Have you tried removing and redetecting the soundcard from the Control Panel?

Are you sure that your Soundcard needs the AC97 drivers and not SoundMAX? There are some issues where updating the...

It doesn't matter that it was working before because it isn't now!

Remove the mains cord from the back, take out the battery, and put the mains back in. Try turning it on.

Does that light...

I can't find any reference to 2-6 beeps as you described.

Mixing and matching throws up 2 beeps (memory), 8 beeps (video RAM), 2-3-3 (memory again), 6 beeps (mobo fault or keyboard controller...

It's booting up into Windows? Is that what you mean when you say you 'heard everything in [ your ] computer turning on'?

Everything points to the graphics card. You've already done all the tests...

I don't think there's a magic solution for this.

Look at what you have: machine is perfect except it will not display on the internal display.

When it first became apparent, the display was...

I know what you mean. HDDs are way too unreliable to trust as a primary backup, and yet they are also way too big to be backed up economically (timewise and DVD-wise).

Obviously, call centres only deal with problems, so you don't get to hear about all the satisfied customers, but from the moment machines started being sold in the stores with 200GB drives there were...

You can't really narrow it down any more than you have!

PSU error light with nothing else connected? So a PSU fault.

And you have extended warranty? You're covered for everything except...

Well, a message like that can't be any more specific!

You could try removing and redetecting the driver in the Device Manager to see if that resolves the issue.

Or you could download the...

In the UK, it would be repaired within days.

It depends on your retailer's support structure. Often, if retailers have their own technical support they repair under licence in 12 month warranty....

What card is it? It's not a Radeon, is it?

I'd agree. Do you have a spare card to test?

(Note: When you reply, post a new message in the thread rather than edit your original, because that way those involved get a notification :))

Holding in the power button on the tower would work whether it was in Windows or not - although if it didn't work at all then that would point to a definite problem.

The yellow standby light...

Does it give a blue screen just before it restarts?

Will it restart immediately after shut down?

Does your BIOS have a CPU temperature monitor in it?

Can you run a RAM test to check all...

Well, better a 50-day wait than no computer, period!

That's just bad service, of course, and I can't comment on it directly - not knowing the full details.

If we book out an engineer (or...

Ah. Well, under warranty you are quids in.

Unplug everything and let it stand for a few minutes - just the tower with nothing connected.

Plug in the mains and look at that led on the back.
...

The flashing light on the back is surely telling you there's a PSU problem? It is normally on steady, isn't it?

The problem with searching for answers to this sort of problem is that often a lot...

Get it tested at a store just to be safe.

Some one on here had a fiddle with a similar problem yesterday and their's just started working again. I believe he disconnected the hard disk and...

Yes, anything plugged into USB or network ports (or slots).

Shutting it down shouldn't have caused damage - but computers are funny things, and it might have. But it doesn't really matter now.
...

Remove power cord and anything else attached, take the battery out, insert power cord, and attempt to power up.

If it still does the same thing then it's usually the MOBO.

So you're running it with the side off?

I thought you said you'd tried that (swapped disks)? Ah well. It just goes to show.

I was going to say that before you write it off, get it checked at a PC store. You never know.

But now, if...

Sorry, that was me not reading things properly :(

The diags still apply, just that you can't do much about - for example - the graphics having popped. All roads lead to the MOBO, so to speak.
...

First thought is that it's not POSTing if it isn't booting from anything.... can it get to the BIOS?

Does it make a POST beep (only relevant if you know it ever did make one when it was working)?...

That's the kind of thing we look for if it's a choice between sending one or several components. But in this case, as you know the PSU is OK...

It's always tricky because there is the possibility...

I don't know if your machine is a branded model or a self build, but....

In our call centre we get a lot of problems with machines which either turn off (or are turned off) and then won't turn...

From what you have said, your PC isn't POSTing.

Has it ever worked? Or has it been like this from the first time you turned it on?

Go through the 'newly built PC' part of this thread:
...

That's one way, or some mobos have jumpers you can short to force reset to defaults.

Had one the other day and the woman's daughter had mangled the front USB by trying to plug a firewire into it (I think it was an iPod).

Pins and front metal surround all bent, and machine having...

USB damage can hold the whole machine down. We have had situations where engineers have been sent out with motherboards and it has been, for just one example (and there are others), the front USBs...

Read this thread:

http://www.daniweb.com/techtalkforums/thread27079.html

It gives useful troubleshooting tips for testing a newly assembled PC which won't boot. SHould help you pin down where...

Remember than inside 12 months they are probably covered by warranty...

In the UK, a little under £90.

http://www.studentcomputers.co.uk/laptop-battery/dell-laptop-battery-page-2.htm

Has it worked at all or are you building it now?

If we came up against this with a customer, we'd have to treat it as a motherboard issue of some sort.

If it was overheating that badly I'd expect there to be problems turning it back on...

First thought is as you say: video card or drivers.

The quickest and easiest way forward would be simply to run the recovery Dell supply and see if it still does it after that. If it does, it's...

If it used to beep and it doesn't now then it isn't POSTing.

Turn it off and unplug EVERYTHING. Leave it for a few minutes then plug the power cord in. Turn it on and see what happens.

If it...

Jigoro, do you get a blue screen for a split second when it restarts?

How did you clean it out? Vacuuming is a bad idea because it generates static, and computers and static don't get on well. Can be even worse if you leave things plugged into the back.

To start...

When you go to BIOS what does it show as system time and date? Were those correct?