Booting problems after installing hardware

Question

I have a XPS T500, no one of the younger so you see. I wanted to install a USB 2.0 expansion card. So I did what I was instructed by the manual and seated the card in one of the open connectors.  I also inserted a multi card reader in one of the 3.5' bays, without connecting it to the USB-card yet.   Afterwards I turned the computer on, I can hear the memory-counter, I see the Dell-screen and then... Nothing. The monitor stays black.   I already tried to fix it, but now I out of options: - restart -> same problem - startup with  bootdisk -> nothing it does not even check the disk-drive only the CD and DVD - finally I removed the USB-card -> nothing   On the back the D-led is coloured orange which means 'other problems', according to the user-reference.   Can anyone help me on this one, I need my computer urgently.   Thanks in advance,   SysopSaskia

Flooby · Answer

It might help to know which operating system you're working with, as that's liable to have something to do with it, but have you tried clearing NVRAM via System Setup, so that the new hardware gets recognized properly?

That model was also somewhat notorious for not recognizing a card in one PCI slot, but getting along fine with it in another one, so if resetting the configuration doesn't work, you might try swapping a couple of cards around.

SysopSaskia · Answer

Thank Flooby for your reply. I'm working on W-XP SE, but I think that will help you, because windows is not in the picture at all. Therefor I could also not try to clear the NVRAM.   Your 2nd suggestion I might try, but at the moment the card is not in its socket, it the computer is still not working.  If you think it is worth trying I will do so.

Flooby · Answer

You don't need Windows to clear NVRAM.  That's accomplished via System Setup.  If you're not even making it far enough to get to System Setup, you're probably going to want to remove whatever you added that's actually connected to the system board, and start troubleshooting from there.

Flooby · Answer

Have you tried clearing NVRAM yet?

SysopSaskia · Answer

I switched 2 cards, tried several times -> nothing. At the time I was giving up for now and closing the cover startup went trough and did a system-check. After shutting down, and starting up it went wrong again. Left it for a while and tried again -> OK, I think I will check the contacts tomorrow. I have to open the cover anyway to install another piece of hardware. Thanks for your time.

Regard, SysopSaskia

DELL-Donald K · Answer

GGGY means the system is unable to hand off to the operating system (It passed POST).

So the first thing I'd do is reseat the power & IDE cables to the HDD & the motherboard.

Then press DEL at the Dell BIOS screen. once in the bios, press F9 [enter] to reset to default, then right arrow to ADVANCED, arrow down onve to RESET CONFIGURATION DATA, Press the + key on the numeric keybad to set it to yes, F10 [enter] to exit & save settings.

See if the system boots.

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Booting problems after installing hardware

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