Strange problems with XPS 400

Question

I've been experiencing some strange problems with my computer the last week or so.

The symptoms are:

During start-up, as the Dell load screen appears, the computer starts to make a rapid series of 'beep' noises. These beeps occur in rapid sequence for about 10-30 seconds, during which the startup of the computer freezes (the load bar below the Dell logo stops). Eventually the beeps stop and normal boot-up occurs.

Once Windows is up and running I get further problems, mostly with drop down menus. For example in IE Explorer, the address bar which contains all the URLs keeps on droping down and scrolling in very rapid sequence. Many times in one second. During this time I can not click anything on the browser because the activated address bar keeps on appears and disappearing. This does not only happen in IE explorer but any program that has a window with a drop down menu. The drop down menu just keeps on dropping-down automatically in very rapid sequence. Sometimes this doesn't happen and everything is fine, but only for a few minutes before the problem comes back.

Another problem occurs in Photoshop. Whenever I paste something into Photoshop it just keeps on adding layers, non-stop. Normally it should add one layer because I am pasting, but it keeps on adding layers. I got to well over 100 layers before I just aborted the Photoshop program. I do not feel this is a Photoshop problem because I had no problems like this until now.

This problem also occurs in the Boot Menu (F12) that you can access prior to Windows startup. So I feel this is not only a Windows problem but a hardware problem.

Now, I tried to fix this problem. I Zero-outed my computer using Dban, which will erase everything from the HD. Even with the Dban setup I was getting similar problems with the computer scrolling or making rapid selections. Eventually I got Dban to work and it began to clean my HD.

Normally it takes about 6-8 hours to fully clean my HD, however, this time it only took about 1.5-2 hours?

I've used Dban to clean my HD many times before, and not only on this computer but also my other Desktop and my Laptop. It works great. However, this is the first time it took such a short time to format my HD.

Anyway, once Dban was finished I reinstalled Windows and everything seemed fine. For about 2 days I had no problem. I restarted normally without the deeps, IE explorer worked good, Photoshop worked good.

But now the problem is coming back!!! The drop down menus are acting up again. Right now it is not as bad as it was before, but I know as soon as I restart my computer a few times it'll get worse and worse.

What is wrong here??????? Please help, this problem is extremely frustrating. I tried to search for similar problems on the Internet but found nothing. My post here is a last resort before I call Dell. sigh

My computer is:

Dell XPS 400

1 gig ram

Pentium D – 2.8 ghz

Windows XP Media Center 2002 – SP2

I've had this computer for only a few months.

Any other information needed I'll be happy to 'try' to provide. :)

Any assitance would be extremely appreciated.

tphillips63 · Answer

Just briefly those beeps are BIOS error codes and mean something also your PC has diagnostic LED on the front (1,2,3,4) or back.
Go to support.dell.com and find your duocumantation unless you have you manual and look up the lights and beep codes there. Once you do that you will know a lot more about what the problem is.

novaya · Answer

Thanks for the reply.    All of the diagnostic LED lights are off after boot up. This could mean: The computer is in a normal 'off' condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred. It certainly isn't off.   Also, The beeps happen WAY to fast to tell what sequence they are in. They are not  in a sequence like 1-3-1 or 3-2-2, just to name examples. These beeps are constant 'beep beep beep beep beep beep......' for about 10-30 seconds, without any breaks.   I guess I'll call Dell...

iNeXile · Answer

your led's should be all on if it boots up normally. Strange thing are indeed afoot. Try it with all the perfs and unnessesary cards installed down to a single stick of memory, boot to safe mode. If it still happens I'd say Bios or MB. If it doesn't still happen troubleshoot to the faulty part/driver. If all fails, Call Dell.
good luck.

rddonovan · Answer

Might be a stupid suggestion but it sounds like you have a stuck key on your keyboard. I would try changing this out if you can find a spare one.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

novaya, The diagnostic lights are not lit after the system successfully boots to the operating system. * Read this

novaya · Answer

Yes I did read that. All it says is that it is either:

The computer is in a normal "off" condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred.

and the only solution is it recommends is to plug it into a working outlet.

It certainly has power. The power light on the button is green and steady.

What could possible pre-BIOS failures be?

novaya · Answer

I called Dell and was on the phone for a few hours. We ran some diagnostic checks, evertying seemed fine. We debuged the HD. Formatted and resinstalled windows. During all of this was getting the constant beeping noises.   The computer seems to run fine now. Starts up okay, no drop-down problems. However, all four diagnostic lights are off!? (also, the guy at Dell said all four are supposed to be off after boot-up?)   It's not a stuck key on my keyboard because I uplugged the keyboard entirely while experiencing the problems. Not a mouse problem either cause I uplugged the mouse and still getting the problems.   I feel after spending all these hours on the phone with DELL that the problem wasn't solved, merely delayed like before. I know it's only a matter of time before these problems come back and I have to call Dell again. Message Edited by novaya on 08-26-200606:43 PM

tphillips63 · Answer

What kind of mouse do you have? Are there any USB devices? I have a razer copper head and if I touch it during boot I get all kinds of crazy noices and beeps.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

novaya,

tphillips63 has a great point. Disconnect all USB devices from the front USB ports. Only have the USB mouse and keyboard plugged into the rear USB ports. No other USB devices should be plugged in at this time. Power the PC off. Power it on. Do you still get the beeps?

