Dell XPS M1530 - Doesn't boot, no BIOS screen

[azibux1]

Hi all,

Looking at my brothers Dell XPS trying to figure out the problem and was hoping you could help

It was working perfectly fine yesterday, but today when you power it on the lights come on as normal, you can hear the hard drive but you can't see anything on the screen, no BIOS screen or anything.

Also it normally makes a lot more noise when booting up (presumably the fan) whereas now it doesn't.

I have ruled out the windows install as it works fine on another laptop when swapping the hard drive

When you power it on, the CPU fan spins up for maybe two or three seconds, but then slows down and stops again... Is this normal procedure and it will come on again later when needed or should it spin all the time?

Another thing I've read is possible gfx card failure, and that would explain why we don't see anything when plugging it into an external monitor either, but that was just the first thing I read so don't want to rule out cheaper fixes first

Anyone got any ideas?

Thanks!

 

[OspreyO]

The most common error is the gfx or the motherboard. The gfx due to the chip flaw up also due to heat, heat will also damage the motherboard. My first guess would be the motherboard is gone.

 

[azibux1]

The most common error is the gfx or the motherboard. The gfx due to the chip flaw up also due to heat, heat will also damage the motherboard. My first guess would be the motherboard is gone.

Hmm okay

Failed motherboard would also explain why the CPU fan isn't spinning, as I just left it on for a few minutes, the heatsink pipes from the CPU got quite hot to touch, but the fan still wasn't spinning

Any way to definitely diagnose what the problem is?

EDIT:

Just seen this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RHxLC1vi0Xw

How does this fix a failed graphics card? People are commenting saying it actually works, also using an oven or hair dryer?

 

[OspreyO]

If it was just the gfx failed I think you'd see lines on the display, or hear the fan spinning up at least. No fan noise or just a sec then nothing, I think is the motherboard. its only my hunch I'm not an expert on these systems. On my 9400 which has the gfx problem aswell, I fixed the gfx card. But I don't think you've the same issue.

http://tech.danishkhan.com/2011/03/01/resolved-dell-xps-m1530-dead-boot-issue/

http://www.techspot.com/community/topics/xps-m1530-dead-no-power-at-all.144240/

Problem with these machine is if you spend much on a repair your very quickly into the price of a new budget laptop, which makes better sense. Though you wouldn't be getting the excellent screen of the 1530. So you your down do getting an repair guy to check it out, maybe its simple fix. Maybe if you take it apart its a re seat of the cpu as above. Or maybe its the motherboard. I've often thought of picking one up with a gfx problem and reflowing it. As it worked with mine. But its a fair bit of work. My 9400 will fail again, I'm not sure if I'll bother fixing it a 2nd time. Thought the 9400 has a HD screen, so is handy as a movie player, as it will play 1080p. We also have a XPS 1330 and even though its 4yrs old the screen is really nice on it.

 

[azibux1]

If it was just the gfx failed I think you'd see lines on the display, or hear the fan spinning up at least. No fan noise or just a sec then nothing, I think is the motherboard. its only my hunch I'm not an expert on these systems. On my 9400 which has the gfx problem aswell, I fixed the gfx card. But I don't think you've the same issue.

http://tech.danishkhan.com/2011/03/01/resolved-dell-xps-m1530-dead-boot-issue/

http://www.techspot.com/community/topics/xps-m1530-dead-no-power-at-all.144240/

Problem with these machine is if you spend much on a repair your very quickly into the price of a new budget laptop, which makes better sense. Though you wouldn't be getting the excellent screen of the 1530. So you your down do getting an repair guy to check it out, maybe its simple fix. Maybe if you take it apart its a re seat of the cpu as above. Or maybe its the motherboard. I've often thought of picking one up with a gfx problem and reflowing it. As it worked with mine. But its a fair bit of work. My 9400 will fail again, I'm not sure if I'll bother fixing it a 2nd time. Thought the 9400 has a HD screen, so is handy as a movie player, as it will play 1080p. We also have a XPS 1330 and even though its 4yrs old the screen is really nice on it.

Thanks for those links!

I see what you're saying about the repair and worth spending the money or not.

I will try reseating the CPU... I assume the same 'pea-size blob' of thermal paste is required as when you apply paste to a desktop PC processor?

Also here is a video of what happens when I boot it up...



