Cannot shut down my Aurora anymore ?

Question

Hi,

I recently installed Windows 7 x64 on a new SSD i bought. After that I upgraded my motherboard bios from A10 to A11.

Now I just cannot get the machine to shut down completely or even go to sleep. When I try to shut it down from windows, the monitors goes dark but fans and lights are still on (lights become white btw and coloured if try to put it to sleep). Pressing the power button again starts the PC again (from bios).

Maintaining the power button pushed does the exact same thing no matter if I'm on Windows or booting on the bios. The only way to have it all shut down for good is to unplug the power cable. Yet the fans and lights go back on right after I plug the cable back, I don't even press the power button BUT the machine doesn't start, it just stays in that state and I have to press the button to have it start from bios then Windows.

Now I've seen that some had the same issue, and that they got a motherboard replacement that solved the problem. Thing is my machine is not under warranty anymore AND the fact that they had to replace the board proves that this is a bios related problem. Most probably due to updating to A11.

I'd like to know if anyone has a solution for people whose PC is not under warranty anymore as I doubt I'll get a free motherboard from Dell...Or if Dell plans to fix their stuff anytime soon...

Thanks in advance

Tesla1856 · Answer

What Release Aurora or what main Intel processor model?

Have your tried running Dell Diags (outside of Windows)?

Load BIOS Defaults. Then, be sure Sleep mode is S3.

When you clean installed, did you load Chipset drivers first, and re-loaded drivers like my Favorite post #1 linked below in sig?

Leikkaus · Answer

Hi Tesla, and thanks for the fast answer, It's an Aurora from April 2010. Processor is core i7 920. I loaded Bios default. Sleep mode is set to S3. I did not install Intel chipset drivers

Tesla1856 · Answer

So, it's an Aurora R1 with x58 Chipset.

You must install chipset drivers from dell.com and they really should be first. The only exception would be if Microsoft finally added them to Windows Update or newer Win7-64 SP1 DVD-ROM, and they got installed automatically on install.

Leikkaus · Answer

Some other info I should have provided you with earlier.

I made a cleaning (physically I mean) of the entire machine yesterday and removed pieces and peripherals from inside, including the power supply, openned it to clean it from the inside with those liquid gaz things. This is not the first time I'm doing this but I've noticed that it used to make some sort of mechanical "click" sound when shutting down correctly before. Now it doesn't anymore. I don't think I screwed up something in the power supply but thought you should know.

Leikkaus · Answer

Alright, I must admit I fail the see how this could be related but I'll take one of my old HDD today and reinstall Win7 on it to test that. Thanks again.

Leikkaus · Answer

So I did try all of the above, reinstalled win7 on an old hdd, installed intel device software first but no luck. This really seems to be a bios/mobo issue, hope dell releases A12 soon.

Should I try downgrading back to A10? I know this is risky and I suppose there is a very specific procedure to follow

mav711 · Answer

There's a Master I/O board that most things in the chassis plug into.  You might want to make sure that none of the wireless were unplugged from it during the cleaning.

Leikkaus · Answer

Hey I thought  I might dig up this post as I'd like to sell the computer soon but I really need to be fixed before. Anything new showed up since last year ?

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Cannot shut down my Aurora anymore ?

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