Unsolved
5 Posts
1
1145
Dimension 8300, diagnostic lights won't stop blinking
I have a 2003 Dell Dimension 8300. Yesterday when I tried to turn it on, it won't send any video and the diagnostic lights won't stop blinking. The lights blink YYGG, which according to the manual, it should be a problem with memory modules. But, I have four 1GB modules and I removed them all and tested one by one to no avail. Anyway i think the YYGG light should be solid not blinking. Please help. anything else i could check? Maybe the lights are not working?
thank you so much in advance.
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
47K Posts
0
July 30th, 2018 07:00
Its time to buy a new machine.
I would recommend WINDOWS 7
https://www.walmart.com/ip/463373968
VS XP
https://www.walmart.com/ip/803416719
Jvillarrealn1970
5 Posts
0
July 30th, 2018 08:00
Hello SpeedStep,
any other ideas besides the obvious. You are totally right, it deserves a replacement. the thing is, that i've already upgraded it with more memory, more hard drive, Windows 7, and it worked just fine.
The other real problem for not replacing it is the wife factor :). I already have another newer Optiplex, and i can't just buy another PC you know (LOL). So if this is something simple to replace, i'd like to know. I use this "low cost, low specs PC" for my astrophotography rig upstairs.
thanks for your quick reply
Javier.
Jvillarrealn1970
5 Posts
0
July 30th, 2018 08:00
hello Chris,
Two very good suggestions, what i did was to remove all 4 memory modules and tried each one on the 1st socket. but didn't work. i'll see if i can test them on another PC.
Also, i have several new CR2032 batteries, i'll try swapping that and report back.
Question, it is not "normal" that the diagnostic lights keep on blinking forever right?, they should display a solid pattern, correct?.
thanks so much for replying
Javier
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
•
54.2K Posts
0
July 30th, 2018 08:00
I have never heard of the diagnostic LEDs just failing. I would start by replacing the CMOS CR2032 battery. You can find them locally. Then retest. Can you test all four 1GB modules in another PC to verify that they function correctly?
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
•
54.2K Posts
0
July 31st, 2018 06:00
Correct, I do not see "blinking" in the chart.
Jvillarrealn1970
5 Posts
0
July 31st, 2018 06:00
Hello Chris
I changed the battery and got a solid YYGG pattern, so according to the chart it indicates bad memory. it is very strange since i have four 1GB and i have tried each one on the first socket, and none of them make the PC boot.
it is strange that all of them became bad. i'll try to get a "clean" module and test with that.
any other ideas?... thank you
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
47K Posts
0
July 31st, 2018 08:00
The power supply is pulsing on and off which is why the diag lights are blinking. It is never normal for these lights to blink. At a minimum your power supply is BAD. Newer PFC units DO NOT APPLY to this system. It must use a NON PFC unit. This unit along with Optiplex 260, 270, 280 have another issue with Bad Capacitors. This became EOL in 2008.
HIGH DENSITY or ECC or Buffered Ram DOES NOT WORK ON these units. You did not say the part number / markings on the ram.
There is no sense in talking about Booting if you cannot F2 into bios.
Jvillarrealn1970
5 Posts
0
July 31st, 2018 08:00
Hello SpeedStep,
the memory had been working correctly for many years. they are PC2700 non-ecc.
what i don't know about, is the power supply, can you point me out to a replacement one that would work?.
thank you so much,
Javier
speedstep
8 Wizard
8 Wizard
•
47K Posts
0
July 31st, 2018 10:00
This unit is SOO OLD that Startech does not make the replacements anymore. The cost however is a waste considering you can get a GX620 with PCI-E vidoe or better for that amount.
ATXPW400DELL
http://www.tigerdirect.com/applications/searchtools/item-Details.asp?EdpNo=4276627
The ATXPW400DELL is compatible with standard ATX style versions of the following:
There are still a few of the 350's
https://www.amazon.com/StarTech-com-ATX12V-Computer-Connector-ATX2POWER350/dp/B000FHGW8W
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
43.5K Posts
0
July 31st, 2018 11:00
Did you press/hold power button for ~30 sec after unplugging PC and removing the motherboard battery? Then strip it down to 1 RAM module in slot 1 (closest to CPU), and only then reinstall the battery and attempt to boot.
If you didn't do that, the error might not have been cleared in BIOS and it won't recognize the change in the amount of installed RAM (4 GB>1GB). So you still might get the YYGG error.
You might give that a try before going any further...