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Flashing Power button

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jediwarrior

jediwarrior

IS-IT--Management
May 19, 2004
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Hi all,
I have a Dell dimension E310 and I lost the video one day, and found that that it is integrated onto the MOBO. Unable to install a video card, and the computer will not accept any, I got me another MOBO, and hooked it all up exactly the way it came apart. I got exactly the same board as the old one.
so now I get the amber light on the power button that continously flashes.
What may have caused this problem?
I did forget to install the processor the first time, and of course nothing happened. So when I put it in is when the flashing started. I took the processor out and plugged it in and I still get the flashing light.
The board number is CN-0JC474-48111-58K-03YE.
Please let me know if maybe I did something wrong.

Thanks,
Jediwarrior
 
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Those that I've had with flashing lights were having problems getting standby power up steady to be able to power up.

Several people posting here have had the problem with bulging capacitors.

You could let it sit there flashing for a while to see if it eventually makes it up.

Ed Fair
Give the wrong symptoms, get the wrong solutions.
 
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Did you verify that all jumper on the MB where the same?
Are you sure you installed the CPU right?




This is a Signature and not part of the answer, it appears on every reply.

This is an Analogy so don't take it personally as some have.

Why change the engine if all you need is to change the spark plugs.


 
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Hi all,
I did make sure that the pins were all in the same place as the old mobo, and there is only one way the processor will fit in place. It has slots so you can't get it wrong.I'm glad for that, have you seen all the pins in there???

I'll try to let it sit for awhile and charge up the capacitors, and see if this works. Thanks for your inputs, it helps me to know that I am doing some things right.

Jediwarrior
 
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Checked Dell site. Flashing amber indicates possible internal power problem.
Click to expand...


Please note this is not an "official" Dell site. Searching the Dell site under Dimension E310, the keyword amber has NO results (!).

We've seen the "Dell flashing amber" situation here before, sometimes a replacement PSU fixes the problem. I also remember a post where it was the hard drive causing power errors. Maybe try booting into BIOS w/o HDD attached, see what happens.

Tony

Users helping Users...
 
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For me a flashing amber pwr switch on a dell is fixed by replacing the PSU 99% of the time.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein
 
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Jedi,
You need to check the E310 manual on Dell's site. When something's wrong, the lights will flash an error code that you have to decipher. It's all in the "diagnostic lights" section of the manual.



~cdogg
"Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results." - Einstein
[tab][navy]For posting policies, click [/navy]here.
 
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I had the flashing problem also on a E310. Caused after power to my home went out. Fixed after replacing CMOS battery and reseating power connection to the motherboard.
 
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I did some more troubleshooting, and I removed EVERYTHING from the board, the first thing that I plugged in was the 12v connector, and the power light started flashing. so I unplugged it, and put everything else back on the board, and the light never flashed...UNTIL I plugged the 12v connector back in again, then it started flashing again.
I think I may have been given a bad MOBO. :(
I also removed the processor and put it back in. I think I may have to purchase another one.

Jediwarrior
 
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We had one workstation (an IBM Z-Pro Intellistation) that did this. It drove us all crazy until it was discovered that the engineer whose workstation is was had built a self-designed powered USB hub out of a bucket of parts he had laying around. Whenever it was plugged into a USB port, the power and disc lights on the IBM would glow, even with the system shutdown. Seems that with how he wired it, the IBM didn't like +5v being applied to the USB port... He said he thought that something was funny since the Frankenstein-USB hub "never quite worked right".....

You've GOT to have sense of humor to do this job....

Mike, The IT Guy.

If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you can read this in English, thank a veteran!
 
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I think your power supply unit is bad.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein
 
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and put everything else back on the board, and the light never flashed...UNTIL I plugged the 12v connector back in again
Click to expand...

Ummm... yeah... it didn't flash because you didn't have any power yet. ;)

I'm agreeing with BadFrog. I'd try a different power supply.



Just my 2¢
-Cole's Law: Shredded cabbage

--Greg
 
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Just had the same type of scenario (but with an Optiplex G620) - amber light blinking behind the power button and it was the power supply.

 
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Being a Dell this could be indicative of a Heat Warning. Are the fans running really hard?

I would suggest checking the BIOS for the Heat Monitoring. Normally there are some settings.

There are lots of things that can go wrong. Make sure the fans are spinning in an unimpeded manner.

If you do not like my post feel free to point out your opinion or my errors.
 
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