XPS Gen4 startup problems

Question

System is just over 2 yrs old and recently giving me problems when I try to power on the unit. Rear LED's go YYGG, YGYG, GGGY in less than a second and then hangs. If I turn off and then back on power 2, 3 or 4 times the system boots into WinXP and everything works fine.

From what I can find out from the FAQ section the GGGY diagnostic says the system has completed boot but cannot hand off to operating system. Less than a second to complete boot seems fast to me. When the system does complete start up there are more series of LEDs which makes me think the unit is not completing POST when it hangs.

This happens whenever I am booting from a power off condition. Does not matter when I last had the unit on or for how long. Have done extensive testing of components, start up (F2) and boot procedures (F12) have been checked and are okay. Stripped off peripherals and no change in error condition. System has been running with all the below peripherals for at least 6 months with no problem. Have added no new software in that time and have checked for virus, etc. I'm stumped. Help!

Dimension XPS Gen4

P4 Processor 640 – 3.2Ghz w/HT (2MB cache)

3GB DDR2 SDRAM 533Mhz (2x512, 2x1mb)

256MB Nvidia GeForce 7900GT

250GB SATA 7200RPM

400GB SATA 7200RPM

150GB USB 7200RPM

Philips DVD+-RW DVD8631

Samsung DVD ROM SD616E

HP DVD Lightscribe 840e USB

Sound Blaster Audigy 2

Dell 1704 Flat Panel 17”

Viewsonic Flat Panel 27”

Dell wireless Keyboard

Microsoft Optical Mouse

DELL-Chris M · Answer

jcarmello,

Have you run the Dell Diagnostics?

* Insert the Drivers and Utilities Resource CD into the top CD drive
* Close any boxes that open
* Insert any non-burned data CD into the lower CD drive
* Close any boxes that open
* Click Start- Turn Off Computer- Restart
* Tap F12 to enter the Boot Menu
* Press 5 IDE CD-ROM DEVICE [press Enter]
* Press 2 Boot from CD-ROM [press Enter]
* Choose the Diagnostics listed for your system type
* Clicking Express Test will check all the hardware
* If you just want to check a specific hardware item, click "Custom Test"
* Click (for example) CDROM/DVD
* Click the Run Test button

jcarmello · Answer

Did not get a D&U CD with my system.  Looking through tech support I can't find where to download this item.  There is an option on Boot Menu for testing Hard Drives but no other components.  Would this be installed in the Utility Partition?

DELL-Chris M · Answer

jcarmello,

* Reboot and press F12
* When the boot device list appears, highlight Diagnostics and press Enter
* The computer begins to run the Pre-boot System Assessment, a series of embedded diagnostics that perform initial testing on your system board, keyboard, hard drive, and display
* If the Pre-boot System Assessment completes successfully, you receive the message Booting Dell Diagnostic Utility Partition
* Press any key to continue
* Press any key to start the Dell Diagnostics from the Diagnostics utility partition on your hard drive
* After the Dell Diagnostics loads and the Main Menu screen appears, click the button for the option you want

Express Test = Performs a quick test of devices. The test typically takes 10 to 20 minutes and requires no interaction on your part

Extended Test = Performs a thorough check of devices. The test typically takes 1 hour or more and requires you to answer questions periodically

Custom Test = Tests a specific device. You can customize the tests to be run

Symptom Tree = Allows you to select tests based on a symptom of the problem you are experiencing

* When you have finished running a test, close the screen to return to the Main Menu screen. To exit the Dell Diagnostics and reboot the computer, close the Main Menu screen

jcarmello · Answer

Thanks Chris.  I did boot into the Utility Partition and run the tests this morning.  I did the extensive tests on everything with no errors.  Under options I set up to run 2 passes of each test.  The diagnostics show everything working correctly.  So that puts me back to square one.

DELL-Chris M · Answer

jcarmello, Can you remove all PCI cards from the PC and boot up and see if you get the same GGGY? Message Edited by DELL-ChrisM on 06-01-2007 11:06 PM

jcarmello · Answer

Hi Chris,   Sorry for the delay in responding I had some family problems to take care of.   Only have one PCI card in the system, the NVIDIA 7900GT.  Removed the card and started the system.  This time the LED's went straight to GGGY and then hung up.   Today I also got a blue screen and the system shut down.  The error said there was a problem with WIN32k.sys and gave a bunch of dump numbers.  This is the first time this has happened.  Don't know if it is related to the start up problem or not.   If I continue to turn the power on and off 3 or 4 times the system boots up normally.

jcarmello · Answer

My startup problems continue.  Yesterday I got another BSOD with the message that IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL, begin dump of physical memory. Physical memory dump complete and system shut down.  Could not get system to reboot even after many attempts.   Today I took out the additional 2GB of memory that was added about 9 months ago.  System booted up with message that previous attempts at booting system have failed at checkpoint Ithr.   Now I will add the memory removed and see if that is the problem.  Will let you know results.

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XPS Gen4 startup problems

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