Dell Precision 530 - Motherboard Replacement
Hello,
Recently the motherboard on this Precision 530 fried (capacitor near the RAM blew). So I called up Dell and ordered a replacement Motherboard, they only had refurbished ones I guess. It came today and I installed it, but am having a heck of a time. I followed the instructions in the Dell user guide to removing motherboard, Processors, ect... The BIOS error message is as attached in the code.
Ok, so I know it's having trouble finding the SCSI hard drive and the processors as well. It has two processors, both are identical and worked well with the old motherboard. My first thought was to upgrade the BIOS from A09 to A11 (which is the latest version on the Dell website). I downloaded the file and made a floppy...but the computer won't boot off of it.
I can't F2 into the BIOS. I also can't F12 to get into the boot menu. Both keyboards I've used work on other computers. I hear beeps when I keep hitting the F2 and F12 keys, so I know the keyboard is working. The system briefly flashing 'entering setup' but then just skips past and eventually displays the error. Do I need to get the SCSI drive working first? I was under the impression I should still be able to get into the BIOS regardless of the hard drive.
Then I tried unplugging the CD-ROM and pretty much everything else except for the processors, RAM and power supply, but I still eventually got the error and could not get into BIOS. I tried disconnecting the SCSI drive and cables and just using another IDE drive. Same problem. I have tried re-seating the RAM and Processors. I tried to just use 1 processor, but the computer didn't like that and wouldn't even POST. I also tried to use only 2 sticks of memory instead of 4, but the computer didn't like that either and wouldn't even POST. Same thing.
I'm out of ideas at this point. Thanks in advance for any help.
Recently the motherboard on this Precision 530 fried (capacitor near the RAM blew). So I called up Dell and ordered a replacement Motherboard, they only had refurbished ones I guess. It came today and I installed it, but am having a heck of a time. I followed the instructions in the Dell user guide to removing motherboard, Processors, ect... The BIOS error message is as attached in the code.
Ok, so I know it's having trouble finding the SCSI hard drive and the processors as well. It has two processors, both are identical and worked well with the old motherboard. My first thought was to upgrade the BIOS from A09 to A11 (which is the latest version on the Dell website). I downloaded the file and made a floppy...but the computer won't boot off of it.
I can't F2 into the BIOS. I also can't F12 to get into the boot menu. Both keyboards I've used work on other computers. I hear beeps when I keep hitting the F2 and F12 keys, so I know the keyboard is working. The system briefly flashing 'entering setup' but then just skips past and eventually displays the error. Do I need to get the SCSI drive working first? I was under the impression I should still be able to get into the BIOS regardless of the hard drive.
Then I tried unplugging the CD-ROM and pretty much everything else except for the processors, RAM and power supply, but I still eventually got the error and could not get into BIOS. I tried disconnecting the SCSI drive and cables and just using another IDE drive. Same problem. I have tried re-seating the RAM and Processors. I tried to just use 1 processor, but the computer didn't like that and wouldn't even POST. I also tried to use only 2 sticks of memory instead of 4, but the computer didn't like that either and wouldn't even POST. Same thing.
I'm out of ideas at this point. Thanks in advance for any help.
Phoenix ROM BIOS Plus version 1.10 A09
......
Primary Hard Disk drive 0 not found. Adaptec SCSI Card 29160N BIOS V2.56.0......
Initializing Intel Boot Agent Version 1.0.17
PXE 2.1 Build 083 (WFM 2.0), RPL V1.08
Alert! System does not support this processor. System Halted.
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
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Go back to Dell, they may have sent a bad board.
Although unusual today, do you see any jumpers on the motherboard that do not match the old machine?
How about different memory sticks? Perhaps one of them was damaged and is causing a faulty error.
How about different memory sticks? Perhaps one of them was damaged and is causing a faulty error.
ASKER
The jumpers matched initially today. There's only 2 sets of jumpers. One for the password (enable/disable) and one to reset. I reset CMOS today. No difference.
The memory thing is so weird. It has 4 sticks, each 512 MB matching pairs. The system will only POST if all 4 sticks are in. If I only put in 1 pair, the system just makes some low tone growls at me. I've tried different combination's with these as well.
I'll give Dell a call tomorrow.
The memory thing is so weird. It has 4 sticks, each 512 MB matching pairs. The system will only POST if all 4 sticks are in. If I only put in 1 pair, the system just makes some low tone growls at me. I've tried different combination's with these as well.
I'll give Dell a call tomorrow.
Unplug it when you reset the CMOS.
If you don't then CMOS still has power from +5vsb and moving the reset jumper doesn't do anything.
.
If you don't then CMOS still has power from +5vsb and moving the reset jumper doesn't do anything.
.
Some machines that require paired memory sticks will want the sticks in every other slot -
DIMM0 memory installed
DIMM1 Empty
DIMM2 memory installed
DIMM3 empty
DIMM0 memory installed
DIMM1 Empty
DIMM2 memory installed
DIMM3 empty
ASKER
Thanks guys, but no go. It does display in POST saying CMOS was cleared and that I need to run setup. But I'm still unable to get into BIOS setup. I've tried switching the memory around.
I do notice the 4 lights on the front of the computer and the error light codes all indicate hardware conflict/failures with the RAM and Processor and a few general errors as well. There's many different light error codes that come on, so it doesn't really narrow anything down though to well.
I do notice the 4 lights on the front of the computer and the error light codes all indicate hardware conflict/failures with the RAM and Processor and a few general errors as well. There's many different light error codes that come on, so it doesn't really narrow anything down though to well.
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SOLUTION
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ASKER
Sorry for the delay, got busy with other things.
I swapped 1 pair of the RAM sticks with the placeholders and again tried, tried with the other pair, moved slots, same error.
The power supply is another issue. It's a proprietary Dell dual power supply. The computer case literally sits on top of the power supply. The power supply is as long as the computer and as wide, It's not your ordinary ATX power supply. Plus it has 2 power plug in's on the motherboard as opposed to 1 (labeled "Power 1" and has a 24 pinout and "Power 2" which has a 20 pinout). I would have no where to mount an ATX either....so unfortunately I think trying to rebuild this computer with a new motherboard/processor would be very difficult :(
Honestly I think at this point I'm just going to scrap the computer and use it for any parts I can. Either that or drag it behind the building with a baseball bat and lay down an Office Space beating ;)
I swapped 1 pair of the RAM sticks with the placeholders and again tried, tried with the other pair, moved slots, same error.
The power supply is another issue. It's a proprietary Dell dual power supply. The computer case literally sits on top of the power supply. The power supply is as long as the computer and as wide, It's not your ordinary ATX power supply. Plus it has 2 power plug in's on the motherboard as opposed to 1 (labeled "Power 1" and has a 24 pinout and "Power 2" which has a 20 pinout). I would have no where to mount an ATX either....so unfortunately I think trying to rebuild this computer with a new motherboard/processor would be very difficult :(
Honestly I think at this point I'm just going to scrap the computer and use it for any parts I can. Either that or drag it behind the building with a baseball bat and lay down an Office Space beating ;)
ASKER
Thanks for the suggestions, i will split points.
ASKER
I tried CPU slot 0 with Processor 1 and VRM 2
I tried CPU slot 0 with Processor 2 and VRM 1
I tried CPU slot 0 with Processor 2 and VRM 2
Same Error, every time for each.
With CPU slot 1 nothing would even POST with the above combo's. Besides Ebay, do you know any good places to buy older used processors? This computer took up most of my day, it might be time to just punt and get a new one.
*sigh*