Desktop will only power up some of the time?

[Mateo1041]

Hi everyone,

A client of mine has a problem with his Dell desktop computer where it will only power up some of the time. When it doesn't work, it seems the lights inside the case (including power button light) are dim or flickery. No amount of pushing the power button off and on will help. The system just sits there idle.

The only consistent way to fix it is to do the following:

1) Hold the power button in for 10 seconds (this causes the dim lights to turn off).
2) Unplug the system for 30 seconds.
3) Replug the system and wait a few seconds.
4) Push power button and it will turn on like normal with all the bells and whistles.

It will then not work again after powering down. A few more anomolies include a strange noise emanating from the CPU fan (I'm assuming that's what's inside the ugly green tunnel covering that Dell uses) at times. The system has also gone idle like described above after just rebooting (instead of powering off completely), but it only happens some of the time.

I'm looking to get this computer fixed for him. Any ideas on what hardware would need to be replaced? I'm guessing either the power supply or CPU fan. Maybe the system isn't starting because the fan isn't turning on like it should?

I know power supplies can be purchased in any computer store, but are CPU fans fairly generic?

Thanks!

- Matt.

Blue Web Studios, LLC

http://www.BlueWebStudios.com

 

[BadBigBen]

Sounds more like the PSU...

but on DELLs, you should double check just incase they do not use a proprietary PSU (meaning one made just for DELLS)...

HS FAN can be also lead to a similar problem, albeit I have never seen a PC to just hang there (The way you had described it)... they usually turn on then turn off completely, when the CPU Thermal sensor detects that the CPU overheats, or do not turn on at all when the CPU HSFAN sensor does not detect any rpms...

Hope this helps a bit...

Ben

"If it works don't fix it! If it doesn't use a sledgehammer..."

 

[RCorrigan]

Is the unit under warranty ????

Take note of the service atg number and go to Dell site ..... if it is throw it back at them smartish, don't waste time problem solving when they will replace parts till it works !!!!!!!

If it's not under warranty, take a note of the service tag, check out the original config, see if anything has been added and check them first (as quite poss not Dell kit !!!)

Good Luck


<Do I need A Signature or will an X do?>

 

[Mateo1041]

Thanks for your quick replies! No, the unit is no longer under warranty that I'm aware of.

Guess I'll call Dell as a first step to help diagnose the problem and then replace the power supply. Hope that's the problem as it would be an easy fix.

From what I can tell, it just looks like not enough power is getting through until things are unplugged and replugged.

Blue Web Studios, LLC

http://www.BlueWebStudios.com

 

[BadFrog]

Check the capacitors on the motherboard to see if they are bloated and/or leaking. If so then the motherboard needs replacing. It is also not uncommon for the power supply to up and die after you replace the motherboard, I'm still not sure why the power supplies on the Dell's do this??? If this happens to be a Dell Optiplex GX270 then I'm 99.9% sure that is the problem.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein

 

[Mateo1041]

Yes, it is a Dell Optiplex GX270. It looks like replacing the power supply will likely do the trick then. Everything else is original hardware for the most part, so it's probably on its last leg. I'll report back with the results in the next day or two.

Blue Web Studios, LLC

http://www.BlueWebStudios.com

 

[BadFrog]

Did you check the capacitors like I suggested? The motherboard may be all that needs replaced. If the capacitors are bloated then replace the motherboard and that may be all you need to do. The power supply doesn't always go bad when the motherboard does.

"Once you can accept the universe as matter expanding into nothing that is something, wearing stripes with plaid comes easy"
Albert Einstein

 

[Mateo1041]

No, I didn't get a chance to. But I will in the next day or two when I head back. For some reason things were working fine again tonight with no power problems.

Thanks for the helpful suggestion!

Blue Web Studios, LLC

http://www.BlueWebStudios.com

 

[gbaughma]

I just replaced the Mobo on a GX270. Dell had a run of several MILLION bad capacitors... the ones on the Mobo I replaced were bloated and leaking rust-colored crap out of them.

It was shutting down, for no apparent reason, and on reboot said it "shut down due to a thermal incident" or something like that.

The 270's had a bad run of Mobos with bad caps. Check them; I'll bet it's your problem. (Good thinking, BadFrog...



Just my 2¢

"In order to start solving a problem, one must first identify its owner." --Me
--Greg