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ZecaUrubu

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ZecaUrubu

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January 19th, 2021 14:00

15 R3, 2 red 3 blue blinking code, problem, #2

Hello, i have an alienware 15 R3. The warranty expired December 11, 2018. About a week ago i ran into this same problem that my pc would not boot up, black screen, all lights and fan working and a 2 red 3 blue flashing pattern on the power button, after this i opened my pc and swapped the sides of the 2 ram modules (8gb each), and the pc ran fine! But every time i turned the pc off it would not boot up and would give me the same flashing pattern, i was able to use the swapping ram method as a "fix" for a couple of days, but today i tried to do everything that got my pc to boot up in the past days but nothing worked, i dont know what else to do as its out of warranty, so hoping to find some help in this forum....

  • ZecaUrubu

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    Posted January 19th, 2021 15:00

    update: i tried to turn on the computer after i failed to solve the issue, just for the sake of it, and i turned on! im currently writing this message on it, on the system information it says the correct 16 gb of ram installed, no errors showing up on the support assist app, this only goes to show how bizarre my issue is, as i did nothing to the computer and it decided it was able to turn on, with the 2 ram modules working perfectly. really hope someone knows what is going on as i was unable to find anything like it on the internet.

  • crimsom

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    Posted January 19th, 2021 16:00

    Hi @ZecaUrubu  welcome to this user to user forum. This is not Dell Support. 

    The Alienware 15 R3 Diagnostics Light Pattern 2,3 = no memory or RAM detected. Swapping the RAM cards seems to have resulted in a temporary fix, but perhaps not a permanent solution.

    Reseating the RAM cards is a well known solution. The system board gets dusty in normal use and the RAM card terminals and socket can collect dust. Remove the RAM cards, do not finger touch when cleaning the card terminals with a lint free cloth (no water, no solvents) to remove surface oxidation and/or dust. Also remove dust from RAM card socket using a lint free cloth (no water, no solvents), visually check with bright light that all dust and any cloth debris has been removed. Install RAM cards back into their sockets. This reseating process should give the permanent solution. 


    [This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]

  • crimsom

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    Posted January 19th, 2021 16:00

    Hi @ZecaUrubu  thank you for sharing update.

    OK, perhaps BIOS is having problems detecting your RAM cards and a BIOS reset is required.
    (1) Disconnect ac adapter.
    (2) Remove rear cover.
    (3) Disconnect main battery (do not remove).
    (4) Disconnect (CMOS) disc battery (do not remove).
    (5) Remove RAM cards and look for RTCRST (Real-Time Clock Reset) text, and their metallic spots on the system board. (6) Put flat screwdriver blade across RTCRST spots on system board.
    (7) If there is no RTCRST, press and hold down the power button for one minute.
    (8) Replace RAM cards, reconnect main battery and disc battery, replace rear cover.

    Please share an update. Thank you. 


    [This user does not work for Dell and volunteers their free time. Please remember to say thank you by clicking on my thumb up icon.]

  • ZecaUrubu

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    Posted January 19th, 2021 16:00

    i already attempted to clean the sockets and the gold contacts on the ram cards, used a cotton swab with isopropyl alcohol, and it didnt seem to make a difference, ive checked it all with a light and it doesnt seem to have any debris or dust, but i will give it another shot, doing what you just said, but i doubt it will solve the problem.

  • ZecaUrubu

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    Posted January 20th, 2021 09:00

    Ok, @crimsom i tried to do as you told me, i removed the back cover, but i didnt remove anything else, i disconnected the cmos battery cable, i think, it was a bit hard to reach as there was a black plastic frame covering it, but i was able to disconnect the black and red cable (what im preety sure was the cmos battery cable, it was labelled RTC), then iremoved the ram cards and was not able to find the RTCRST spots on the board, again i didnt remove the black frame as i think the less i mess with the components the lesser chance there is that i create more problems, anyways i held down the power button for 1 minute, plugged everything back, and unfortunetely it didnt seem to make any difference Any other suggestions? 

  • crimsom

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    Posted January 20th, 2021 11:00

    Hi @ZecaUrubu  thank you for sharing a good update, that you have carefully undertaken a BIOS reset without damaging anything. However, did not fully understand your update post saying "unfortunetely it didnt seem to make any difference". Is your power button still giving 2 red 3 blue diagnostic code, or is there some other clue that there is a fault? The more faults you share with this forum, the better for other users to target the fix. 

    -----------------------------------------------

    The Alienware models are different, so the Alienware 15 R3 user should visit their Dell Support Documentation, for example: Clearing CMOS settings, and the Alienware Support videos on YouTube, for example: How to Upgrade/Replace RAM, which shows the motherboard beneath the RAM card. 