novaya · Answer

The thing is, right now the system seems to be running fine. No crazy drop down menus and no beeping during start up. Just like before when i reformatted and reinstalled Windows everything ran good. But it was only a day until the problems returned.   Also, the diagnostic lights are still off, indicating the original problem wasn't fixed when I called Dell Tech Support.   Once the problems start again, (the beeping and noises during boot up), i''ll try the boot up without any USB devices attached. But until then, I want to figure out why the diagnostic lights are all off.   P.S.    I use the original Mouse and Keyboard the computer came with.   Normally the other USB devices I have attached are a 160 gig externa HD, a 40 gig portable HD, and a webcam. Right now only the 40 gig portable HD is plugged in the front USB. Message Edited by novaya on 08-26-200608:20 PM

tphillips63 · Answer

Sorry but that is a fairly recent change with the BIOS, we can look it up if you'd like more positive information on it.

novaya · Answer

Those lights are supposed to be off after a good boot?

Then why does Dell XPS 400 Service Manual say that when all four lights are on the computer is in a normal operating condition after POST? And when it says all lights are off the computer is in a normal "off" condition or a possible pre-BIOS failure has occurred?

I just rebooted my PC and carefully looked at the four diagnostic lights during the boot-up. They did flash during POST process as you said but at no time were all four on at the same time.

Just to clarify, since I am getting mixed messages here...

Are the four diagnostic lights supposed to on or off after a good boot?

I took a look at my other DELL, which has no problems, and all four lights are on.

---

PS, here is the online documentation which says the diagnostic light meanings..

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/xps400/sm/adtshoot.htm#wp1054184

Message Edited by novaya on 08-26-200608:34 PM

Message Edited by novaya on 08-26-200608:35 PM

Message Edited by novaya on 08-26-200608:37 PM

tphillips63 · Answer

Those lights are supposed to be off after a good boot. During boot you will see them change as different parts of the POST process tick by.
At first I thought you had some kind of boot issue, now it's probalby something attached to the PC.
If you had a POST error you PC would not boot at all and you would have some lights left on.

novaya · Answer

Well, the problems started again. The address bar in IE explorer went hectic again. So I decided to perform the series of boots recommended by you guys.

I performed a series of reboots, taking out and switching USB devices, etc. The following is what I did.

I would like to add that no other USB devices were attached to the computer while I did these reboots, other then the keyboard and mouse as listed below

Upon experiencing the problems with the drop-down menus, I rebooted:

1st re-boot: Mouse and Keyboard plugged into rear USB.

Result: Beeps during start up 2-6 seconds, and drop down menu errors

2nd re-boot: I disconnected everything from the computer except Power cord and Moniter cable.

Result: Normal boot, no beeps.

3rd re-boot: Only Mouse plugged into rear USB, Keyboard is disconnected

Result: Normal boot up, no beeps.

Now, interesting, after this 3rd re-boot, I plugged my keyboard into the computer. And I get the drop-down problems.. hehe

4th re-boot: Only keyboard plugged into rear USB, Mouse is disconnected

Result: Beeps during boot-up, lasting about 10 seconds. During which I noticed the diagnostic lights held this sequence for a few seconds: 1-4, then for a few seconds 1-2-3

5th re-boot: Only Mouse plugged into rear USB, NO keyboard

Result: No problems

So, I guess it's safe to say this is infact a keyboard malfunction. I assume the beeps experienced during start up are signals being sent from the keyboard, interupting POST.

I can not use the other keyboard from my other computer because it is not USB, and my XPS does not support that keyboard plug.

After the 5th reboot I plugged in my keyboard and I am typing this message from the keyboard which is supposedly causing the errors.

I'll keep rebooting with the keyboard and without it to futher test the symptoms and make sure this is a keyboard error.

Now, the other things that bothers me is that none of the four diagnostic lights are on. Infact, all four never came on following POST, only flashed during the boot up.

I would still like some clarification if all four should remain on following a successful reboot.

Thanks alot guys. I'll post updates soon and what is happening.

Message Edited by novaya on 08-26-200611:43 PM

iNeXile · Answer

Judging from your troubleshooting steps it does sound like your keyboard is having problems. Keyboards are cheap. You should be able to pick one up for $7 or so. You can also take them apart and clean them. The keys just pull off (but remember where they go, I made this mistake once :-O) and there is nothing inside but a board with traces on it and a membrain both of which can be wiped clean with a rag. But I recommend a new cheap one they are always good to have around for troubleshooting. As for the light I may have given you wrong info. the first box of your diagnostic light table reads 'The diagnostic lights are not lit after the system successfully boots to the operating system.' which I intept as the lights will be off once post is completed and the system finishes booting into windows.

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Strange problems with XPS 400

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