Optiplex 9010 MT won't power on.

Question

Hello everybody,

I am totally new here, but I hope someone can help me. I have an Optiplex 9010 MT. I wanted to replace the CPU fan. So I bought a compatible fan on Amazon and used the 5 pin female plug to 4 pin socket connection jack cable. As advised on this forum in a post. I made sure I connected everything properly. It didn't work. Here is what's happening:

With power connected, the fans on the motherboard turn on, then stop spinning. I can see the orange light on the front panel power button flash once, very briefly. No beeps, no images on the screen, no signs of life. With the power connected, I can hear a faint high pitch whining sound coming from, as far as I can asses, the motherboard.

This is what I have done already and doesn't solve the problem:

Removed the new fan and replaced it with the old one, including the original cable;
Refitted all components and cables;
Removed all non necessary components one by one;
Changed the RAM;
Changed the power supply ( I tested two, both work but not in combination with the MB);
Removed and replaced the battery on the motherboard;
Reset the bios via the onboard switch;
I put the processor in an other PC and it works fine;
I tested the Dell power supply in another computer and it also works fine;
I don't see any bulging caps;

I am afraid the motherboard is not going to work anymore. I hope someone here has a solution?

Thanks in advance,

Jaap

bradthetechnut · Accepted Answer

If you want to keep that 9010 going, it's a lot cheaper to buy an MB off of ebay than to take to a computer shop. Be sure to get at least a 30-day return policy. I don't know if that MB could ever work again or if I would ever trust it again after something shorted. It's apparently fried.

By the way, there's also a YouTube video of an MB connected to a bad PSU that fried the MB. Sparks and flames, but no bugllging caps. I don't think the solid looking caps ever bulge as compared to the old ones used no longer.

bradthetechnut · Answer

Hi @Jaap Hendriks,

It's not quite clear how you tested some things or various components. Did you try the BIST Test. Video I linked isn't my favorite, but I couldn't find the one I used to use.

As of for now, it's sounding like it might be your MB. Something may have shorted. Dell is quite proprietary with their fan wiring (among many things). Doesn't mean it's impossible to use non-Dell fans, but it may not always go as planned.

Among the good (and much) troubleshooting you did was putting the original components back to see if it would work.

bradthetechnut · Answer

Mind if I ask - What prompted fan replacement? Confirming - Button flashes orange once when pressed and that's it, no more flashing.

Jaap Hendriks · Answer

Hello @bradthetechnut, There wasn't a special reason to change the fan. It was a bit noisy, so I thought it wouldn't last very long. So I decided to replace it with a new one.   Thanks, Jaap

Jaap Hendriks · Answer

Hello @bradthetechnut,

Thank you for taking the time to answer my question. And you're right, it didn't go as planned

I didn't do the BIST at first. So, as you suggested, I went ahead and did do the BIST with the faulty motherboard today.

Unfortunately, no response. The LED on the power-supply doesn't turn on when it's connected to the Dell motherboard. So a self test is not possible. When I disconnect the power supply from the motherboard and do a BIST, it functions just fine. So I'm guessing the motherboard is done for. Unless you or someone else has another idea?

Anyway, thanks again for your answer.

Jaap.

Jaap Hendriks · Answer

Hi @bradthetechnut,I most certainly won't take it to the repair shop, way to expensive. I ordered another 9010 MT motherboard online. It's hard to find one with an acceptable price combined with acceptable shipping costs, but I found one. Let's see if it survives the journey. I will check the PSU if it outputs the right voltages to make sure it doesn't fry the motherboard again. Thanks again for your advise.

bradthetechnut · Answer

You're welcome.

Optiplex Desktops

Optiplex 9010 MT won't power on.

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