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Dell 780 Problem:



 
 
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  #1  
Old November 15th 17, 06:44 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

I have a Dell XPS 8500, with Windows 7 Professional, SP1,
with Spywareblaster, Malwarebytes, Avast , Windows Defender
and Windows firewall.

(1) TB HD
Intel (R) Core (TM) i7-33-3770 CPU @ 3.40 GHz
Ram 12.0 GB
System type : 64-bit operating system

I also have

I have a Dell Optiplex 780 Tower, with Windows 7 Professional,
SP1, with Spywareblaster, Malwarebytes, Avast , Windows Defender
and Windows firewall.

Intel (R) Core 2 Duo 2.93 GHz
4GB RAM, 750 GB HD
System type : 64-bit operating system

and (external hard drives)

Seagate Backup Plus 1(TB) 2.5 USB Portable HD

WD BLACK SERIES WD2003FZEX 2TB 7200
RPM 64MB Cache SATA 6.0Gb/s 3.5" Internal
Hard Drive

The issue involves the Dell 780. I smacked my knee against it
and when I went to power it up it beeped like(5)times and out of
1,2,3,4 lights only 3,4 appear.

So is my HD gone? or how do I resolve the problem?

Thoughts, suggestions?
Robert
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  #2  
Old November 15th 17, 07:51 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
R.Wieser
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Posts: 1,302
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Mark,

Thoughts, suggestions?


A quick search (DELL 780 beeps) turns up this:

http://ebay.redplanettrading.com/des...M_DT/diags.htm

Look under "beep codes" and see if you recognise the pattern.

.... It could well be that your 'puters memory has become unseated (hopefully
just that).

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


  #3  
Old November 15th 17, 08:55 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Thanks for the link,.

from the diagnostic lights it looks like it's
a memory module problem. I may have unseated
one when I bashed into it or something. What
do you think? I don't have any spares.

Thanks,
Robert
  #4  
Old November 15th 17, 09:32 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
R.Wieser
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Posts: 1,302
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Mark,

from the diagnostic lights it looks like it's
a memory module problem.


The beep code will give you a bit more certainty to that.

I may have unseated one when I bashed into it


Quite possible. If thats indeed the case than re-seating it (removing and
placing it back) could solve the problem.

Regards,
Rudy Wieser


  #5  
Old November 15th 17, 11:28 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

I just re-seated both RAM modules
and now it came back with more beeps
(hard to tell a sequence) and the
number 1 light is lit which indicates
no memory modules detected.

I made sure I push the clamps down on
each end when re-seating the modules.

Thoughts/suggestions?
Robert

  #6  
Old November 15th 17, 11:34 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

As I said, the beeps are hard to
follow but If I read the beeps
correctly I have a master DMA
register failure.

That along with the 1 diagnostic
light lit indicating no memory
modules detected.

Robert


  #7  
Old November 16th 17, 12:14 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Paul[_32_]
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Posts: 11,873
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Mark Twain wrote:
As I said, the beeps are hard to
follow but If I read the beeps
correctly I have a master DMA
register failure.

That along with the 1 diagnostic
light lit indicating no memory
modules detected.

Robert


Careful.

You should not remove a DIMM with the power on.
Even if the fans aren't running, the power supply
+5VSB is still delivered by the supply.

You should unplug the computer before working
on DIMMs. That's the only way to be absolutely sure
power is removed. On Asus motherboards, a green LED
stops glowing, indicating it's safe to work. On motherboards
without the green LED, wait at least 30 seconds from
unplugging the power supply, until you work on the DIMM.

To remove a DIMM, you rotate out the latches
to 45 degrees, and that helps ease the DIMM up out
of the socket a bit. Once the contacts aren't gripping
the DIMM, it should then be able to be pulled straight out.

When inserting the DIMM, the center notch has to
align with the "key" in the slot. This prevents
180 degree reversal of DIMMs by accident. Visually verify
when re-inserting, you're putting it in the right way.
(I have to include these instructions, for the sake of
completeness.)

When inserting the DIMM, the latches go to the
45 degree position. The DIMM is then aligned with
the "square" opening in the DIMM slot. The end-guides
guide the ends of the DIMM for its downward trip.

When you push down on the DIMM (to force the fingers
between the contacts), it will cause the
latches to rotate into the upright position again.
You should hear a "click" when the DIMM is in
place, from each end. The latch should be
in the upright position, the protrusion on
the latch should insert into the area reserved for
it on the side of the DIMM.

On DIMM slots which use one latch, and the latch
nearest the video card is a dud, only one end will
be heard to "click". I have a mixture of motherboards
here - most have two latches, but at least one I own,
has a single latch on each DIMM slot.

With a flashlight, look at the fingers on the DIMM.
The "gold" should mostly be hidden below the socket
body, so you can't really see any gold. If you see
a lot of gold glinting back at you, it isn't seated.

DIMMs which are finished "flat" on the end, have
high insertion force. It hurts your fingers to
drive those into the socket. Some of the older memory
standards, the insertion force wasn't nearly as high.
I have some Kingston DDR2 here, it just about
kills me inserting those.

You can blow a DIMM or processor interface, if
the DIMM falls out with the power on, and something
gets shorted together. The most likely way this would
happen, is if one end of the DIMM comes loose, while
the other end stays in the socket. That should
only happen, if the PC is dropped out of a second
story window :-) Kneeing the PC should not do that.

