Dell Inspiron 530 won't boot up

Does the monitor go into "Power Saving" mode?

Did you check the cable from the rear of the PC to the monitor? Make sure it's properly connected at both ends (power the PC off before playing with the cable).

Can you test this monitor on a different PC or another monitor on this PC?

Power off and unplug. Press/hold power button on tower for ~15 sec.

Open the case and carefully reseat the RAM modules, PCI and video cards in their slots.

Blow out the dust bunnies with canned air

See if it will boot now with only mouse, monitor and keyboard attached.

Ron

Thank you for the advice. I followed the steps you outlined and it did work....for about 10 minutes. After doing what you suggested, the computer did boot up. Windows came up no problem, all my icons were back. So I decided to run a backup using the symantec program provided by comcast, my internet provider. (Just in case this happened again.) After this was running for about 10 minutes the screen went black. The computer was still running, but nothing on the screen.

I pushed the power button and tried to restart and that didn't work. Then I tried to repeat the steps you described earlier to see if that would work and nothing.

So now it's back how it was before. Any ideas?

Thanks.

josh

Did you test a different monitor or this monitor on a different PC?

Any signs of overheating?

What color is the power button now that it won't boot at all?

If it's still running but no video output, you have a possible video card failure, assuming the monitor checks out ok. Do you have a spare video card you can test in this system?

Ron

I don't have another monitor to test it out with. After I got it working and it shut off, it went back to exactly what was happening before. It sounds like it's running, and the power light is blue like normal, but the screen is black. No dell splash screen, nothing. When I unplug the monitor cable from the tower it shows that self diagnostic thing on the screen, that moving multi colored box. When I plug it back into the tower that turns off and it goes to the "auto detect" then power save mode. So I'm pretty sure the cord works, and the computer is reconizing the monitor. Just nothing is coming up once I boot up.

I think you're onto something with the video card. The computer sounds normal, doesn't seem to be overheating, light is blue, just nothing on the screen.

Thanks.

josh

Ok, I'll start there and see what happens. I appreciate your insight.

Josh

Got a new video card and everything seems to be working...thanks again Ron for your insight.

Josh

:emotion-21:

Yes, once I installed a new video card I've had no problems (knock on wood)

I don't use my computer for gaming, just internet useage, paying bills, etc. So I got the cheapest video card on the dell web site, the nvidia 8400gs. It seems to be working ok.

Good luck.

Thanks. My problem is identical.  I also have a Dell Inspiron 530 and it was on sleep.  I came back and when I tried to wake it nothing happened.  The tower made a lot of noise, fan, but no picture came on.  I did a hard shutdown and turned it back on.  First time it tries to turn on you get the blue light, the blue light turns off and it tries to turn on again.  Blue light turns off and then the third time it sounds like the computer boots up and the blue light stays on but there is no output to the monitor.  I switched monitors and nothing changed.  I had a feeling it was the vid card but since his problem was identical,  I am rather sure if it now.

Sorry about the language.  I didnt know the word I used was considered offensive. 

Thanks for everyones help.

Beau

Running Vista btw.

Let us know if a new video card fixes your problem too.

We've all run afoul of that automated smut filter at some point. It sometimes objects to 'innocent' words and lets naughty ones get posted. So keep it "G-rated" and everyone will be happy. :emotion-5:

Ron

@reddevil - You probably already know your first post was deleted.  Dell uses an automated smut filter to keep the forum "G-rated" so please watch your language.

It's your money, but you might want to do a little troubleshooting before rushing out to buy a new video card, in case this is a different problem. You didn't even say if you have the same PC model and version of windows that Joshuatree007 has, or if you're using an add-in PCI-e video card or the on-board graphics.

And you don't have to buy the video card from Dell. You can buy any PCI-e x16 video card that has the features/price to match your use of the PC.

Ron

One of the two problems I am having is similar to what has been posted here.  My Dell Inspron 530 will not boot up until the third time and then all is well.  I have just recently replaced the video card because my original one went bad.  I now have a Diamond ATI 9250. 

The second issue I am having is that the keyboard will not work during the boot up.  I have a partioned hard drive but cannot access the second partion.  I can get into BIOS but cannot do anything once I am there.  I am using a wireless keyboard, but tried using a Dell wired keyboard and stillno luck.  The only 3 USB devices that are plugged into my computer are: printer, wireless mouse/keyboard, and a USB Hub taht has nothing connectd to it.

Any help would be greatly apprecaited.

Many thanks

Laura