Blinking Yellow Power Button

Question

I seem to have a sporadic power problem.  It started last Saturday.  When I flip the power on my power strip and hit the power button the computer doesn't do anything and the power button blinks yellow.  The first time it happened I simply turned the power off and back on and no problem.  But Saturday evening it did the same thing and no matter what I did I couldn't get the computer to start.  I looked in the manual and it said that indicated a power problem to the CPU.  I opened up the case and checked all of the connections.  Nothing.   The next morning the computer started fine.  I decided to call Dell and report the problem.  They instructed me to run the complete diagnostics and call back if the problem returned.  The diagnostics turned up no errors.  Everything seemed fine until this morning.  Same thing, it didn't power on.  I came home from work today and the computer started up just fine???   Anybody have any experience with this?  Does this indicate Power Supply, Motherboard, CPU problems?

esandstrom · Answer

Forgot to mention.  This is a Dimension 8400.  3.2 Ghz, 1 Gig Memory, ATI 800SE.

ejn63 · Answer

It's either the power supply or the mainboard - though try reseating the RAM first.

shesagordie · Answer

esandstrom.   A  flashing amber power button LED, usually means the PSU is receiving the proper input voltage, but is having an output failure, check to see if the 12v connector is not connected or loose and if this fails to correct the problem, then contact Dell to replace the PSU under warranty.   Bev.

danjane · Answer

You might want to read this thread and see if it applys to you. http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=dim_other&message.id=212055

esandstrom · Answer

Interesting thread.  Sounds similar to my situation except my computer has never died while it was running.  So far mine only occurs after it has been off overnight and it wont start up at all.  My computer was built back in September.  Seems like there was a bad batch of power supplies, although I see some people had to get new motherboards also.  So far Dell wont do anything with my computer since I haven't called them when the computer wasn't working.  I will call them the next time it happens.

esandstrom · Answer

My computer went downhill and got to the point that it would rarely start up.  After troublshooting the computer with Dell, they agreed to send out a new power supply.  The new powersupply has been in for a couple days now and so far no problems.  Hopefully this corrected my problem.

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Blinking Yellow Power Button

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