My problem turned out to be that the PC had being dropped in transit resulting in the front fascia cover pressing against the power button. This resulted in the power button being jammed.
I resolved the problem by loosening the screws that hold on the fascia and realigning it.
3 of the four screws that hold the fascia in place are accessible, but there is one that I can't get at, unless I apparently remove the fan and the shroud that covers the CPUs? Does that sound right?
Basically what had happened was that the button is all plastic, and the plastic acts as a hinge and spring to push the button "rod" to make contact with the actual teeny tiny little micro switch. I started taking parts out, in the same process you'd use to replace the system board (that's on an "assembly"). At some point it looked like I could wiggle one of the plastic face plates that frames the CD/DVD drives out, and then I saw there was a second plastic plate around the power button and system lights. I bent that da*&^%ed stupid metal face plate after finding there were still 2 more screws that I couldn't reach, just enough to slip out the second facing, and then put the whole thing back together again, without the button installed. With no faceplate over the power switch, you can take a pencil, and use the eraser side to click the power switch on.
The machine is really pretty long in the tooth now, so we'll be working on a replacement soon!
Still, if I had been able to easily remove the other large black panel, things might have gone a lot smoother... Lousy design for that particular part of the unit...
Barb is right, it is a mess just to get to the power button... without bending the front panel. I had to remove everything inside the machine except for a couple fans and some wires. That allowed me to remove the back panel, which allowed me to get to the last screw in the upper left of the panel. Now I have to figure out a way to fix the broken power button. This also showed me a lot of hidden dirt and one of the capacitors on the motherboard that is leaking and will probably fail soon. So all in all, it may have been good to get into the machine as much as I had to.
Barb is also right that the machine is getting kind of old, though mine still hums along pretty good.
barbgraj
31 Posts
0
June 25th, 2013 10:00
Did you ever figure out how to do this? I'm running into the same problem.
mutleyman087
1 Rookie
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44 Posts
0
June 25th, 2013 11:00
Hi
My problem turned out to be that the PC had being dropped in transit resulting in the front fascia cover pressing against the power button. This resulted in the power button being jammed.
I resolved the problem by loosening the screws that hold on the fascia and realigning it.
Hope this helps.
mutleyman087
1 Rookie
•
44 Posts
0
June 25th, 2013 11:00
Hi
Yes that sound about right. They are not the easiest screws to get at. Just take your time.
Please remember my problem was that the fascia was stopping the power on button from moving. . The button and associated components were working fine.
Whilst this could be your problem there is also the possibility that you power button and components have failed.
Let me know how you got on.
barbgraj
31 Posts
0
June 25th, 2013 11:00
3 of the four screws that hold the fascia in place are accessible, but there is one that I can't get at, unless I apparently remove the fan and the shroud that covers the CPUs? Does that sound right?
thanks!
barbgraj
31 Posts
0
June 25th, 2013 13:00
Whew! That was some kinda mess.
Basically what had happened was that the button is all plastic, and the plastic acts as a hinge and spring to push the button "rod" to make contact with the actual teeny tiny little micro switch. I started taking parts out, in the same process you'd use to replace the system board (that's on an "assembly"). At some point it looked like I could wiggle one of the plastic face plates that frames the CD/DVD drives out, and then I saw there was a second plastic plate around the power button and system lights. I bent that da*&^%ed stupid metal face plate after finding there were still 2 more screws that I couldn't reach, just enough to slip out the second facing, and then put the whole thing back together again, without the button installed. With no faceplate over the power switch, you can take a pencil, and use the eraser side to click the power switch on.
The machine is really pretty long in the tooth now, so we'll be working on a replacement soon!
Still, if I had been able to easily remove the other large black panel, things might have gone a lot smoother... Lousy design for that particular part of the unit...
MichaelM5
1 Message
0
May 4th, 2015 16:00
Barb is right, it is a mess just to get to the power button... without bending the front panel. I had to remove everything inside the machine except for a couple fans and some wires. That allowed me to remove the back panel, which allowed me to get to the last screw in the upper left of the panel. Now I have to figure out a way to fix the broken power button. This also showed me a lot of hidden dirt and one of the capacitors on the motherboard that is leaking and will probably fail soon. So all in all, it may have been good to get into the machine as much as I had to.
Barb is also right that the machine is getting kind of old, though mine still hums along pretty good.