Dimension 2350 won't power up

mdavis5424

Does the power supply fan on the back panel run?

If you are comfortable around computers, you could try the following to test the power supply.

Unplug the cord from the power supply, hold the power button in for about 15/20 seconds, open the case, unplug the 20-pin power connector from the motherboard and jump the Green wire to one of the Black wires, reconnect the power cord and power the system on and if power supply fan and hard drive run, then the PSU should be good.

Note: Do not remove any wires from the plug, use a small piece of wire or a paper clip as a jumper.

Power supply checks out and the system still does not work, again remove the power cord, hold power button in for several seconds to discharge the residue power, reconnect the 20-pin connector to the motherboard.

Remove all the PCI cards, the video card [if applicable], memory, all peripherals, disconnect the data and power cables to all the drives, check that the front panel cable is connected to motherboard, with nothing else connected to the system, reconnect the power cable and power the system on.

If you do not get any beep codes or diagnostic lights on the back panel, then it would appear that the motherboard has died.

Bev.

I recently upgraded to my fourth Dell machine, and took the Dimension 2350 out of service for a few months (not powered or with any peripherals connected). When I tried to plug it in and restart it for guest use, nothing happens -- no lights, no fans, nothing.

So I followed the advice above: First, using the jumper from green to black caused the fan to run and one of the CD drives to chatter.  I also replaced the cprom battery. Second, removed everything, and disconnected all devices, leaving only the connector from the start switch module plugged to the MB. (Plugged the 20-pin power back in) Still, no results. I noticed that a green LED on the MB next to the 20-pin blinks rapidly when the power cord is connected, in any condition.

Is this a pretty good sign that the MB is gone, or is there something else to try?

Thanks ---- Bill

parkx

Did you preform the following:

Removed all the PCI cards, the video card [if applicable], memory, all peripherals, disconnect the data and power cables to all the drives, check that the front panel cable is connected to motherboard, with nothing else connected to the system, reconnect the power cable and power the system on and  you do not get any beep codes or diagnostic lights on the back panel, then it would appear that the motherboard is dead.

Bev.

Thanks, Bev --- On closer inspection, I find there is an erratic flashing of diagnostic LED 'D' ( green) on the back panel, and seldom erratic flashing of the (amber) LEDs A, B, and C along with constant rapid flashing of the green LED on the MB next to the 20-pin power connector. Also, the cooling fan for the processor chip is running (I didn't notice it before - quiet), and the cooling fan for the power supply moves intermittently in sync with a chattering sound in the power supply - almost like it's getting intermittent power. Pressing the power button on the front of the unit has no effect on any of the above. Could this be a power supply problem?

NEW Development! While observing the above conditions, I pressed and held the power button, and everything stopped, except the green MB LED, now constant.  Then, I pressed the power button, and everything started - both fans, and the back-panel LEDs now show A (green), B,C,D (amber). I'm going to shut it down and reinstall everything and see what happens.

Any additional thoughts?

Thanks --- Bill

Bill.

GYYY diagnostic lights indicate a memory problem.

Go HERE for more info,.

Try opening the case, then remove and reinstall all the memory modules and see if this makes a difference.

Bev.

When I got the GYYY, there was no memory in the machine. When I put everything back, it's back to ground zero --- no nothing, except the rapidly flashing LED on the MB. Where can I get the pin-out diagram for the 20-pin plug (P1) so I can check voltages --- I at least want to verify the power supply is functioning (with grn to blk jumper installed).

Any idea what the green LED indicates?

I think there is a problem on this machine that will require expense to fix.  It's not worth it, unless I can find a cheap part (once I find out which one).  I don't  need the machine, having already replaced it, so now it's just a challenge to find the problem.

Thanks for your assistance.

---- Bill

Bill.

You can find the 2350 power supply's pin-outs and voltages HERE

The small LED on the motherboard is the 'motherboard Stand By Power Light' [aka flea Power], that indicates the motherboard is receiving power and should be either a steady light, or off, not blinking.

If you remove the power cord, hold power button in for several seconds to discharge the residual power, then the 'Stand By Light' should go off.

Bev.

Bev --- thanks for your prompt responses.  I  think I'm going to get a new power supply, after your explanations and reading some other entries to which you responded. Wouldn't cost much to  make the machine usable for a senior center computer room.

If this doesn't fix it, I'll 'part-out' the machine and scrap it in the next local electronics collection.

---- Bill

Bill.

You are welcome and good luck.   :emotion-21:

Bev.

As soon as I plug the computer in, the fans start, the dvd drive lights, and the hard drive activity light comes on.  The power light does not come on.  No beeps, and the diagnostic lights on back do not come on.  After about 30 seconds the hard disk Led goes out, but fans stay running.  Push and hold the power button and system shuts down, after that will not power back on.  I unplugged the computer, push and hold the power button, removed the cmos battery and moved the cmos jumper to the front pins.  moved cmos jumper back, replaced battery, plugged back in and same thing. Any suggestions what to try next?

I've had that kind of trouble with my 2350. When I first got it, it displayed similar symptoms. I removed one of the memory modules, reset the CMOS, and then restarted it. It then booted up, and I shut it down and put the second memory module back in. It worked fine.

I added a Sparkle 8400GS video card, Syba SATA card, 300gb Seagate SATA drive, and Pioneer Blu-ray optical drive, as well as 2gb RAM. Occasionally I had issues like that, which went away with the aforementioned fix. I am wondering if it is a BIOS corruption issue? Anyways, it is possible to get a 2350 working smoothly with all those goodies and Windows 7 as well.