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June 16th, 2023 08:00
T5610 - no video until windows boots
NB: I have seen other threads with similar issues, but no solution for me yet.
Dell 5610. Dual E5-2697V2. 128 GB 1866 RAM. SSD running windows 11.
These systems don't have on-board graphics, so I put a little passive GPU in there.
Essentially I power on the system and the monitor gets no signal (I don't mean a black screen, I mean no signal - like it goes I to power-saver mode because it's getting no video signals) and then windows boots and there's video.
All drivers etc. Are up-to-date. I have tried multiple monitors and different types of video cables. Over tried removing peripheral. I've done the CMOS battery removal (left it out for an hour and pressed the power button for a while to make sure the capacitors were empty) to reset bios and it does nothing.
Trying to boot to recovery from within windows (and the shift + restart trick).Tried just hitting F12 till windows loads. Tried with F12. Tried f2 and 12 alternating.
I've even tried using a serial cable to try and get I to bios from another laptop using putty - but even serial doesn't put out any data!
Is this potentially a setting in BiOS? Something blocks access to bios for security - secure-boot or something? Probably blocking serial port too?
Thanks for any help!
Chino de Oro
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8.1K Posts
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June 19th, 2023 05:00
Re: If this turns out to be the problem, I will be very annoyed!
I will be very annoyed too! As from my first post 'til my last post, I suggested repeatedly to focus on the video card and assumed that you already tested with a Quadro at some point.
DELL-Cares
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June 17th, 2023 02:00
We tried reaching you on a private message asking for the Service Tag number to ascertain the warranty but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.
ModelT
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June 17th, 2023 06:00
The bot asked me the same thing - can save you the trouble. it's certainly not in-warranty. Just here for some community help/troubleshooting.
Chino de Oro
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June 17th, 2023 07:00
It sounds like no EDID pass-thru feedback for proper VGA display from BIOS firmware. Only until video card's driver is loaded, the signals was then allowed for display.
If you already tested with different cables and monitors, that left with the video card. Consider to test with a different video card, preferably an old quadro.
To access BIOS settings (F2) or one time boot menu (F12), older systems were often tested with analog (VGA adapter) and non-4k resolution monitors to achieve display.
**Never mind the bot, it just does its job. Without the info from service tag, warranty status could not be established.**
ModelT
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June 17th, 2023 19:00
This is what I had suspected but hoped it wasn't! Have a few cards - all tested - but nothing with VGA.
This would explain the lack of signal through DVI/HDMI/DP, but doesn't explain the lack of serial data.
Chino de Oro
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June 17th, 2023 20:00
My understanding from your original post, the machine is working fine. The issue at hand was the blank screen (no signals) prior to Windows but everything is displayed proper after Windows is loaded.
What is the main goal here? You want to get into BIOS settings to do a default reset? Settings changes?
I think that a standard display of 1080p or less, connecting thru DVI or HDMI to a Dell graphics card should get the BIOS settings signals to go thru. After finish with whatever you needed done, you can adjust the setup to your preference again.
A use of DVI or HDMI to VGA adapter will achieve better result.
Chino de Oro
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June 17th, 2023 21:00
A few thoughts crossed my mind, test with os drive removed, reset CMOS via jumper.
Give your system a new CR2032 while working with the jumper.
Can't seem to locate a recent post with similar issue, but the OP on that post was able to access BIOS after using some low res monitor and/or graphics card from storage closet.
ModelT
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June 17th, 2023 21:00
Your understanding is correct
The goal is definitely BIOS access.
A working display would be the easiest way, but since I couldn't do that, I thought I could achieve it through BIOS access through the serial port as a work-around (as shown in this video) - from the video, serial is supposed to feed though text-based gui on-boot.
Unfortunately, I've had no luck with this.
I have an older card (that came with another old Dell machine) that has one of those DMS-59 connections, but this didn't work. Also, have a couple of cards with DP, HDMI, and DVI - used various adapters to go from all those (DVI/DP/HDMI) to VGA and still no luck.
ModelT
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June 17th, 2023 21:00
Yeah tried all of these initially - Including removing the CD-ROM drive and any superfluous SATA cables etc.
Tried a very low res monitor too - even tried a converter to go from HDMI/DVI to those old composite TV connections (PAL/NTSC) with the res/white/yellow cables on a very low res little all-in-one TV/monitor. Still just no signal until windows boots.
Unable to boot from USB (with OS drive removed) either - assume the boot-loader doesn't have USB prioritised... though I would have though it would have to be in the boot-list, even if low priority. Having said that, may be booting from USB and I just can't see it re: GPU issues.
Chino de Oro
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June 17th, 2023 22:00
Did not want to suggest it earlier as it's considered invasive and may cause machine issue, but you can try at your own risk. Down load and run BIOS update from inside Windows as some BIOS versions were released to fix this same issue on workstation. I don't keep notes, so can't remember which version for which model. You may have to do some research on that.
ModelT
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June 17th, 2023 23:00
Tried this also. It was on A19 when I got it. So re-flashed same version - no luck. Then rolled back to A18 still nothing. And back to A19 again.
Chino de Oro
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June 18th, 2023 00:00
This is a 10 years old system. It must had been working properly for sometimes. Only the owner/user would know the event leading to the issue. It could have happened after an upgrade or repair work.
With the BIOS had been reflash, it ruled out the firmware issue. More likely a hardware setup such as video card, cables, monitors which disrupted the sensed EDID signals sending to BIOS and since the BIOS did not receive any response, it could not send any display back to a non-existence monitor. If working on that theory, maybe you can come up to a working solution given that you have access to multiple devices, components for testing.
ModelT
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June 18th, 2023 01:00
I suppose I'll have to replace the board... which seems wasteful since it will still allow windows to boot.
ModelT
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June 18th, 2023 05:00
Good idea, but no - no luck with this either.
mazzinia_
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June 18th, 2023 05:00
Hello,
actually do another kind of test, if possible : connect ALL the gpu ports to a monitor....