XPS 8900, power on problem

Version of Windows?

Can we assume the new PSU has wattage adequate for this system?

If using a power strip, surge protector or UPS, remove those and connect PC directly to a known working outlet.

Did you recently install any updates, eg, BIOS, drivers or other software?

Reboot and immediately press F12. Look for option to run diagnostics and run all of them, especially RAM and extended hard drive tests. Copy error message(s), if any...

Do you have a small (32-GB) SSD in this PC that's used as a cache for Windows, or any other RAID setup with 2 hard drives?

Thanks so much for the reply.

I have not run those bios diagnostics. . . I will give that a shot.

As for power cords - - -yes, I have swapped cords and outlets once or twice even before putting in the new PSU. The new PSU is rated for 760w, so I don't think that is the problem.

Software: I am running Win10 from MS installation media; Ran the fall update 2 months ago. The spring update got jammed on me in the last day  - - - after the current problems started. I saw it coming, so I prepared. The update ran slow, but ran all the way through. The machine was warm booted 3-4 times during the process.  Since the new software went in. . .no change.

Firmware: I think there is new firmware for the 8900 I-5's floating out there? Don't know. . .have not updated the bios.

I will try the diagnostics next time I can.  Pretty sure I ran a boot test without the HDD or optical drive; but I can try that again.  The RAM is not original, but has been in the system since last July. It "posts" properly . . .but I hear you on diagnostics.  Is this a likely culprit? I have the old ram sticks. . . I can swap them out. I even can swap out to a different HD to see what happens.

The power button behavior (i.e. never pressing it) is bugging me. 

As an aside; 

Don't make any hardware changes until we see what the F12 diagnostics have to say, especially about the HDD... Otherwise you 'll just complicate things even further.

And what was your "As an aside; " ?

The "aside" was an editing error on my part. Sorry about that!

I will be at the troubled XPS8900 tonight, and will let you know what the diagnostics turnup. 

Thanks for your help.

^- - - my system behavior was just like Mikes.

So -

- - - pulled the CMOS battery and the plug; let the power drain. Reinstalled and booted up WITHOUT the power to either the HDD or DVD drive. No change. . . . .system automatically went through a short 1-2 second power up (and failed) three times. On the fourth time, the system booted to the bios screen and reported "no HDD". . .and wouldn't let me progress with any tests.

So -

- - -pulled the CMOS battery and the plug; let the power drain. Reinstalled CMOS battery, put power to HDD and DVD drive. Upon plugging in. . .. .system automatically went through a short 1-2 second power up (and failed) three times. On the fourth time, the system booted to the bios screen (since I had pulled the CMOS battery) and I ran the diagnostics.

There appears to be two sets of diagnostics.. . . a short set which tests DVD, HDD, RAM etc; - - - > which reported *no problems*.  It then gave me the option to run a longer test (estimated time: 9+ hours).  I began that test. . . and after 30 minutes, was still running.  I will report back results later tonight.

Odd.

An out of the box thought:  I see that BIOS is set to go to "last state" upon restoration of power. (i.e. restart if the PC was running; stay off it the PC was not running).  I wonder if there is a counter mis-set, or not getting reset. I have not had a normal "push start button and PC boots up" since this mess started. The times I have gotten windows to load was AFTER going through the CMOS battery pull routine, going through the BIOS screen, and letting the system boot from there.   I will try setting this BIOS option to boot the machine upon restoring system power.  

The plot thickens:

Shortstory: There is a Bios setting that controls behavior after power failure (i.e. pulling the plug). I changed this from "off" to "on". (There is also a "last state" option). This completely changes behavior; and allows boot (if capacitors are drained).  

**NOTE: I have not been in the BIOS for a very long time before this**

LongStory;

0) Looking into the drivers, I suspect I have not updated any dell drivers since I loaded Windows 10 in late 2015. Current firmware is 2.0.1. (Dell support software was not loaded until today). From reading other threads. . . I think I will stay away from 2.2.1

1) I have now completed the UEFI BIOS diagnostics that I started this morning.  They all passed. I also ran HDD diagnostics from the HDD manufacturer: HDD passed.