Also please see this pic... I assume the graphics card is 'built-into' the motherboard although it is not actually classed as 'on-board' graphics. The area with the sticker over it is the CPU, and then the chip to the left and chip above the CPU ... What are they? One is GPU presumably, the one above the CPU? Is that right? EDIT: Just removed the heatsink and fan to re-seat the CPU and I can see nvidia written on the chip to the left of the CPU

 

[OspreyO]

'On-board' graphics generally refers to desktops computers with no seperated gfx card, but integrated on the motherboard. Usually shares ram with the system. With laptops almost all of them are integrated on the motherboard. Very very few have a seperate gfx card. The term discrete is more appropriate to laptops where is also on board, but had its own video memory and has more 3D capability than the usual onboard graphics.

So in summary its onboard but dedicated on the 1530. The problem with that is if it overheats it may (usually not) take the motherboard with it. Is there any browning on the board?

Lots of videos on youtube about this machine. Some suggest a copper shim helps. Ultimately though the gfx is faulty on nvidia of this era, and the cooling on the laptops, especially the 1530 is marginal.

You might be better posting questions on the dedicated laptop forms.

 

[azibux1]

'On-board' graphics generally refers to desktops computers with no seperated gfx card, but integrated on the motherboard. Usually shares ram with the system. With laptops almost all of them are integrated on the motherboard. Very very few have a seperate gfx card. The term discrete is more appropriate to laptops where is also on board, but had its own video memory and has more 3D capability than the usual onboard graphics.

So in summary its onboard but dedicated on the 1530. The problem with that is if it overheats it may (usually not) take the motherboard with it. Is there any browning on the board?

Lots of videos on youtube about this machine. Some suggest a copper shim helps. Ultimately though the gfx is faulty on nvidia of this era, and the cooling on the laptops, especially the 1530 is marginal.

You might be better posting questions on the dedicated laptop forms.

Okay thanks! Yeah I might try a Dell or XPS forum if I can find one

Also little update... I tried the 'fn' and power button test, and got the same result as the person in that post you linked to (and the heating the GFX chip fixed his issue) and I tried the 'd' and power button test, and the screen works fine (flashes various colours)

ALSO... I did try heating it a bit with a hairdryer, after which the heatsink was quite hot (left this attached) and when I powered it back on the fan was running constantly, so this means that the motherboard might possibly be working fine as it did run the fan for longer than before

Might try heating it some more (but removing all other things like HDD / heatsink / RAM etc first

 

[d_brennen]

Pretty impressive it's lasted this long. M1330/1530 do indeed suffer with the nVidia touch of death. My M1330 had no less than 4 motherboards, courtesy of Dell warranty

Is there any activity on the caps lock/num lock/scroll lock LEDs?

 

[azibux1]

Pretty impressive it's lasted this long. M1330/1530 do indeed suffer with the nVidia touch of death. My M1330 had no less than 4 motherboards, courtesy of Dell warranty

Is there any activity on the caps lock/num lock/scroll lock LEDs?

Nothing when I press the appropriate buttons

But then I tried a test and got the same result as this guy

...

I then tried the other diagnostic test, which was, press and hold “Fn” key while pressing the start button. With this test, I had the numlock LED blinking with the other LEDs solid blue. The discription for that reads:

“The microcontroller is handing control of the system to the processor. This code persists if no processor is detected.”

I couldnt figure out what this message meant, and hence, I called up Dell tech support. He diagnosed it as a motherboard issue the fix was to replace the motherboard. As the laptop was out of warrenty, it would cost me, almost 18K. I had no intention to invest that kind on money on this laptop, hence I tried looking over the web for people facing similar issues and what they did to fix it.

 

[d_brennen]

Unless it has sentimental value I'd cut my losses and sell it for spares

 

[azibux1]

Unless it has sentimental value I'd cut my losses and sell it for spares

Has no sentimental value... But IT WORKS!

Tried it with a hair dryer, same situation... Then tried it with a gas soldering iron (with a blowtorch tip) and heated it for maybe 3 - 4 minutes (with breaks in between) and it now works!!

Thanks for the help everyone!

Not sure how long it will last for, but anything is better than nothing

Someone in a youtube video says theirs lasted for 1 year, then they replaced the motherboard. Others says it could last for days or months

Will have to wait and see

Thanks again for any suggestions / diagnosing