With a power failure anything could happen, from a disc corruption to a hardware failure.  Power supplies are one item, motherboard, etc. 

Unfortunately, only real way to test a power supply is to use a known good supply.

Try resetting the CMOS memory by removing the 2032 coin cell battery on the motherboard for at least 5 minutes. If the battery is 5 years old, replace it.

 

 

 

Boot Windows 10 to recovery mode by interrupting the boot twice (power the computer down just when Windows 10 starts booting). When you power up the PC the third time, it will start in recovery mode. Then, click Advanced options -> Troubleshoot -> Advanced options -> Uninstall Updates -> 1, Uninstall the latest quality update. 2, Uninstall the latest feature update. Restart your computer.

 

Regards,

Rachel Gomez

Thanks Rachel. Unfortunately it doesn't get to the point where Windows starts booting. (I nonetheless tried it, guessing when the appropriate time to power down would be (since the screen stays black), but it didn't go into recovery mode.) I'm hoping that if I can access bios and set it to boot to the recovery disk I burned (or the USB), I'll be able to proceed that way.

Thanks again

Thanks very much fireberd.

I did this and replaced with a fresh CR2032 battery. 

Now when I turn on the computer, it beeps 5 times, repeatedly. (But the screen stays black) 

I found this https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4dNaAks2ps which seems to be addressing a similar issue, but I'd prefer to trust the forum and Dell Rockstars about what to do next before youtube, especially when doing things for the first time!

Thanks for any further suggestions!

Thanks. I don't have another desktop available here, but it seems I can get an adapter (SATA 3.5 to USB) which will allow me to plug the harddrive into my laptop. Please let me know if that seems logical or if there's anything I should watch out for while doing it.

I'm researching where to buy one now (I'm in Korea so it's not a simple as "Amazon" ;)).

Thanks again

5 beeps is a CMOS battery failure.  Check to see if its installed correctly.  If the battery is good and installed correctly.  If it is, I would suspect a motherboard failure.

The suggestion to install the hard drive in another PC to get needed data off of it is next.  If it can't be installed, an external hard drive USB interface is an alternative.

 

Hi

Here's a daft idea ....

(the principle is the same-ish for a desktop).

 

 

 

Hi

Try this, it only works for some people, but you may be lucky …

Shutdown PC.

Disconnect the AC power and do a Hard Reset.
Hold Power Button down for 1 Minute.
Wait 1 minute and reconnect AC power.

IF you have the resources available, this may be useful....

SECOND Screen = OFF
(Monitor or TV)

Add a connection to your TV or a Second monitor via HDMI.

With both OFF, turn on the (2ND) HDMI device,

NOW try powering on the device

If you are lucky then at least one screen
will illuminate.

Work from there to resolve any issues, EG:

Now try to access the BIOS by …

Turn it ON and rapidly press F2

Press the Arrow down key ONCE.

Next is the Enter Key.

Now press F9.

Press the enter key.

Finally F10 and Enter.

If in doubt please ask.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Thanks fireberd. I repeated the battery replacement and now it doesn't beep. However, the screen still stays black and I can't get to bios.

I've ordered the usb interface that redxps630 and you mentioned. Should be here tomorrow so I'll try the file transfers that way.

Thanks again

Thanks ann_droid - I tried it but no luck with it.

I'll try to recover the files from the hard drive, and may come back to trying to resurrect this another time.

Thanks again