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Go to SolutionSolid orange light on Optiplex 745 motherboard
This OptiPlex 745 has been out of use for a number of years. When testing to see if it worked, it turned on immediately, fans whirring, but no display is sent to the screen. A solid orange light appeared on the power button and the motherboard. I pulled out the CMOS battery and put it back in and reset the jumper, but still nothing. The monitor and VGA cable are new. I've read posts on other machines, but none on the 745. Does this solid light indicate a dead motherboard like the rest?
@Thaksing wrote:
Well my motherboard is clearly bad but I'm not sure if that's really true because I just replaced my CPU from Intel Core 2Duo to Intel Core 2 Quad. I swapped them back but had the same issue. Are you sure?
Dell Optiplex 745 is from around 2007, so very old. Even if careful, these old motherboard are very fragile. A single solder trace or socket-pin might have gone bad.
Yes, a Core2-Quad is almost twice as fast as a Core2-Dual , but both are slower than Intel-i5 (and even some Intel-i3). Plus, a so equipped refurb would have a newer motherboard with probably better/faster SATA and USB .
Drop a SATA-SSD in there and you should be good to go. I think the old Optiplex models with 4-digit model numbers (like 7020) are more like what you are looking for.
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Posted October 22nd, 2022 08:00
I Guess It's Normal But Okay Maybe It Had A Orange Light But IDK
bradthetechnut
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Posted December 29th, 2021 18:00
Orange light on 745 MB is normal. Just lets you know it has power, but isn't really a much of a diagnostic tool.
As for power light: Solid amber can mean bad MB. Blinking amber can mean bad PSU. Not add any confusion, but fans spinning and nothing else working can be classic of a bad PSU. Bad PSU's can still spin the fans.
Do any of the numbers on the front panel stay lit?
Replace CMOS battery with new one first. They're good around 5 years.
Next if no go, try reseating RAM. Then CPU.
One can try the Dell BIST Test. However, BIST Test won't apply if there's no green l.e.d. and test button on PSU. Then I'd have to suggest trying a PSU tester.