You're welcome. Not sure what you mean by "midi." So here's the Optiplex sizes for the 9020 pictured. Use the size in your search term for an MB. For example, "Optiplex 9020 MT motherboard," or "mini tower" is fine too. Besides eBay, sometimes I use Google. Then it shows me some of what's available from eBay, newegg, Amazon, etc.
It is not "UFIA" If you change BIOS from UEFI to Legacy, and your HDD/SSD was loaded in UEFI mode, your PC won't find the boot drive. Also vice-versa.
If at any time you reload Windows, you want UEFI and Secure Boot off. Once loaded, turn Secure Boot back on. Secure Boot is not available for Legacy mode. It protects the system until the software kicks in.
I have replaced the battery but no dice, same problem. So, in order hto start the pc I remove the power cable and the battery and short circuit the rst-pswrd jumper. Then return battery and plug cable and it starts.
The BIOS is in legacy boot settings, with secure boot disabled. Thinking of changing bios to UEFI and reinstalling win10.
You can try it, but reloading Win10 in UEFI mode won't change PC's behavior problem.
With what your doing to that MB to get it to start makes it seem likely the MB. You might try the Dell BIST Test. (Built in self test) This could help rule if it's the MB or the PSU. I can't be 100% sure yet as the troubleshooting (good job btw) involved the MB and disconnecting and reconnecting power. And naturally PC should be unplugged whenever working on the inside of it.
Remember, we can't run diagnostics on your PC from here. The good news is if it's the MB, they're a bargain.
Did disconnecting and reconnecting power alone ever do anything?
Speaking of diagnostics, F12 has Boot Menu and Diagnostics. The 2 diagnostic choices are quick & full. You can try quick, but if it turns up nothing, then full. Full will probably take a few hours. This is if MB is working properly enough to do it.
Just a correction on the above, I am starting the PC by shorting the RTCRST jumper.
Other things done:
The PSU is ok, tested.
Did the F12 diagnostics. The first one (quick) starts by default, the second (full scan) i needed to check a box for it, and it didn’t check everything. It only checked the Dvd drive. Both tests did not give any errors. Not sure what’s going on with that.
I updates the BIOS to the latest version, no changes of the issue.
Disconnected the second drive, the DVD, and left only one RAM, and still the same problem.
I even did a reinstall on the win 10 (thinking there is issue with the MBR when i was changing the boot options) and still no change.
So the only way to start the windows was to shorten the RTCRST ( clearing the CMOS), don’t understand the connection with a malfunctioning Motherboard.
If i need to replace the MB, any suggestions on online shops. And also, does it matter which PN it is, as long is made for Optiplex midi 9020 (in case I can’t find the same PN).
Re: only way to start the windows was to shorten the RTCRST ( clearing the CMOS), don’t understand the connection with a malfunctioning Motherboard.
you said you have replaced CMOs battery. Did you replace it with a brand new one?
If CMOs needs repeated clearing in order to POST, the CMOs chip on motherboard may be corrupted. PC reliably boots after each jumper reset, but after power down it is back to No POST until you reset jumper again. This is based on your report. One test to do is to keep power cord plugged in all the time and test whether pc can boot from complete shut down.
If neither brand new CMOs nor power cord constantly plugged in can help, one option is to leave pc powered on all the time and it will sleep when you are not using it to save energy.
Re: If i need to replace the MB, any suggestions on online shops. And also, does it matter which PN it is, as long is made for Optiplex midi 9020
ebay is usually good place for used motherboard. Dell P/N does not have to be identical to yours as long as it is for 9020 MT. Dell often has multiple P/N for same model component. Just make sure to double check P/N and pic of actual item as some seller makes unintentional mistakes in listing.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
1
August 8th, 2021 11:00
You're welcome. Not sure what you mean by "midi." So here's the Optiplex sizes for the 9020 pictured. Use the size in your search term for an MB. For example, "Optiplex 9020 MT motherboard," or "mini tower" is fine too. Besides eBay, sometimes I use Google. Then it shows me some of what's available from eBay, newegg, Amazon, etc.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
1
August 5th, 2021 18:00
"After I play with the cmos battery, remove and wait and place it back, and then it may start." Replace the size 2032 CMOS battery with a new one. A bad battery will cause seemingly unrelated bizarre problems including incorrect error codes. https://www.amazon.com/Duracell-Lithium-Battery-lasting-battery/dp/B00ED3SBDI/ref=mp_s_a_1_15?dchild=1&keywords=duracell+2032+battery&qid=1628212786&sr=8-15. Take care of that first and let us know if the error code changes.
