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November 1st, 2025 15:14

7050 Micro doesn't POST after being stored for months

Got this (used) 7050 Micro in May, used it as a homelab server for a couple weeks with no issues, then put it away. Stored in a box, dry environment, nobody moved it from its place ever since. This evening I wanted to install nixOS on it, so plugged the AC adapter and... It doesn't POST. No HDMI output, even the keyboard doesn't light up. The CMOS battery still has 3v voltage, I checked with a multimeter. I put in another ram from a laptop I have with no results. Tried the RTC clock reset pressing the power button for 20s. I replaced the CMOS battery but this didn't solve the issue either. Basically, when pressing the power button the white lights stays on for some seconds, with not video output; then, the HDD light flashes, then 5 white 2 yellow from the power LED.

I also tried with a different RAM from another laptop I have with no results; used the 7050M RAM on the laptop too, and the laptop works fine. If I boot the 7050M without RAM, the computer beeps.

All I get is the power button light blinking 5 white and 2 yellow. According to the user manual it's CMOS checksum error and now the system is in "recovery mode", which is fixed by either:

  • flashing the bios, which I can't do since the keyboard does not even light up.

  • replace the motherboard altogether, which here in EU would cost probably more than what I paid this computer

So... Anyone here knows what to do? Or at least know how something like this can happen? I heard Dells die randomly but wow

9 Legend

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14.8K Posts

November 1st, 2025 18:11

Pressing power button x 30s is a way to clear CMOs in later Dell models that don’t have clear CMOs jumper on mobo.

7050 M mobo has a jumper so I would try that. https://www.bhphotovideo.com/lit_files/373141.pdf

p.21

(clear RTC by power button does not work in 7050 model)

Replacing battery does not always do the trick. PC in storage often has CMOs corruption despite 3V on CMOs battery. It is supposed to be non volatile memory but in reality it can suffer lapse when not connected to power for some time 

(edited)

9 Legend

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14.8K Posts

November 1st, 2025 18:12

  • Carefully move the plastic jumper cap from its default pins to the clear CMOS pins (e.g., from pins 1-2 to pins 2-3).
  • Wait 10 to 30 seconds for the CMOS to be cleared.
  • Move the jumper cap back to its original position (e.g., pins 1-2). 

(edited)

9 Legend

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14.8K Posts

November 1st, 2025 18:15

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  • Dell Precision 3440 SFF
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  • Inspiron 3680 SFF
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  • OptiPlex 3080 Micro
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  • OptiPlex 5090
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  • Dell desktop computers launched prior to this document have a motherboard jumper-based reset function. If your product was shipped prior to April 2020 and is not listed above, then the computer most likely has a jumper-based reset. See your product service manual for more details.

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

November 2nd, 2025 12:55

@redxps630​ thanks for your answer. I found the plastic cap already on the "clear CMOS" jumpers when opening the lid. Anyway I removed it, plugged again, left it there then re-plugged the power cable but I still get the 5W2Y led. I tried also the "Service mode" jumpers (right couple according to the instructions pdf), with no avail.

One thing I'm noticing is that the computer keeps turning on by itself even if I shut it down long pressing the power button. 

(edited)

9 Legend

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14.8K Posts

November 2nd, 2025 13:11

Re: plastic cap already on the "clear CMOS" jumpers

it is on default or normal position, which does not clear CMOs. You need to remove it and put the jumper on the other two pins to clear CMOs.  After 10 sec move back to original position.

if jumper were on clear CMOs position and you try to power on pc, pc would not start.

Re: the computer keeps turning on by itself even if I shut it down long pressing the power button. 
that is a sign of defective cmos. It by itself does not mean mobo has failed. Just a defect if you can make the mobo POST.

(edited)

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4 Posts

November 2nd, 2025 15:25

@redxps630​ yes sorry, I misread the scheme on the pdf.

So, I plugged in the power cable, the computer turned on by itself, I put the jumper on the clear CMOS pins (1-2), the computer shuts down, I waited 10-12 seconds, put the jumper back to the center, default pins 3-4. As soon as I removed the jumper from pins 1-2, the computer turns back on with the 5W2Y led blinking. Did I do something wrong here? 

9 Legend

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14.8K Posts

November 3rd, 2025 00:23

I usually unplug the pc. Move jumper to CLR CMOs position for 15 sec, then move back to default position, then plug in power cord again to test.  If this does not make a difference, and you have already replaced CMOs battery with a new one, then I don’t know what else to suggest.

1 Rookie

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4 Posts

November 3rd, 2025 13:35

@redxps630​ I followed this procedure too, multiple time, with no progress whatsoever so I will throw away this computer and never get a Dell ever again. I thank you anyway for your support.

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