Dell 910 Mini black screen + 8 beeps

I have a Dell 910 Mini about 2 years old, never added any hardware.

The computer froze so we turned it off by holding down the power button, now all we get when we turn it on is a black screen and it beeps. the beep pattern is long and 3 short, long and 3 short. Nothing else happens, no fan no nothing. From what I can find out it may be the video card but not real sure.


This is my daughters school laptop and we need to get everything off of it if it is dead, but I hop it is not.

Thank you for all your help.

Try reseating the RAM module(s). Memory problems can also cause those symptoms, and at least you can easily get to the RAM.

I have tried reseating the memory and the battery. I have also tried taking out the battery, holding the power button for 60 seconds, plugging the power cord restarting then putting the battery back in and still nothing....

Thanks

How many memory modules are there? If more than one, remove them in turn and see if the computer will boot with just one module. A bit more digging still suggests the RAM is the most likely problem here, and statistically is the most likely hardware to fail.

There is only one memory module...

That's a shame, it makes things a bit harder :(

If you have access to another laptop that has the same type of memory, you could try that. Or you could take the memory module to an electronics repair place that has a hardware memory tester. But I really think you should try and eliminate memory as the cause one way or the other, because if it is that is is quick and relatively cheap to fix the laptop.

If it does turn out to be something more serious, getting the data off the drive shouldn't be a problem anyway, just to put your mind at rest on that score.

Thanks SuperSparks,
I do not have access to another Memory module so I will see if I can finds someplace who can test this one, any suggestions.

Thank you!

I'm afraid not, Texas is a bit outside my area :D

I would have thought that any reasonably sized electronics or PC repair shop should be able to test the RAM though.

The Dell Mini 9 uses a DDR2 PC5300 SODIMM in either 512MB or 1GB or 2GB size. However, if you need to remove the drive (SSD) and connect it to another computer to recover files, you will need to use a hard to find adapter.

Links:

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2093197

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/SPD...1255978775.jsp

http://www.mydigitaldiscount.com/SPD...1254500643.jsp

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...m=170533667732

I took the computer to Best Buy and had the memory tested and it was not the memory. The Geek Squad suggested I call Dell and at least find out the Beep Codes. So I may just have to buy a new mini laptop for my daugher :(. Really did not want to have to do that at this time. Thanks guys, you usually can fix my computer issues.

I could not find any beep codes for the mini 9, however some of the rusers at the Dell forums may know what they are. I am guessing that the SSD is likely the problem though.

http://www.mydellmini.com/forum/

Have another careful listen to the pattern of beeps, I've been caught out by Dells before. See if any of these match:

http://www.nullamatix.com/dell-diagn...hooting-chart/

I also managed to find this, which may be of help:

http://support.euro.dell.com/support...g=&toggle=&dl=