I wouldn't panic just yet, until thoroughly verifying
the DIMM(s) are seated. Remember to unplug the computer.
If there was micro-latchup, removal of power gives
CMOS circuits a chance to recover. Verify with your
flashlight, that each DIMM is fully homed into the socket,
and no gold is showing.

Paul
  #8  
Old November 16th 17, 08:15 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Hello Paul,

I was hoping you'd see the post,..

I turned all the power off before disconnecting
the 780 and re-seating the DIMMS. However when
re-seating it didn't click with the tabs going
upwards. I had to do it manually. I'll try again.

Thanks,
Robert

  #9  
Old November 16th 17, 08:26 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

I disconnected the computer and then reset
the DIMMS again and this time they both
clicked in. However on restarted I thought
it sounded like 4 beeps hen 2 beeps and 3,4
diagnostic lights are on. Also the monitor
shows no activity.

Thoughts/suggestions?
Robert

  #10  
Old November 16th 17, 08:33 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm the DIMM was loose because
it wasn't even in it's slot on one end,. which
I must have done. so did that short it out? Yet,
I had the problem before I even opened it.

I honestly didn't think slamming my knee would cause
it to not function. Not that I do that allot *L*

However I now properly seated both DIMMS and still
nothing. Hmmmmmmmmm

Robert
  #11  
Old November 16th 17, 08:57 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Paul[_32_]
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Posts: 11,873
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Mark Twain wrote:
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm the DIMM was loose because
it wasn't even in it's slot on one end,. which
I must have done. so did that short it out? Yet,
I had the problem before I even opened it.

I honestly didn't think slamming my knee would cause
it to not function. Not that I do that allot *L*

However I now properly seated both DIMMS and still
nothing. Hmmmmmmmmm

Robert


Now you must begin the grim task, of
testing one DIMM at a time. Try placing the
DIMM in an unused slot. Don't forget to power
off and wait at least 30 seconds, before moving
them around.

If one DIMM doesn't work, try the next DIMM by itself.

It helps to have an antistatic bag for storage
of any DIMMs not currently being tested.

This is why, for machines moved by couriers, you
*always* take the side off and carefully inspect
the machine for loose hardware. It was probably on
an angle like that when you got it.

If it was seated and latched, your knee couldn't do that.

Paul
  #12  
Old November 16th 17, 11:55 AM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
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Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

I took out one DIMM and re-seated the other in
a different location as you suggested. This time
it booted and gave me a screen with the following:

The amount of system storage has changed.
aLERT! Previous attempts at booting this systems
have failed at checkpoint [1thr]. For help in resolving
this problem, please note this checkpoint and contact
Dell Technical Support.

Strike the F1 key to continue, F2 to run the setup utility
Press F5 to run onboard diagnostics.

I pressed F5
It's going through Pre-boot assessment build 4521
so far everything is OK...

Should I click F1 afterwards to continue or put the other
DIMM in and see what it does?

Thought/suggestions
Robert


  #13  
Old November 16th 17, 12:04 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

After re-boot Assessment 34521 ran it said
it needed to re-start the system and came
back with my normal sign-on page with icons
and everything.

So how do I proceed? replace this DIMM with
the other? or put both in since it's now
working?

Thoughts/suggestions
Robert


  #14  
Old November 16th 17, 01:17 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Paul[_32_]
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Posts: 11,873
Default Dell 780 Problem:

Mark Twain wrote:
After re-boot Assessment 34521 ran it said
it needed to re-start the system and came
back with my normal sign-on page with icons
and everything.

So how do I proceed? replace this DIMM with
the other? or put both in since it's now
working?

Thoughts/suggestions
Robert


So it's not dead then. That's good news.

I'm not familiar with the response you're getting,
but it is an Optiplex, a "business" machine, and
maybe it's designed to detect the surreptitious
removal of hardware.

You haven't indicated the count of items, but
my test sequence would be:

1) Assume two DIMMs are present, one good, one defective.
2) Assume a four DIMM slot motherboard (two DIMM slots
on each channel).

Take the "good news" DIMM, the one that worked, and test
it in each slot separately. This tells you which slots
work. That would be four test cases, with four power
removals, four boot cycles and so on. Maybe the snotty
message will appear on the screen four times too.

Now, say only one slot worked, and the other three
were dead. You could then take the (presumed-dead)
DIMM and put it in the one good slot. As a means
to test whether the bad DIMM is really bad or not.

You need to work out how many bad slots you have,
and how many bad DIMMs you have. You only need to
test enough slots, to get on with life - Paul would
test all four, but suit yourself. When I test new
computers here, it's an "epic undertaking" with
lots of test cycles.

If mixing the bad DIMM with a good slot yields
"no-workie", then you know the DIMM needs to be
replaced, or you might just run the machine with
the one DIMM. Those are your choices.

Once you know how many good slots you've got
and how many good DIMMs, you can plan accordingly.

But at least you've gotten a positive response
from your testing, and that's good news indeed.
No serious damage yet :-) A blown DIMM, you can
deal with. Replacing a motherboard wouldn't
be quite as much fun. I hate having to take
all that stuff out of the machine, to do one
of those.

Paul
  #15  
Old November 16th 17, 11:05 PM posted to microsoft.public.windowsxp.general
Mark Twain
external usenet poster
 
Posts: 2,402
Default Dell 780 Problem:

I checked all the slots and 1,2, are OK
but I had to click F1 for 3 and 4 to get
them to run.

I then checked the other DIMM and it works
fine.

So should I put the other DIMM back in or
would you like me to do something else?

Robert
 




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