    RTCRST (Real-Time Clock Reset) becomes CLRP1 (Clear Pins No. 1) and this pair of pins are located beneath the RAM card, see image. Shorting these pins is undertaken by bridging with a metallic item.

    Alienware 15 R3 CLRP1.jpg


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  • crimsom

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    Posted January 20th, 2021 12:00

    Hi @ZecaUrubu  … other suggestions, you ask. The RAM card is very reliable, but your 15 R3 power button is still giving 2 red 3 blue diagnostic code. It is strange that the 15 R3 system detects all of your 16GB RAM (2 x 8GB) but remains unhappy. Booting on one of the RAM cards and then the other RAM card might reveal that one of the RAM cards, or the one of the RAM sockets has a minor fault, but still works. There are RAM diagnostic tests:- 

    (1) If the 15 R3 does not boot, please tell the Dell F12 ePSA diagnostic to undertake a full memory test. This can take many hours. Hopefully this full RAM test will tell us more, when diagnostic finished, click on the bottom right hand corner of the screen to enter the full ePSA test results. Although the full RAM test might say pass, perhaps the root cause lies elsewhere, so have a good look and click on more information.

    (2) If the 15 R3 boots, type memory into Search (bottom left hand corner of screen), click open and run the Windows Memory Diagnostic application.

    These RAM diagnostic test results may give different information. If the 15 R3 boots, it may be prudent to run both diagnostic tests, to try and find this elusive RAM fault. 

    Please share an update. Thank you. 

    (edited)


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  • ZecaUrubu

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    Posted January 20th, 2021 14:00

    ok, @crimsom , when i said "it didnt make a difference" i meant as i still get the same 2, 3 pattern when i try to boot. After you sent the image of the pins i was able to find them. So i did as you told, i disconnected the AC, disconnected the RTC labelled cable, took the ram cards out and shorted the CLRP1 pins, then i booted the computer and after the computer tried to boot and turned off 2 times, the computer was able to boot directly into the bios and it asked for me to set the system time, so i set it and hit the "save changes and reset" button, but the when it booted again it gave me the same 2,3 pattern. i checked in the bios before resetting and it showed the full 16gb of memory avaliable. so this did not solve my problem, unfortunately

  • ZecaUrubu

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    Posted January 20th, 2021 14:00

    @crimsom sorry, i did not see your second reply before doing the previouly mentioned steps, the computer is currently not booting, so how do i "tell the Dell F12 ePSA diagnostic to run a full memory test"?

  • crimsom

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    Posted January 20th, 2021 20:00

    Hi @ZecaUrubu   thank you for sharing updates.

    This conversation is being undertaken by sharing posts, so I cannot see what you see and I do not know the subsequent status of the 15 R3 having attempted a fix. Also do not know If you have undertaken a different fix based on your online research or conversation in another forum.

    Having already undertaken a BIOS reset, further resets will not change the status of your 15 R3, unless the previous reset was ignored.

    Having undertaken the RAM card swap around test, it seems that the RAM cards and their sockets do not have a fault.

    To undertake the Dell SupportAssist F12 ePSA diagnostic full RAM test: Press and hold down the F12 key and then start the 15 R3. A menu will appear that looks something like the blue image previosly shared. Use the up and down keys to select Diagnostics and then press the enter key. A white Dell ePSA screen will appear asking if a test is wanted, and you say yes to get the test underway. When the standard ePSA test is completed, it will ask if a full memory test is wanted with the warning that this could take four hours. This time, you say yes, to get the full diagnostc test underway. After many hours, the white screen will then say the full memory test has been undertaken. Now look in the bottom right hand corner of the screen and click to enter the ePSA full test resuts menu.

    Take time to read this paragraph before interacting with the full test results menu. On the left hand there are icons representing different parts of the 15 R3 system. If their ePSA test was a pass, they get a green tick pass. If the ePSA test was a fail, the icon gets a red cross fail. The top icon will say if all the connections are present, and you may have to scroll down to see the memory icon. On the right hand of the screen, it opens with a summary of the ePSA test results and you may have to scroll down to see all of the summary. If there is red text, it has found a fault, and you may want to use a camera to capture this information. Then click on the left hand icon to get the full ePSA test results for that part of your system, and you may want your camera to capture this information.

    You are now ready to interact with the ePSA menu and capture an image of the fault that it has found. As this problem is elusive, the ePSA may say it has not found a fault.

    As there is no thank you Kudos, please share an update so that another user may assist you. Thank you.


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