Dell power problem

Question

I have a Dell dimension 4600,It was put up in the house unplugged for six months. When I first plugged it in there was no power when I pressed the button. I tested the power supply and all the rails,It is fine. There is the light on the mobo so power is getting to the mobo.If you wait 10 min. the power light on the front of the tower along with the HD Light ,mouse and keyboard wioll start to cycle on and off like it is trying to start.This will go on for a while and eventually it will start. I even change the battery on the Mobo, checked all the cables ,and connections. Can anyone give me some Ideas. I believe it could be in the mobo. Bruce

shesagordie · Answer

Bruce Myers.   You could  remove all the PCI cards, the video card and memory, disconnect the IDE cables and FD cable, then check that the front panel cable is connected to motherboard, with nothing else connected to the case, except the power cable and then power the system on. If you do not get any beep codes or no LEDs in the back, then it would appear that motherboard has died.     Test the power supply by unplugging the 20 pin connector from the motherboard and jumping the Green wire to one of the Black wires, if power supply and/or case/processor fans run, then you know it's good.   Bev.

Lonewolf_m · Answer

Bruce I had the same problem, what it means is your power supply will fail VERY SOON!

Bruce Myers · Answer

I have checked the power supply with a tester that will test all the rails. I have not found any bad readings from the time I power it on or turn  off. It is seems like the motherboard is not sending the signal even though is has the power indicator light on. Will a power supply test normal then plug it into PC and not? Also do I have to replace this power supply with a dell PS because of the way it wired or did they stop this. Bruce

Bruce Myers · Answer

I have done extensive testing on the PS. It is fine on all the rails. The PC will boot up but it takes 10 to 15 minutes for it to respond to turning the power on. Then it will blink the front panel lights and keyboard,mouse and try to startv. Only when I hold the power button in for 3 seconds will it boot up. It is just waiting for it to get to taht stage. It works beautiful once it has booted. And it never gives me any warning beeps because every thing is normal except waiting for it to power up. Bruce

shesagordie · Answer

Bruce Myers wrote:   'I have done extensive testing on the PS. It is fine on all the rails. The PC will boot up but it takes 10 to 15 minutes for it to respond to turning the power on. Then it will blink the front panel lights and keyboard,mouse and try to startv. Only when I hold the power button in for 3 seconds will it boot up. It is just waiting for it to get to taht stage. It works beautiful once it has booted. And it never gives me any warning beeps because every thing is normal except waiting for it to power up. Bruce'   Then you need to replace the power supply.   Bev.

Lonewolf_m · Answer

That's WHAT I said Bev  :smileywink:

Bruce Myers · Answer

Yep you right, I did the transplant and all is working. Thanks to everyone for the needed help. Bruce

shesagordie · Answer

Lonewolf_m wrote: 'That's WHAT I said Bev  ' I don't think so :smileyvery-happy: You.Bruce I had the same problem, what it means is your power supply will fail VERY SOON Me.Then you need to replace the power supply. Bev.

shesagordie · Answer

LW. Not really........ :smileywink: Bev.

Lonewolf_m · Answer

Jeeze, Bev, your such a Picky Ricardo!!!    :smileyvery-happy: Message Edited by Lonewolf_m on 09-20-2005 03:21 PM

HeTrinity · Answer

Hello guys... I'm glad that I found this post on here since it pretty much confirms what I had decided the problem was. I was fixing a computer for a friend of mine which at first was simply going to entail a combination of backing up and reinstalling everything to get his system unhosed. However, little did he know, or I know, what else was going on. First of all, he always leaves the computer on and before I'd even left his place with the computer, I noticed when shutting it down that the lights were blinking on the front every so often. I got it home and after like a half hour, I could finally get the thing to power up and got a lot done that day and then powered it down that evening. The next day I worked on it again, but it took even longer for it to power up. Both times I would press the power button and nothing would happen. I tried vacuuming it out, disconnecting and reconnecting the cables inside, etc. Finally, after I'd finished making the reparations to the system itself (not the hardware), I returned it and we waited hours and no sign of it going to cooperate by powering up. So, I brought it back here again. So, to wrap up, I've found numerous reports of this problem on the web all pointing to the power supply and/or the motherboard. I certainly hope this is just the power supply. I connected the power supply of my computer to it and the lights would blink anytime I would press the power button, but it would not power up. However, unlike the power supply of the Dimension 4600, my power supply does not have a square connector that goes right near the CPU on the motherboard to supply it with a direct power source. Therefore, I'm forced to wonder if that devalidates that failure to boot. >>>Do you agree that it is the power supply in my situation as well and if so, which make and model would you recommend that would have the CPU connector on it as well?<<<

HeTrinity · Answer

Lonewolf_m,

Ouch, that hurts... What's the price range for that? Does that mean that I'd have to pay for both a troubleshooting call in addition to the price of the replacement power supply since the computer is no longer under warranty? Additionally, does Dell offer a stronger power supply for this model?

Oh, that reminds me, does the motherboard have to use a Dell Power Supply? I was leaning towards getting something like an Antec one since that's what I've used in the past in building PCs and they have yet to fail me. The case looked as though it would accomodate my power supply, but I may be wrong.

Message Edited by HeTrinity on 09-23-2005 03:23 PM

Lonewolf_m · Answer

HeTrinity, Dell PSU are  proprietary units, you can only get one from Dell, or at an  authorize Dell Store.

Lonewolf_m · Answer

HeTrinity,   I'm not employeed by Dell Computer Corp. you will have to call their 1-800 number. But if I were you, I would get that PSU's model number off of the unit that way when/if you order another one you will get the proper unit. You can reach Dell by calling here; 1-800-915-3355, also for orders just look at the top portion of this screen, at the various options you will see a tab named Order Support.

shesagordie · Answer

HeTrinity. The D-4600 does not use a proprietary power supply. As the D-4600 has an open back, if your system is not under warranty, you can use most generic ATX PSUs, with or without the on/off power switch. Check out the Antec power supply line.Also, see here.http://store.911forpcs.com/911forpcs/deposuse.htmlHow to replace the PSU in a D-4600.http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/dim4600/en/4600/sm/pwrsply.htmBev.

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Dell power problem

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