No Boot on Dell GX240

[Valleytech]

What is the typical cause for no boot up and the statement to press F1 or F2? I popped in an XP recovery disc and it proceeded to the windows setup.
I also connected a hardrive from another GX240 to the CD-ROM cable and again got the same F1, F2 message. Could it be a bad cable or motherboard?

I know the HD's are good so re-installing windows didn't make sense.

 

[i2omani]

Boot sequence

What is the typical cause for no boot up and the statement to press F1 or F2? I popped in an XP recovery disc and it proceeded to the windows setup.
I also connected a hardrive from another GX240 to the CD-ROM cable and again got the same F1, F2 message. Could it be a bad cable or motherboard?

I know the HD's are good so re-installing windows didn't make sense.

What is the boot sequence? it looks like its not finding the hard drive

 

[Methical]

What comes up after POST?

Check your BIOS settings to see what the Boot Order is..

 

[Valleytech]

What is the boot sequence? it looks like its not finding the hard drive

CD-ROM, HD, diskette.....correction

 

[Valleytech]

Have you checked for swollen or leaky capacitors? These GX models were common for it. If they are, than I would suggest a new board from dell, which can run you up to 200.00

Haven't gone there yet...200.00? The machine ain't worth more than a 100.
I have an extra mother board but wanted to rule anything else out.
I just tried another cable and no help there.

 

[Methical]

Well why not try the extra motherboard to rule your existing board out or not..

 

[Comtech Solutions]

Try the easy one first - check the black screen just under where it asks you to hit f1 or f2. Do you see anything about logs being full? Go into bios and clear any logs in there. That should do it.

 

[joe3k]

Wouldn't be looking for a ps2 k/b possibly? Failing that: Has new hardware been recently installed? Could be an error or confliction with settings in CMOS or the CMOS battery is bad or failing.

 

[PcTestCard.com]

Try clear CMOs and reboot.

I wonder if there is any diagnostic LED at the back of the PC that indicates the system condition. I knew Dell got many PC with such LED at the back of the PC.
Not sure on this one.

Opening the Case and unplug the HDD data cable and give a reboot to see if the PC can give you some kinds of no bootable disk found error other than just f1 f2.

Hope this helps!
Bill