Dimension 8400 stuck at DELL splash screen

Question

This is a little long, but I've worked in tech support and I know how important it is to provide as many details as possible.   I've had my 8400 for 15 months and never any problems until today.  It stays on for about 6 hours a day.  Here is what I have:   P4 processor 530 - 3.0 GHz with 1MB cache 1 GB DDR2 SDRAM at 400 MHz 128MB PCI Express x16 ATI Radeon X300 SE 160 GB Serial ATA Hard Drive No Floppy Win XP Home Intel Pro 1000 Integrated PCI NIC Card 16X DVD-Rom and 16X DVD+RW Sound Blaster Audigy 2 THX sound card Factory Installed Audio I have a printer/scanner hooked up to the USB A wireless mouse hooked up to the USB   I was on the Internet and left the PC to go run some errands.  When I returned the display on the monitor was black and was in sleep mode.  I moved the mouse and the last website I had visited came up.  I stepped away for about 5 minutes and when I returned I had the following splash screen:   Dell logo in the middle www.dell.com Dimension 8400 series what looks like a progress bar about 1/8 of the way filled in BIOS Revision A01 Then in the lower right corner the Intel logo   It will not respond to the keyboard and all the lights on the keyboard are off.  The light on the transmitter for the wireless mouse is also off.  I have held the power button for the 8 to 10 second to shut down the hard drive.  I've unplugged all the cables in the back..plugged them back in, even tried just plugging in the keyboard in the event the problem was with one of the USB devices.  When I turn it back on the lights for the DVD and DVD +RW turn green.  I've tried putting in the diagnostic CD and although the DVD drive starts up like it's going to read the disk the display stays the same...DELL splash screen.  The hard drive light turns on and stays green for between 20 to 25 seconds.  The power light is green.  I checked the diagnostic lights and A, B and C are green.  D is yellow.  I have not gotten any flashing lights or beeps.   I've also tried unplugging everything, holding in the power button, opening the case and checking to make sure all of the cables are plugged in and the motherboard battery is in place as well.  Everything seems to be fine.  I put everything back together, start it up again and the same DELL splash screen.    My initial thought was that the motherboard battery needed to be replaced, but I have not had any problems with the data and time.  I'm diligent about running the virus and spyware checker and have not recently downloaded or installed any new software.   Any suggestions as to what could be wrong would be appreciated. Jen

VoiS2 · Answer

My experience with that particular description is that you should indeed remove the motherboard 3V battery.  You seem comfortable with this, so unplug the machine from Absolutely Everything.  Put the case in very good light.  Open the case and locate the silver, circular (nickel-sized) 3V battery.  Eyeball now which side is 'up'.  Remove it with a pair of tweezers or a very small flathead screwdriver.  Generally to remove you push 'outward' against the little tension bars that are pressing 'in' against the circumference of the battery.  Leave the battery out while pressing and holding the 'ON' button for 20 seconds.  Reinsert battery correct side up.   This has always worked for me in situations where the BIOS is hanging just before recognizing the standard PS/2 keyboard.

seepnezorf · Answer

Thanks for the suggestion. I tried removing and reseating the battery. I also reset the CMOS jumper. This time when I restarted the fan turned on, but I'm still stuck at the same DELL splash screen. If I turn off the computer by holding in the power button and then turn it back on again the fan does not run.

Any other thoughts?

shesagordie · Answer

seepnezorf   It sounds like the hard drive has failed, if you are under warranty, then contact Dell about a replacement.   Bev.

seepnezorf · Answer

Here's the latest on the 8400 - Dell Splash screen saga. I took the PC over to Best Buy..bad move on my part. I thought I would get by cheaper with them instead of Dell support. They ran a diagnostic test for only $59.00 and determined it was the motherboard. So I plunked down through Dell $190 for a new mobo.

I have a PC technician at work put in the mobo and I'm at the splash screen...further along this time..but never the less still not getting anywhere. Then at one point I got the Ithr check point error.

I finally called Dell and turns out the processor is bad...another investment of $250. Fortunately I cut the purse strings and refuse to dump any more $$ into this system. So how exactly does a processor go back after 15 months, and what do I do with another mobo? Support told me that I may be able to get a rebate since the PC died after 15 months of use. Is this true...anyone else have this sort of experience? I've also seen quit a few messages regarding the 8400...were these problematic models?

Storage, Drives & Media

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