Boot in Safe Mode and uninstall the old video card driver in Device Manager. Then reboot normally and install the driver for the replacement card, assuming you can find them on the manufacturer's site - at least until you find a better card...
Yes, thats next. Coincidently, it is the same Video Card I used to test another PC..and yes, it was a broken Video Card also. Its not easy helping a 92 year old guy who is deaf..thats for your help.
Two DVI cables to the same monitor are probably not necessary. The two DVI input ports on the monitor probably to allow that monitor to be connected to 2 different PCs, which are used at different times.
According to the manual, beep codes on the XPS 720 come in groups of three, eg 2-2-2, with the groups separated by a brief pause.
2-2-2 would mean: Memory not being properly identified or used.
So reseat the RAM in the slots and used canned air to blow out the dust bunnies. Might be good time to replace the motherboard battery too.
If reseating RAM and replacing the battery don't solve the problem, remove all modules except the one in slot 1 and see if it boots that way. Then swap all modules into slot 1 until you find a bad module or all work in slot 1.
If they all work in slot 1, add a module to slot 2 and test. Add modules back one at a time to the other slots until either they're all reinstalled and PC works or you identify a bad motherboard slot.
I had already tried swapping out the memory and inserting one at a time in slot 1. Neither Module made a difference. No Modules made any difference either. Also tried unplugging only Hard Disk. Reseated video cables. unplugged mouse and keyboard. The only things left are the Monitor and Video Card to test. But no available Monitor or Hard Disk at this time. Have not called Dell Tech Support as PC is OOW.
Without Memory installed it beeps: 1 - 3 - 2. This indicates Memory failure/replacement needed? Thanks
That's correct. So at least there's still some life in the motherboard. If you'd gotten no beeps without RAM then it would have certainly been a motherboard failure.
Can you "borrow" a video card from another PC to test here? That would narrow your search further...
I was able to find an old PCI Video Card and the Monitor now has a display. Apparently both the Card and the CMOS Battery became defective at the same time. User informed me that he had CMOS for coupla months, didnt recall exact error though. Running Diag from Dell Diag Partition at this time..extended. Anticipate will have to boot into VGA mode as Video Drivers will be 'different' lol. Did try entering Vista but conclude Video Drivers will be needed for the temp PCI card. Thanks
RoHe
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January 5th, 2015 18:00
Boot in Safe Mode and uninstall the old video card driver in Device Manager. Then reboot normally and install the driver for the replacement card, assuming you can find them on the manufacturer's site - at least until you find a better card...
MugWamp
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January 5th, 2015 23:00
Yes, thats next. Coincidently, it is the same Video Card I used to test another PC..and yes, it was a broken Video Card also. Its not easy helping a 92 year old guy who is deaf..thats for your help.
Mug
RoHe
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45.2K Posts
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January 2nd, 2015 17:00
Two DVI cables to the same monitor are probably not necessary. The two DVI input ports on the monitor probably to allow that monitor to be connected to 2 different PCs, which are used at different times.
According to the manual, beep codes on the XPS 720 come in groups of three, eg 2-2-2, with the groups separated by a brief pause.
2-2-2 would mean: Memory not being properly identified or used.
So reseat the RAM in the slots and used canned air to blow out the dust bunnies. Might be good time to replace the motherboard battery too.
If reseating RAM and replacing the battery don't solve the problem, remove all modules except the one in slot 1 and see if it boots that way. Then swap all modules into slot 1 until you find a bad module or all work in slot 1.
If they all work in slot 1, add a module to slot 2 and test. Add modules back one at a time to the other slots until either they're all reinstalled and PC works or you identify a bad motherboard slot.
MugWamp
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January 3rd, 2015 21:00
I had already tried swapping out the memory and inserting one at a time in slot 1. Neither Module made a difference. No Modules made any difference either. Also tried unplugging only Hard Disk. Reseated video cables. unplugged mouse and keyboard. The only things left are the Monitor and Video Card to test. But no available Monitor or Hard Disk at this time. Have not called Dell Tech Support as PC is OOW.
RoHe
10 Elder
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45.2K Posts
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January 4th, 2015 11:00
If it doesn't beep when no RAM is installed, then you are probably looking at a motherboard failure.
You don't need to have the hard drive connected so disconnect it and put a bootable CD in the optical drive and see if it boots...
And if that doesn't work, you're down to video card, motherboard or CPU...
Only you can decide how much time and money you want to put into this system...
MugWamp
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73 Posts
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January 4th, 2015 12:00
Without Memory installed it beeps: 1 - 3 - 2. This indicates Memory failure/replacement needed? Thanks
RoHe
10 Elder
•
45.2K Posts
0
January 4th, 2015 16:00
That's correct. So at least there's still some life in the motherboard. If you'd gotten no beeps without RAM then it would have certainly been a motherboard failure.
Can you "borrow" a video card from another PC to test here? That would narrow your search further...
MugWamp
1 Rookie
•
73 Posts
0
January 5th, 2015 18:00
I was able to find an old PCI Video Card and the Monitor now has a display. Apparently both the Card and the CMOS Battery became defective at the same time. User informed me that he had CMOS for coupla months, didnt recall exact error though. Running Diag from Dell Diag Partition at this time..extended. Anticipate will have to boot into VGA mode as Video Drivers will be 'different' lol. Did try entering Vista but conclude Video Drivers will be needed for the temp PCI card. Thanks
Mug