It is not "UFIA" If you change BIOS from UEFI to Legacy, and your HDD/SSD was loaded in UEFI mode, your PC won't find the boot drive. Also vice-versa.
If at any time you reload Windows, you want UEFI and Secure Boot off. Once loaded, turn Secure Boot back on. Secure Boot is not available for Legacy mode. It protects the system until the software kicks in.
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
1
August 5th, 2021 19:00
To clarify a sentence above, it should be in UEFI mode when loading Windows.
Petar999
1 Rookie
•
8 Posts
0
August 7th, 2021 00:00
Hey Brad,
Thank you for your advice.
I have replaced the battery but no dice, same problem.
So, in order hto start the pc I remove the power cable and the battery and short circuit the rst-pswrd jumper. Then return battery and plug cable and it starts.
The BIOS is in legacy boot settings, with secure boot disabled.
Thinking of changing bios to UEFI and reinstalling win10.
What can be the problem?
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
1
August 7th, 2021 14:00
You can try it, but reloading Win10 in UEFI mode won't change PC's behavior problem.
With what your doing to that MB to get it to start makes it seem likely the MB. You might try the Dell BIST Test. (Built in self test) This could help rule if it's the MB or the PSU. I can't be 100% sure yet as the troubleshooting (good job btw) involved the MB and disconnecting and reconnecting power. And naturally PC should be unplugged whenever working on the inside of it.
Remember, we can't run diagnostics on your PC from here. The good news is if it's the MB, they're a bargain.
Did disconnecting and reconnecting power alone ever do anything?
bradthetechnut
7 Technologist
•
9.4K Posts
1
August 7th, 2021 15:00
Speaking of diagnostics, F12 has Boot Menu and Diagnostics. The 2 diagnostic choices are quick & full. You can try quick, but if it turns up nothing, then full. Full will probably take a few hours. This is if MB is working properly enough to do it.
Petar999
1 Rookie
•
8 Posts
0
August 8th, 2021 06:00
Just a correction on the above, I am starting the PC by shorting the RTCRST jumper.
Other things done:
The PSU is ok, tested.
Did the F12 diagnostics. The first one (quick) starts by default, the second (full scan) i needed to check a box for it, and it didn’t check everything. It only checked the Dvd drive. Both tests did not give any errors. Not sure what’s going on with that.
I updates the BIOS to the latest version, no changes of the issue.
Disconnected the second drive, the DVD, and left only one RAM, and still the same problem.
I even did a reinstall on the win 10 (thinking there is issue with the MBR when i was changing the boot options) and still no change.
So the only way to start the windows was to shorten the RTCRST ( clearing the CMOS), don’t understand the connection with a malfunctioning Motherboard.
If i need to replace the MB, any suggestions on online shops. And also, does it matter which PN it is, as long is made for Optiplex midi 9020 (in case I can’t find the same PN).
Thanks for the support.
redxps630
9 Legend
•
15.4K Posts
1
August 8th, 2021 09:00
Re: only way to start the windows was to shorten the RTCRST ( clearing the CMOS), don’t understand the connection with a malfunctioning Motherboard.
you said you have replaced CMOs battery. Did you replace it with a brand new one?
If CMOs needs repeated clearing in order to POST, the CMOs chip on motherboard may be corrupted. PC reliably boots after each jumper reset, but after power down it is back to No POST until you reset jumper again. This is based on your report.
One test to do is to keep power cord plugged in all the time and test whether pc can boot from complete shut down.
If neither brand new CMOs nor power cord constantly plugged in can help, one option is to leave pc powered on all the time and it will sleep when you are not using it to save energy.
Re: If i need to replace the MB, any suggestions on online shops. And also, does it matter which PN it is, as long is made for Optiplex midi 9020
ebay is usually good place for used motherboard. Dell P/N does not have to be identical to yours as long as it is for 9020 MT. Dell often has multiple P/N for same model component. Just make sure to double check P/N and pic of actual item as some seller makes unintentional mistakes in listing.