2) Did more diagnostics on power behavior; With AC power fail set to "Off"

2a) The computer will  do a warm reboot fine (from startmenu, click restart, computer shutsdown and reboots fine)

2b) The computer will not do a cold reboot (From startmenu, click shutdown: Computer shuts down but can't be restarted normally. Must pull CMOS battery)

2c) The computer will LAUGH at a hard reboot. (With computer running, push power button, *no discernable impact whatsoever*)

3) Did more diagnostics on power behavior; With AC power fail set to "On"

3a) The computer will  do a warm reboot fine.

3b) The computer will not do a cold reboot, *unless you give time to allow power to drain from capacitors*  (From startmenu, click shutdown: Computer shuts down but can't be restarted for a period of time. . . CMOS battery can remain in place). Note: I don't think the startbutton works in this scenario: You must pull plug on the PC to force startup. 

4c) The computer will LAUGH at a hard reboot. (With computer running, push power button, *no discernable impact whatsoever*)

4d) Computer will reboot after you pull the plug.

Path Forward:

Good Gosh?? This is . . . unsettling.

I believe I can make do with the current state of affairs. . the machine runs.  The new power supply I bought actually has an on/off on it. . .so I don't really have to "pull the plug". So my procedure is to "shutdown normally, then turnoff the power supply". It will restart upon turning on the power supply??

The on/off button is now useless?

I have been prowling google. I found another thread from 2017 in this forum. . . describes the same odd power button behavior. They called it a motherboard flaw. Not sure I disagree.

Should I consider a bios upgrade? I won't do the current 2.2.1 version (too many threads containing the word "brick"). . .but I would consider an older version (still newer than the 2.0.1 I am running).

I was strongly considering a SSD upgrade to the system. . . .It serves me well. Now I am not sure I want to invest in this box.

Other thoughts appreciated.

Don't update BIOS now. You'll only complicate things even more...

Have you checked the cable connections from the power-button connector (F_PANEL1) (#9 on page 16, here) to the front panel, at both ends? And I guess it's possible that cable, or the power button or the front I/O panel has malfunctioned.

Are you sure the CMOS battery is any good, even if recently replaced?

Have you checked the Power Button settings options in Windows to make sure the button is enabled, and not set to "do nothing" or "sleep"? 

Might not be surprising you have to wait a bit between turning the PSU off and then on again before the Auto Reboot after power failure will sense the outage and kick in.

FWIW, I have my Dell desktop connected to a power strip with its own power switch and BIOS is set to Auto Reboot after a power failure. After shutting down normally in Windows, I turn the strip off which also turns off the monitor and printers. When I turn the strip on, everything powers up and PC boots, all at the same time with just that one switch. So what you're doing is a very reasonable workaround, and I'm just being lazy.

Questions are easy, it's the fix that's hard. :Surprise:

Does the LED inside the power button actually light up when you boot to the desktop, and what color is it and steady or blinking?

Do other features/functions on the front and top panels work correctly, eg media card reader and media card reader light, USB ports, mic and audio out ports, etc?

BTW: The service manual gives instructions to remove/replace the power button module, if you're willing to invest any money...

Ron;

Power button LED functions normally. It is white when on; blinks out Orange in correct codes when I mis-wire power cables or disconnect hard drives.

Just checked a USB reader on front and one of the USB's: They work.

In a few days, I will look into replacing the power button; or at least checking it out further. I think I saw it's only about $30?

I am still strongly considering installing a SSD because. . . I am crazy.  In part; it's been a year or two since I did a clean Win10 install (probably three years, when I got this machine). It's time to do it again.

I see refurbished XPS 8900 power button modules on eBay for ~$15 with free shipping, and new ones for ~$20 with free shipping so shop around.

Just keep in mind I cannot guarantee that replacing the button module will solve the problems...

And if it were me, I'd hold off on an SSD until I was sure the PC was going to recover fully from its current illnesses before investing a lot of $ in it. My 2-cents...

I understand that your advice is based on something referred to as "common sense".

I really don't have a good grip on that concept.

The SSD is likely to be relatively inexpensive. . .and would be utilized in another box if this machine goes kaput. So I am not too worried. The real bad investment was the Power Supply that I bought (in a huff) when this drama started. Honestly, I spent more on that than I will on the SSD.

If you're convinced the old PSU still works, I guess you could reinstall it and sell the new one on eBay. Or maybe just sell the old one as "used/working" (assuming it is)...

Post back if you replace the power button module and let us know if that solves the problems. Your results could help other users who might encounter similar probs.

Hope you don't have any more dramas that force you to spend $, if you don't have to... :Wink: