COMPUTER WONT START... HELP

Make sure when you unplug the power, that you also disconnect the monitor, etc as well as they can transfer voltage indirectly back into the unpluged PC.  You can try it, but from what you are describing, I'll be surprised if it works.

I've seen PC's make it through worse, however.  (Don't even get me started about the one with holes burned through the motherboard.)

Well, assuming there wasn't some coincidental allignment of the stars and that you didn't take a bat to your case when the lights where out, it sounds like your PC took a power surge and died.

Usually it will be the power supply, motherboard, or both that is gone.  Usually the other parts will still work to some extent.  Assuming your PC is out of warrenty and you have the GX270 tower (there are several different case sizes) and you can figure out on your own what went bad:

-You can replace the power supply with a HiPro ATX power supply of about 300 watts or better with either a 20pin or 20+4 power connector (24 won't work).  Compare the power supply to the back of your 270 to make sure it will fit, the sheet metal backing of the 270 tends to block the power outlet and/or the power switch on most supplies.  The one that came in your dell in the first place was almost certainly a 250 watt rebranded HiPro (something like HP-250XXX for the model number)

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817174025

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.asp?Item=N82E16817174019

(Edit:  I just notices that there is a power switch in an inconvientent spot on the 400 W power supply that would require cutting away some of the fan grill on the case to work.  The one with the highest power rating I could find that looks like it would fit without modification is a "IBM" HiPro someone is selling on ebay, rated at 340W.)

-You can typically find a replacement motherboard, however for the 270 it will need to be a Dell specific Foxconn motherboard because of little slots in the motherboard specifically for mounting on Dell's motherboard tray.

If you have one of the smaller form factors, that's pretty much it unless you can find a used unit to scrap for parts or build a new PC using what parts that do work from your old one and will fit in a generic case.

Message Edited by FFXJCE on 06-15-200607:17 AM

Did you check for bulging capacitors around the processor socket? The GX270 is known (check the boards here for confirmation) to have serious problems with bad capacitors.

If not, disconnect everything from the outside/back, then open the system. Disconnect all drives (power and data cables), remove all PCI and AGP cards, if it's a desktop model, pull out the riser. Then remove the memory.

Now plug in only the power cable, nothing else. Try to power up the system. If it's still blinking amber on the powerled, you're likely looking at a motherboard and/or powersupply issue.

If however it goes to solid amber and beeps at you (1-3-2 beep code) and the backpanel diagnostic leds show Green-Amber-Amber-Amber (see here), it's telling you it's not finding memory.

This would be expected, but the main thing is that it's doing what it's supposed to in this state. If it does get the beeps and such, add 1 stick of memory (powered down w/o power cable connected obviously), then plug in only the monitor (onboard video) and power cable and power up the system.

If you get a picture, start adding 1 part at a time till you find the source of your problem.

I have this same issue on multiple systems after power outages. (I currently have about 40 of these gx270 in my network) This is a power supply issue as on some systems that I went ahead and replaced the motherboard due to blown capacitors it still does the same thing at power on. I have found that if you keep pressing the start button and then holding it and re-pressing it, it will eventually settle down and power on correctly... you can also turn it on and unplug the back cable and replug it back in just before it dies until it turns on eventually. Only other option is to replace the power supply. If your computer is out of warranty, I would buy a good aftermarket brand with 350W+, note that these motherboards are the older 20pin. (You will have to cut-away some of the back metal to fit most power supplies, no biggie)

Remember to use a UPS in the future, a smart-UPS if you can afford it.

Hope this helps...