I am trying to get a Dell optiplex gx280 back up and running after a recent hard drive failure.
This PC was using a GeoVision card in conjunction with security cameras to assist in security for a small thrift shop. Video was recorded to the hard drive prior to its demise. I removed this video capture device in order to just get a basic install of the operating system up and running. I did this thinking it would be smart to remove an add-on device that XP may or may not natively have a driver for. I am not sure what effect, if any, this is having on the problem I am experiencing.
In the middle of installing Windows XP, the monitor looses video signal while the PC is still receiving power (LEDs on, fans still spinning). Oddly, pressing the power button for 5 seconds or more does not shut down the PC. I have to pull the power cord from the power supply in order to power down and reboot. Upon reboot, the XP installation resumes from where it left off, which is the point at which it says "installing devices". Then it just goes blank on me again.
I have tried a new power supply, but get the same result. I have blown dust out of the case, particularly that on the heatsink, still no luck. I have disconnected the chassis intrusion wire, thinking maybe that has something to do with this. I also disabled it in the BIOS. Still no luck. Maybe I need to try other sticks of RAM? But it is hard to understand why it would get as far as it does in the installation if RAM were an issue.
I have successfully troubleshooted many PCs for people, but this one has me stumped. I am not sure what step to take next. Other than the GeoVision video capture card, I see no other hardware that XP might have a problem with. But like I said, that card is not in the PC while I try to get XP reinstalled.
If anyone has ideas, please chime in. Maybe I am overlooking something.
This PC was using a GeoVision card in conjunction with security cameras to assist in security for a small thrift shop. Video was recorded to the hard drive prior to its demise. I removed this video capture device in order to just get a basic install of the operating system up and running. I did this thinking it would be smart to remove an add-on device that XP may or may not natively have a driver for. I am not sure what effect, if any, this is having on the problem I am experiencing.
In the middle of installing Windows XP, the monitor looses video signal while the PC is still receiving power (LEDs on, fans still spinning). Oddly, pressing the power button for 5 seconds or more does not shut down the PC. I have to pull the power cord from the power supply in order to power down and reboot. Upon reboot, the XP installation resumes from where it left off, which is the point at which it says "installing devices". Then it just goes blank on me again.
I have tried a new power supply, but get the same result. I have blown dust out of the case, particularly that on the heatsink, still no luck. I have disconnected the chassis intrusion wire, thinking maybe that has something to do with this. I also disabled it in the BIOS. Still no luck. Maybe I need to try other sticks of RAM? But it is hard to understand why it would get as far as it does in the installation if RAM were an issue.
I have successfully troubleshooted many PCs for people, but this one has me stumped. I am not sure what step to take next. Other than the GeoVision video capture card, I see no other hardware that XP might have a problem with. But like I said, that card is not in the PC while I try to get XP reinstalled.
If anyone has ideas, please chime in. Maybe I am overlooking something.
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