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FSPilot1944
61 Posts
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September 9th, 2007 20:00
No Joy MoBo Upgrade
I've been reading all the threads about successfully upgrading the 700 or 710 mobo but I'm having a problem that I cannot find an answer. I have the XPS 710H2C system w/4 GB memory and the dual NVIDIA 8800GTX video cards. Okay, I was able to remove the old mobo and replace it with the new one. I moved the DuoCore X6800 processor over to the new board too according to instructions. I put the system back together, checked all the electrical connections once more, and the system will not boot. All electrical slots on the mobo have a connector except for the FlexBay connector (INT_USB) (position 8 on the mobo) that I could find no connector to plug into it. I only installed one video card in the primary card slot and attached a keyboard and mouse. I also removed 2 gigs of memory and removed and reinstalled the memory once again. The power button is a steady amber color which means a device is malfunctioning or not installed correctly. There is also no beeps and the diagnostic lights do not light up when I turn the system on. I'm thinking it could be one of the SATA drives not properly installed but I made sure the top harddrive was connected to the SATA0 connection and the lower harddrive was connected to the SATA 1 connection. Then I plugged in the two DVD drives into the SATA4 and SATA5 connections. I unfortunately did not make a note of my SATA drive connections before removing them from the old mobo but I believe I should be able to get into the bios with just one harddrive plugged in. Therefore, I think it's something else amiss. Anyone have any suggestions or solutions before I call tech? Thanks in advance for any assistance.
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FSPilot1944
61 Posts
232
0
Posted September 9th, 2007 21:00
MichaelO,Thanks for your quick response. I originally put everything back together as it was before I changed boards but no joy and I have been slowly removing components to see if I can find the culprit causing the problem. My LED's are working and I have the fans running but that's it. Since I wrote my last thread, I removed all the memory and video cards, plus disconnected the SATA drives. Still no beeps or diagnostic codes. Just the steady amber power light. I will try connecting everything again and see if that works. Perhaps everything wasn't connected properly then. Thanks again for your help!Best regards,Jim- FSPilot,If you can not get it to post with everything disconnected from the motherboard,ie: ram, sata drives, usb reader, and a steady yellow light, the motherboard is probably bad.I had the exact same thing today with my upgrade. I did mark all my sata cables, got it all buttoned up, hooked back up and.............fans running full speed, no diagnostic lights, steady yellow light in power button. So I removed all memory, video card, sata cables, and the same thing. I called XPS support @ the number in the back of the 720 manual, got a super nice lady on the phone, and within 10 minutes, she had my case #, and hopefully a new motherboard out in a few days.Good luck, better days are coming,jd
Darkhorse XPS72
3 Posts
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Posted September 10th, 2007 11:00
Hey Ive fixed this exact problem .Guys try jumping the BIOS password pins on new 720 board, I did this on my steady amber board and all is great NOW!- Darkhorse,Thanks for the suggestion, first thing I tried.Enjoy your new AWESOME machine.jd
Darkhorse XPS720 wrote:
Hey Ive fixed this exact problem .Guys try jumping the BIOS password pins on new 720 board, I did this on my steady amber board and all is great NOW!
FSPilot1944
61 Posts
232
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Posted September 10th, 2007 14:00
"Guys try jumping the BIOS password pins on new 720 board, I did this on my steady amber board and all is great NOW!"Thanks for the suggestion. I've already done that and still no joy. Just bought some more thermo compound (wow! got the last one on the shelf at BestBuy!) and I'm going to remove the CPU, clean it up again, and reseat it. My last option before calling tech.gdwrnch3: You may be correct about the mobo being bad. I disconnected everything as you did plus removed my video cards and sound card and still received the steady amber light, and no diagnostic lights or beeps. Really frustrating for sure. If we have to have our motherboards replaced, it may be awhile as I think they are backed up with the motherboard upgrades. Maybe not, just my negative thinking....Best regards,JimFSPilot1944
61 Posts
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Posted September 10th, 2007 19:00
"It's a bad board, check your pm's"You're right JD. Just removed the mobo again and reinstalled everything including cleaning the CPU and reapplying thermal compound and I still receive the steady amber light. Calling tech....Thanks again for your suggestions.Best regards,JimDarkhorse XPS72
3 Posts
120
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Posted September 10th, 2007 19:00
remove everything except cpu.memory, video card, and all pluged in cables (usb, keyboard,mouse) removed tooI then pulled main power plug while holding in power button for 30 secs or so, then flashed the bios pins.now plug in power cable and see if that moves uyou one step closer, then minimum memory, vhen video card etc.powering on and off between restarts
Message Edited by Darkhorse XPS720 on 09-10-2007 03:51 PM

odenwalder
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1182 Posts
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Posted September 9th, 2007 20:00
Message Edited by odenwalder on 09-09-2007 04:51 PM