A customer brought me a Dell Inspiron 545s. It had a faulty HDD so I replaced it and installed Windows 7. I went upstairs during the install and when I came back the screen was black and the computer off. It was late so I just left it off and went to bed. The next morning I turned it on and it went to the install screen and was on the last item. I let it run and then it turned off again. Here's were it gets aggravating.
When I tried to turn it back on, I got the single beep and the fans spin up. I use a small TV for repairs and it shows "PC" in the upper right corner. Once I turn on the computer, that goes away as if it's getting a signal from the computer, but nothing shows up. I changed the video cable but that didn't help. I installed a low profile video card (it's a small form factor computer) but that also didn't change anything. So it's not the video chip.
I thought maybe the power supply was bad so I hooked up the PSU I use for testing and received the same results. So it's not the PSU.
I removed the CMOS Battery and it's showing 3.06 volts. So it's not the CMOS Battery.
I removed both sticks of RAM and powered on the computer and I got the beep code that means there's no RAM installed. There is a small amber light on the motherboard which stays lit as long as there is power to the system. Since the motherboard knew there was no RAM and the light is on I'm assuming it's not the motherboard.
I tried each stick of RAM individually in every slot and each time I power on the system, I get the single beep as if everything is okay. But nothing on screen.
I then removed the CPU and removed the thermal paste and reapplied some Arctic Silver 5. Same results.
I swapped out the DATA Cables and that too did not change anything.
I guess it's possible for both sticks of RAM to go bad at the same time, but if that were the case, wouldn't the motherboard be giving me the 2 beeps saying there is 'no' RAM installed? I don't have any spare memory to test that with but I ordered some last night for that purpose.
I removed the new HDD and put it in my hot swap bay to check it out and it's fine, so it's nothing to do with the new HDD.
I have the system powered on right now and it's been on for about 30 minutes. Nothing is on screen and the fans are spinning and I just realized there's no light on my mouse or keyboard.
Could this be the RAM? Even though the motherboard gives me the 2 beeps without RAM installed and the normal single beep with the RAM installed, could it still be the motherboard? I'm completely baffled at this point. Any insight will be appreciated.
When I tried to turn it back on, I got the single beep and the fans spin up. I use a small TV for repairs and it shows "PC" in the upper right corner. Once I turn on the computer, that goes away as if it's getting a signal from the computer, but nothing shows up. I changed the video cable but that didn't help. I installed a low profile video card (it's a small form factor computer) but that also didn't change anything. So it's not the video chip.
I thought maybe the power supply was bad so I hooked up the PSU I use for testing and received the same results. So it's not the PSU.
I removed the CMOS Battery and it's showing 3.06 volts. So it's not the CMOS Battery.
I removed both sticks of RAM and powered on the computer and I got the beep code that means there's no RAM installed. There is a small amber light on the motherboard which stays lit as long as there is power to the system. Since the motherboard knew there was no RAM and the light is on I'm assuming it's not the motherboard.
I tried each stick of RAM individually in every slot and each time I power on the system, I get the single beep as if everything is okay. But nothing on screen.
I then removed the CPU and removed the thermal paste and reapplied some Arctic Silver 5. Same results.
I swapped out the DATA Cables and that too did not change anything.
I guess it's possible for both sticks of RAM to go bad at the same time, but if that were the case, wouldn't the motherboard be giving me the 2 beeps saying there is 'no' RAM installed? I don't have any spare memory to test that with but I ordered some last night for that purpose.
I removed the new HDD and put it in my hot swap bay to check it out and it's fine, so it's nothing to do with the new HDD.
I have the system powered on right now and it's been on for about 30 minutes. Nothing is on screen and the fans are spinning and I just realized there's no light on my mouse or keyboard.
Could this be the RAM? Even though the motherboard gives me the 2 beeps without RAM installed and the normal single beep with the RAM installed, could it still be the motherboard? I'm completely baffled at this point. Any insight will be appreciated.
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