Dimension E521 boot problem

Hey!
I seem to have narrowed down my E521 boot problems to the graphics
card. It's an ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. If it's in the system it has an
intermittant boot problem. Sometimes boots just fine-sometimes won't
get past the round microsoft logo (vista) and the hard drive seek led
burns hot like it's looking for something. I'm now suspicious of the
graphics card and the power supply.When I run off the integrated
graphics with an analog monitor it's booting every time (removed the
X1300).I'd like to buzz off to the store and get another graphics card
to test my suspicions with. Any suggestions? It's only got a 305 watt
power supply with no spare leads so all "powered" graphics cards are
out.
ZaXXoN

check what version bios your are running and upgrade if appropriate.
the current level is 1.1.11. in version 1.1.4 the following fix (among
others) was added and could well be the cure to the problem that you
decribed (with add on video card installed it is probaby sometime running
the integrated video and sometimes the add in... you can test this theory
the next time it fails when you have the add on video installed by simply
moving the video cable over to the integrated video port to see if windows
it working with that port).
2. Reverted back to Nvidia integrated video BIOS from version 5.51.28.50.18
to 5.51.28.42.00. Video BIOS version 5.51.28.50.18 caused a Dell Diagnostics
video test failure.
the latest version includes all prior changes.

"ZaXXoN" <superzaxxon@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:6cbcj313ssn0r594jb4dnmvde30f4aq7k7@4ax.com...
> Hey!
> I seem to have narrowed down my E521 boot problems to the graphics
> card. It's an ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. If it's in the system it has an
> intermittant boot problem. Sometimes boots just fine-sometimes won't
> get past the round microsoft logo (vista) and the hard drive seek led
> burns hot like it's looking for something. I'm now suspicious of the
> graphics card and the power supply.When I run off the integrated
> graphics with an analog monitor it's booting every time (removed the
> X1300).I'd like to buzz off to the store and get another graphics card
> to test my suspicions with. Any suggestions? It's only got a 305 watt
> power supply with no spare leads so all "powered" graphics cards are
> out.
> ZaXXoN

Hey!
I kinda sorta figured half that out for myself but, your confirmation
made me get down and dirty and revert everything to it's original
state without the graphics card - latest bios. Dropped in the card and
got drivers from Ati-Amd. Works like it should. Also dropped in the
Audigy card with Creative site drivers. Still rock solid.
Guess I'll be VERY cautious of any new Dell drivers in the future and
keep my ear to this group before installing any. Would be nice if Dell
tested their drivers out on their configurations before posting them
on their site.
Thanks ZaXXoN

On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:30:18 -0500, "Christopher Muto"
<muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:

>check what version bios your are running and upgrade if appropriate.
>the current level is 1.1.11. in version 1.1.4 the following fix (among
>others) was added and could well be the cure to the problem that you
>decribed (with add on video card installed it is probaby sometime running
>the integrated video and sometimes the add in... you can test this theory
>the next time it fails when you have the add on video installed by simply
>moving the video cable over to the integrated video port to see if windows
>it working with that port).
>2. Reverted back to Nvidia integrated video BIOS from version 5.51.28.50.18
>to 5.51.28.42.00. Video BIOS version 5.51.28.50.18 caused a Dell Diagnostics
>video test failure.
>the latest version includes all prior changes.
>
>"ZaXXoN" <superzaxxon@comcast.net> wrote in message
>news:6cbcj313ssn0r594jb4dnmvde30f4aq7k7@4ax.com.. .
>> Hey!
>> I seem to have narrowed down my E521 boot problems to the graphics
>> card. It's an ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. If it's in the system it has an
>> intermittant boot problem. Sometimes boots just fine-sometimes won't
>> get past the round microsoft logo (vista) and the hard drive seek led
>> burns hot like it's looking for something. I'm now suspicious of the
>> graphics card and the power supply.When I run off the integrated
>> graphics with an analog monitor it's booting every time (removed the
>> X1300).I'd like to buzz off to the store and get another graphics card
>> to test my suspicions with. Any suggestions? It's only got a 305 watt
>> power supply with no spare leads so all "powered" graphics cards are
>> out.
>> ZaXXoN
>

Yes, would be nice. Actually Dell does a far better job than nearly all the
other name brand companies as far as posting drivers, driver updates and service
information. But they are still in the business of pushing new computers into
the hands of customers, so any effort spent with updated drivers by Dell can
best be called minimal... Ben Myers

On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 10:50:06 -0800, ZaXXoN <superzaxxon@comcast.net> wrote:

>Hey!
>I kinda sorta figured half that out for myself but, your confirmation
>made me get down and dirty and revert everything to it's original
>state without the graphics card - latest bios. Dropped in the card and
>got drivers from Ati-Amd. Works like it should. Also dropped in the
>Audigy card with Creative site drivers. Still rock solid.
>Guess I'll be VERY cautious of any new Dell drivers in the future and
>keep my ear to this group before installing any. Would be nice if Dell
>tested their drivers out on their configurations before posting them
>on their site.
>Thanks ZaXXoN
>
>On Mon, 12 Nov 2007 13:30:18 -0500, "Christopher Muto"
><muto@worldnet.att.net> wrote:
>
>>check what version bios your are running and upgrade if appropriate.
>>the current level is 1.1.11. in version 1.1.4 the following fix (among
>>others) was added and could well be the cure to the problem that you
>>decribed (with add on video card installed it is probaby sometime running
>>the integrated video and sometimes the add in... you can test this theory
>>the next time it fails when you have the add on video installed by simply
>>moving the video cable over to the integrated video port to see if windows
>>it working with that port).
>>2. Reverted back to Nvidia integrated video BIOS from version 5.51.28.50.18
>>to 5.51.28.42.00. Video BIOS version 5.51.28.50.18 caused a Dell Diagnostics
>>video test failure.
>>the latest version includes all prior changes.
>>
>>"ZaXXoN" <superzaxxon@comcast.net> wrote in message
>>news:6cbcj313ssn0r594jb4dnmvde30f4aq7k7@4ax.com. ..
>>> Hey!
>>> I seem to have narrowed down my E521 boot problems to the graphics
>>> card. It's an ATI Radeon X1300 Pro. If it's in the system it has an
>>> intermittant boot problem. Sometimes boots just fine-sometimes won't
>>> get past the round microsoft logo (vista) and the hard drive seek led
>>> burns hot like it's looking for something. I'm now suspicious of the
>>> graphics card and the power supply.When I run off the integrated
>>> graphics with an analog monitor it's booting every time (removed the
>>> X1300).I'd like to buzz off to the store and get another graphics card
>>> to test my suspicions with. Any suggestions? It's only got a 305 watt
>>> power supply with no spare leads so all "powered" graphics cards are
>>> out.
>>> ZaXXoN
>>