Optiplex 5040 power troubleshooting

Question

Hello, I have an optiplex 5040 that is 18 days out of warranty (go figure)

When it gets plugged in the power supply light illuminates green and it immediately tries to start up (without power button pressed). The power button on the front of the unit turns white,but the computer never displays any video.

It does Not do the normal power up and down like Dell pcs usually do. So I guess what I am wondering is in this case does this sound like a power supply or motherboard?

Kris256 · Accepted Answer

I will just advise the customer buy a different brand next time as the only support is from the community unless they desire to pay for the privilege to fix their own device.   Considering I had narrowed down the problem and still didn't receive much beyond an automated message telling me the device is out of warranty and how I can pay them to answer my question.

DELL-Cares · Answer

We tried reaching you on a private message but did not receive a response. Please feel free to reply to the private message whenever you are available.

savvy2 · Answer

in warranty. (limits choices) IDK what but you can do some things.

some are super easy.

first do this turn off the PC holding power button for 10seconds and now and only now it it turned off.max.

then do this , the hard power reset. 1,2,3,4

IF I had to guess w10 updates messed up the PC or caused sleep modes to fail the above is not cure but how to get PC back to YOUR control.

Kris256 · Answer

I am quite sure this is just a bot response but I feel it's necessary to point out that a few years ago dell at least had some basic phone support for their devices. Now all of the numbers mention paying hourly to troubleshoot with someone on the phone and all the support documents don't cover what I am looking to fix, and the message board responses from dell are apparently bots as well.

I am not sure who thought they could fool the customer with a bot for support was a good idea. The bot replied back with information about how the pc is out of warranty, Exactly like I said it was in my first post, Not to mention the links provided take me to the help page that covers nothing near what I am talking about.

Also whoever generates the script for the bot has some misplaced quotes..

Here is the generated url I received, Notice the database reference for %[message_

The message after that was the same.

Click the link to choose from the Out of Warranty Services and Solutions available for your product: https://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/product-support/servicetag/%[message_5762d375e4b0d9d41b81...

Kris256 · Answer

I actually have done the steps that you mentioned in your link, The esd discharge and replaced the 2032 battery (Only because I have tons of them). I have not known of a mainboard battery to do much more than track time and installed hard drives and cdroms.

There is no real option of reverting any windows updates and no real need to either as the machine does not even post a bios screen. The issue is hardware based as it doesn't even perform the initial power supply self-test or whatever you want to call it when the pc is first plugged in.

speedstep · Answer

Could be crashed windows. If you disconnect the data cable from hard drive it should display an error on the screen.

Tech808 · Answer

Besides replacing the CMOS battery with a new one, or taking out the original CMOS battery and putting it back in 10 minutes later, if you have an Optiplex 5040 SFF equipped with a chassis intrusion switch, make sure it is depressed (put cover back on) or the computer will not output display to a monitor. I've worked on several Dell Optiplex models (i.e., 330, 360, 380, 745, 755, 780, 790, 7010, 7020, 3020, 3040, 3050, 7040) yet the 5040 is the first Optiplex model I've come across where if I did not put the case cover back on or press the chassis intrusion switch, the computer will not boot to BIOS.

Optiplex Desktops

Optiplex 5040 power troubleshooting

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