Blinking Amber Light/PSU Help?

Question

A long time ago my computer (Dell Dimension 2400 bought in 2002) did this, then no problems until now----   Friday: When I hit the power button - it blinks amber for a long time and never boots up. If hold in the power button it stops blinking. I took the cover off, reseated the cars the manual said to reseat and still blinking amber until BAM. It turned on after blinking amber for about 30 seconds. Thinking it was a freak thing... I didn't do much.    Saturday/Sunday: Fine   Last night (Monday): Blinking Amber. This time it never turned on. I reseated the memory card again, made sure everything was secured (didn't dare unplug anything) and after a while of only blinking amber, then it wouldn't even blink or respond.   A computer whiz friend came over and looked at it, reseated a lot of connectors, and is bringing back a power supply thing tonight to see if it works. If not and I have to get a new power supply- do I have to get it from Dell, or what is a good relatively affordable PSU?   Thanks.

DELL-Jesse L · Answer

MJTlg, Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum. You can call the Dell Spare Parts Department at 1-800-372-3355 to purchase a power supply.

DELL-Jesse L · Answer

MJTlg, I only work in support and do not have access to any price information. You would just have to call that department to get the quote.

MJTIg · Answer

Thanks.. I'll call Dell India.

MJTIg · Answer

Jesse, How much do those cost including shipping and handling?

shesagordie · Answer

MJTIg.   As the D-2400 has an open back, you can install most standard generic ATX power supplies in this system.   Bev.

MJTIg · Answer

Thanks everyone... so uh.. I came home after dinner to find my computer on and booted up. :smileyindifferent: The only time I ever might have touched it is if I halfheartedly pushed the power button this morning before I left for work at 7:30am. I don't remember even seeing the light blink.

My internet connection says its been on since 11am this morning... it turns on when my computer turns on. So why would it suddenly turn on in the middle of the day unless it took 4 hours from when I pushed it (if I did) this morning to boot????

PDavison · Answer

I have a 2400 that has the same blinking amber light problem or sometimes the PC does nothing at all when pressing the power button. Two days ago I replaced the power supply and yesterday the PC powered off while my daughter was using it. I came home from work and it was sitting there with the power light blinking amber. I unplugged the power cable, came back later, plugged it in, and it worked fine. I expect it to keep acting up, but I don't know what the problem is. The troubleshooting section of the Dell manual mentions reseating RAM and expansion cards: I have no cards and I've previously pulled/reseated the RAM. There isn't much left except the motherboard, and I refuse to pay for a new one, so this PC will probably end up in my attic collecting dust.   I suspect something other than the power supply since I've replaced it. I pulled a supply from another case I had sitting around that I was no longer using and it dropped right into place. Don't buy a supply from Dell unless you like paying extra $$. Search via Google for one. I used 'Dell Dimension 2400 Power Supply' and found numerous places that sell supplies that work in the 2400. Alternatively you could remove the supply (takes about 3 minutes), go to your local PC store and find one that will work.

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Blinking Amber Light/PSU Help?

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