Dimension 4700 - Weird Problem - Dead

Question

I need help... fast. I was planning in fully upgrade my Dell Dimension 4700, until now. It had an ATI Radeon X700 PCI-E video card, but only 256MB of RAM and 80GB of HDD. So, I removed the video card (uninstalled it first) and set it aside so I could install it to my friends faster, better machine. I did everything that has to be done, I unplugged the whole computer, opened the cover carefully, touched metal on the inside chasis of the computer etc. etc. After that, I closed the slot's opening (the metal band that is on the chasis so no dust gets in there) and closed the computer. I plugged the whole computer and I pressed the power button... absolutely nothing happened. It acts as if it is not connected. I opened the cover and I noticed that the little green LED in the motherboard was not turned on. What's happening??? Is it the power supply? I disconnected and checked that the DC cables of the power supple are properly connected. Still nothing. I even installed the video card again, and nothing! Please I need help!   Thanks a million!

ceri sheeran · Answer

Hi,

What is the status and colour of the four daignostic LED's on the rear of the casing??

Any beep codes??

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4700/sm/adtshoot.htm#wp1043338

Check the power socket actually works.

Try a different power cable

Can you get into BIOS, do you get the POST screen messages.

Any fans running

Take anti static precautions and

Check the security of all cables, particularly PSU cable to motherboard.

hth

Ceri

samus250 · Answer

I can't do anything with the computer. The diagnostic LEDs are turned off, no beeps, no fans running, I can't get into BIOS, I took anti static precautions, and I checked every single cable. It's exactly like when it isn't connected to the power. The power socket should work (it worked fine a couple of minutes before uninstalling the card). I don't know what's happening. The power supply should be fine (never had problems with that) but I don't have any other power supply to check... Any other suggestions?

ceri sheeran · Answer

Hi,

Plug any normal device into the wall power socket to check it is working.

Try using a different wall power socket

Try a new power cable.

Try a BIOS reset usiing instructions on the technical pages on the earlier link.

Ceri

samus250 · Answer

It is so weird... All I did was take out the video card... Well thanks a lot, I'll try changing the power supply (maybe the video card was killing the tiny 300 watt power supply, just thinking...).

Thanks!

ceri sheeran · Answer

Hi,

You would not be the first and will not be the last person to kill a computer by taking it apart, even when, observing anti static precautions.

If you leave the computer off and turn on the monitor, do you get a no signal message.

If so replace the cable between monitor and computer.

Try your monitor on another pc and your pc with another monitor.

Try stripping the machine out, leaving

C: hard drive

Graphics Card

no other PCI cards or other drives CD or DVD

Even try just booting from a floppy drive if you have a floppy disk drive installed.

hth

Ceri

ceri sheeran · Answer

Hi,

No diagnostic LED, no fans, no motherboard LED, would all indicate that your Power Supply has failed.

Replace with a compatible unit from somewhere like power supplies and cooling

http://www.pcpowercooling.com/products/viewproduct.php?show=S47D

If you've tried known or proven working poswer sockets then there is little left to eliminated.

Do you have a surge protector or UPS that may have tripped and need resetting.

Ceri

samus250 · Answer

...

I tried it all. I plugged devices in the wall power socket to make sure it is working, I used another wall power socket (even though the same one worked) and i tried a different power cable. But, how do you reset the BIOS? I looked at the technical page in the earlier link but couldn't find it.

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Dimension 4700 - Weird Problem - Dead

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