase out all the dust bunnies, then carefully reseat the video card and RAM modules in their slots. Close case and boot again.

If problem persists, boot from XP CD. At first screen:
Type in: R
Press Enter
Type in: chkdsk c: /p /r
Press Enter
Go take a nap... ;)
Reboot normally when it's done and keep fingers x'd.

If still no go, power off and press/hold power button again. Remove RAM module from slot 3 (and from slots 2 & 4, if you have 4 modules). Slots 1 & 3 are the pair closest to the Pentium. Reboot and try the system until it BSOD's again. Then power off and swap RAM modules until all of them have been tested in slot 1. Maybe you'll find a bad one. You can also test them all, one at a time, in slot 3, in case slot 1 is bad.

If each RAM module alone gives BSOD, put them all back in and run a system file check:
click start>run
type in: sfc /scannow
(space between sfc and /)
click ok
Insert XP CD if sfc requests it and reboot when it's done.

If all else fails, get a very big HAMMER...!

Ron

Raisincain007 · Answer

Ron, I want to thank you for all of your help.   Had I followed your instructions more closely, I would have solved this problem long ago.  For anyone else reading this, please use the following advice for your own betterment.   This weekend I finally had time to crack this case on this computer.  The computer looked very clean, but I decided to clean it anyway to make sure that errant dust buildup wouldn't be a problem.  I took the computer to my garage, fired up my compressor, and let the machine have it.  I could not believe the amount of dust that came flying out; it pointed out to me how inadequate a visual inspection is for detecting dust.  The quantity was really unbelievable.   The key to fixing this problem was not the dust, however; it was replacing the battery on my motherboard.  Ron had advised me to do this earlier, but I was under the impression that it had already been done by an earlier tech that i hired to fix the computer.  At any rate, with the computer cleaned and with a new battery I lifted all of the cards and the memory and reinserted them to insure a firm seating.   This had done the trick.  I attribute the fix to the battery more than anything else, but when in doubt this is a simple and quick try at what could be the eventual solution to your problem.   Thank you again Ron; I really appreciate your patient efforts.   Regards, Brad in Dallas

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