Inspiron 620 does not boot up

My Inspiron 620 does not boot up. The unit turns on OK, with no beeps. The green power supply light in the back is green. The power button in the front is white. The monitor indicates that there is “no signal” coming from the unit. The monitor works when connected to another computer.

SwampYanqui

A solid White power button light indicates a video issue, as you have already tested the monitor on another system and there are no issues with it, that suggests there is problem with the system's graphics/video controller.

http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-620_setup%20guide_en-us.pdf

Is the monitor connected to a discrete PCIe x16 video card, or to the computer's integrated graphics VGA connector.[see pages 24/25 of the setup Guide]?

If the monitor is connected to a

The Inspiron 620 Service Manual is Here:

  http://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_inspiron_desktop/inspiron-620_service%20manual_en-us.pdf

If the monitor is connected to a video card, first try opening the case, then removed and reinstall the card to see if this makes a difference.

Bev.

Is the monitor connected to a discrete PCIe x16 video card, or to the computer's integrated graphics VGA connector.[see pages 24/25 of the setup Guide]

The monitor-tower connection is VGA.

A solid White power button light indicates a video issue, as you have already tested the monitor on another system and there are no issues with it, that suggests there is problem with the system's graphics/video controller.

If there is a problem with the graphics/video controller, then why, per page 28 of the Setup Guide, didn’t the 620 beep six times upon turning on, which is the indicator for “video card or chip failure?”

 Previously, in turning on the 620, I had gotten 2 beeps, which is an indication that no RAM is detected. I then reinstalled the RAM , one memory card at a time, and eliminated the two beeps.

There was some dust in the back of the  tower around the VGA and USB connections. I cleaned out that dust, but that made no difference.

I also tried disconnecting and reconnecting the motherboard-hard drive connection. Which also made no difference.

SwampYanqui

Sounds like the motherboard's VGA video controller has issues/failed, as you have a known working monitor.

The options are, either replace the motherboard, or install a PCIe x16 video card, to see if this makes a difference.

 Costs less to install the video card [see page 7], together with the recommended driver for the card, similar to this:

http://www.amazon.com/MSI-Profile-PCI-Express-R6450-MD1GD3-LP/dp/B004X6ABTM?SubscriptionId=AKIAIN5HK5BFVBOCQQZQ&tag=xxlsalecom-20&linkCode=xm2&camp=2025&creative=165953&creativeASIN=B004X6ABTM&ascsubtag=561817b924dfe5.05861415

Bev.

I'll give it a shot. Thanks.

SwampYanqui

You are welcome.

Bev.

Bev, I purchased the video card you recommended, and installed it. The fan on the video card runs when I turn on the tower- as do all the fans- so I assume I installed the video card properly.

I also put  the installation CD for the video card into the optical drive.

As before, when I turn on the machine, there are no warning beeps [I know the warning beep system  as shown on page 28 of the setup guide works at least in part because previously there were two beeps upon startup, which signifies a problem with the RAM. I carefully reinstalled the memory cards, and the beeps stopped.]

As before, when i turn on the machine, the startup button on the front is white, and the power supply light at the back of the tower is green.

There is still "no signal" from the monitor. As I have tried the monitor on another tower, I know the monitor is functioning.

In part this may be a chicken and egg problem, as one probably needs to use the CD to put the video card drivers on the hard drive, but the hard drive was not previously accessible- and still is not accessible.

SwampYanqui

Usually the Inspiron desktop disables the motherboard video by itself after installing the new video card.

The MSI Radeon HD 6450 R6450-MD1GD3/LP card is usually shipped with both a low profile and full size bracket, hopefully the full size bracket was used?

Try using the solution in the post by Fork660 Here:

http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3515/p/19481986/20649924#20649924

BIOS Setup, see page 37 Here:

     ftp.dell.com/.../inspiron-620_service%20manual_en-us.pdf

Also try installing the memory modules one at a time in different slots, starting with slot 4, followed by slot 5 and booting the system each time a card is installed, pages 43 and 29 of the service manual.

Bev.

Try using the solution in the post by Fork660 Here:

The suggested solution to reset the BIOS is not one that I can currently try, as I cannot even see the screen to rest the BIOS.

The MSI Radeon HD 6450 R6450-MD1GD3/LP card is usually shipped with both a low profile and full size bracket, hopefully the full size bracket was used?

The full size bracket came attached to the video card. Two smaller brackets also came with it. I soon concluded that as the  card attached to the full size bracket fit right in, and the smaller brackets didn't  readily fit ,  that the full size bracket was the way to go.

Also try installing the memory modules one at a time in different slots, starting with slot 4, followed by slot 5 and booting the system each time a card is installed, pages 43 and 29 of the service manual.

I tried that, and got a flashing amber light on the power button. In looking in the manuals and in the  Forums for solutions for a flashing amber light, it was suggested the flashing amber light was an indication that the power supply was not good- or not sufficient.  I changed the 430 Watt PSU to a 500 PSU I just happened to have.  Upgrading from 430 W to 500 W solved the flashing amber light issue- though according to MSI a 400 W  PSU should have sufficed-  and I was able to turn on the tower with no beeps and with  a solid white power button.

However, trying different combinations of the memory modules, following your suggestion to install "memory modules one at a time in different slots, starting with slot 4, followed by slot 5 and booting the system each time a card is installed," didn't work.

SwampYanqui

 No beeps, can also indicate a motherboard failure.

Please define 'didn't work', did the 620 show any signs of life, when it was booted after each module was installed in different slots? 

Bev.

Please define 'didn't work', did the 620 show any signs of life, when it was booted after each module was installed in different slots.

By "didn't work," I meant that the suggested solution to install memory modules in different slots one by one, booting after each install,  didn't solve the problem of not seeing anything on the monitor .

After I installed the bigger PSU, and switched the memory modules, booting one by one, the following occurred:

1) No beeps

2) All fans observed working

3) Power button in front colored white.

4) Power supply light in back was green

5) "No signal"  from the monitor

All of the above also describe what occurred after I initially installed the video card, before I tried switching the memory modules. Conclusion: switching the memory modules "didn't work"
 as a solution to not seeing anything on the monitor.

Is is possible that the battery on the motherboard is bad?

Problem:

My Inspiron 620 does not boot up. The unit turns on OK, with no beeps. The green power supply light in the back is green. The power button in the front is white. The monitor indicates that there is “no signal” coming from the unit. The monitor works when connected to another computer.

Final Solution:

Replaced motherboard battery.  System booted up with screen, no problem.

In hindsight, a reason why this simple solution was the answer could be in the absence of beeps. Certain beep combinations could indicate a bad motherboard or bad video. As these  beeps were not occurring, assuming that the beep system was working, the absence of beeps indicated that the motherboard and video were functioning.

I had read some other Forum posts about Inspiron's not starting up which referred to the motherboard battery, among other possible solutions.

Thank you for your prompt attention to my questions. With pooled knowledge, things get better and better.

SwampYanqui

That's great, please to hear replacing the battery was the solution.

Unfortunately, while you can make an informed diagnosis, sometimes computer troubleshooting, due to the complexity of the components, is diagnostics by substitution.

Bev.