won't power up, PWR-AUX LED: ON, solid Amber)

Question

Hoping to troubleshoot Dell XPS model D14M (as on label, bottom outside surface of case)
* MB Aux-pwr LED: on, solid amber
* No other LED is on (including Power ON/Off button)
* power supply green LED: Off
* cycling Power On/Off button does nothing (nothing activated or changed)
* previously recommended depression of Power button for 15s (with power cord IN or OUT) does nothing
* depressing (continuously) P/S diagnostic button (back surface of case) results in:
- Fan goes ON
- P/S Green LED goes on. also hear transient sounds associated with disk drive engagement.
* Releasing P/S pushbutton: all of the above activities go OFF... Back to MB LED on, steady amber.

THANK YOU

JOcean · Answer

It sounds like you have either an XPS 8700 or 8900 but that is a guess. From your post it would seem to indicate that the PS is fine (solid amber and fans on with other activity when the PSU button is pressed). Try disconnecting everything from the PSU except the MB and try to boot. Also did you make any changes or add any hardware when this occurred? Was the system working fine with no issues when this happened? If removing the power from all but the MB has no effect try removing all the RAM and see if you get a beep signal indicating that the MB detects no RAM. If nothing happens it could mean a bad MB.

Now just because the PSU test would seem to indicate it is working properly, there is a chance that the PSU is bad.

millerca · Answer

Thanks for your reply. No modifications. However, there n  was a thunder storm with some line voltage fluctuations, observed in the room lights

RoHe · Answer

When was last time you replaced the motherboard battery?

And if you had t'storms, you may also need to clear BIOS:

Power off, unplug
Press/hold power button for ~15 sec
Open case and remove motherboard battery. (Check Service Manual for details.)
If you don't know exact PC model, enter your Service Tag on the Support site, but don't post it here.
Press/hold power button for ~30 sec
Install fresh battery (CR2032 3-volt coin cell battery, ~$2)
Close up and connect mouse, monitor and keyboard
Reboot

Does that fix it?

speedstep · Answer

xps 8700_owner's manual  D14M  is an XPS 8700.  If new DL2032 Cmos battery doesn't help the Power supply has given up the ghost. Power Supply BIST (Built in self Test) Recommended replacement is EVGA 700BR 100-BR-0700-K1 or EVGA 800B  110-BQ-0850-V1  ONLY buy direct from evga or retail like best buy as they are often counterfeited

millerca · Answer

Hello. I'm sorry, but I did not completely answer a previous question. That's addressed below.

Replaced the 2032 battery; no change.

Then, as previously suggested, disconnected cables to disk memory and drive (within the case, but peripheral to the MB), then retried main on/off; no change.

Then, disconnected the SIMM cards and then retried; no audible "beep" heard.

So, by the previous post, it's a bad MB? Are their additional tests of the PSU, such as probing for voltages at test points?

RoHe · Answer

@millerca What was the result of the BIST test? You'd need to know the normal voltages for the various pins on the connector from PSU that plugs into the motherboard. Might be easier just to try a different PSU, if you have one available.

Typically, with no RAM modules installed and you don't hear any beeps from inside the tower, that suggests a motherboard failure. But you might get the same result if the PSU has failed and can't provide enough power to motherboard even for it to beep about the lack of RAM.

RoHe · Answer

And one more thing..it's possible the front power button module failed which could give you the same symptoms as failed PSU or failed motherboard.

XPS 8700 has a history of failed power button modules...

speedstep · Answer

@millerca  Paperclip Test should determine if the front power button is bad. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=buPMx9dw0LU This is why I recommend EVGA 850B because they come with power supply Tester instead of paperclip tester.  evga 110-BQ-0850-V1 https://www.ebay.com/itm/234406768896

XPS Desktops

won't power up, PWR-AUX LED: ON, solid Amber)

D14M is an XPS 8700. If new DL2032 Cmos battery doesn't help the Power supply has given up the ghost.

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