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maercklein4
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18660
March 7th, 2006 22:00
Dimension 4600 On/Off Switch
Two days ago my Dimension 4600 would not turn on. There were no lights on the front panel. I removed and reinstalled most everything in the computer to no avail. A few hours later as I slid the machine back into place I decided to try one last time. It turned on. Today, it wouldn't turn on again. I pulled every thing one more time, but again it didn't work. I just walked past the computer to see the power lights flashing like it was about to start up, but then they would turn off. A few seconds later the lights would blink again. It seem like there might be a short in the on/off switch. Is that a reasonable diagnosis? How does one replace just the switch?
Thanks
Chris
shesagordie
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46017 Posts
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Posted March 8th, 2006 03:00
maercklein4First open the case, remove and reseat all the cable connectors,memory and cards. If this does not fix the promlem, then check the power.supply.If you are handy around computers, you could 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.
Note= Do not remove any wires from the plug, use a small piece of wire or a paper clip as a jumper
If the above checks out, reconnect the power supply, then remove all the PCI cards, the video card and memory, disconnect the IDE/SATA and FD cables, check that the front panel cable is connected to motherboard, with nothing else connected to the case, except the power cable, 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.
Bev.
maercklein4
4 Posts
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Posted March 8th, 2006 10:00
I opened the computer and reseated all the cables and memory.maercklein4
4 Posts
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Posted March 8th, 2006 11:00
I pulled all the cables, but I didn't get the beep code. However, I am currently using the computer now. It seems to be an intermittent problem. Can either the power supply or the mother board go bad only on an intermittent basis. I would've guessed on those that once things go bad they stay there. A short or ground might explain the intermittent nature. It might also explain why my computer was trying to turn on by itself yesterday. But I am too ignorant of the internals of a PC to truly rule out other causes.
Chris
Darth_Denz
34 Posts
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Posted March 8th, 2006 15:00
no beep codes when you pulled out everything? when you did this (pulled out everything), did you see the fans spinning or see a LED light lit on the motherboard? your hunch may be correct. it could either be the MB or the power supply.maercklein4
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Posted March 13th, 2006 11:00
No beep code at all. There is an LED on the motherboard that stays lit while the computer is plugged in. When I unplug it, the LED goes out and the fan will spin about one revolution. I was gone for the weekend and left my computer unplugged. This morning the on/off switch wouldn't work, but after an hour of being left alone it was trying to start by itself again. At this point the switch will start the computer up. The diagnostic lights on the back of the machine are all green.arcfault777
1 Message
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Posted January 14th, 2007 21:00
*NOTE: Do NOT attempt the following, if you are not at least 6,873,432,904 ½ years old!I had a similar problem. A bad normally-open push-button switch.- Shut Down PC
- Turn Off PC
- Remove Side Cover
- Touch outside of Power Supply.
- Remove power cord from wall outlet/receptacle.
- Look to front of PC...
- There will be a small bracket (mine is green) that holds the n|o push-button, as well as two green LEDs.
- Gentley squeeze bracket at top & bottom to remove.
- Follow the cable from the n|o push-button switch to the pin connection on MotherBoard.
- Cut two wires that go to switch in half.
- Go to RadioShack or somewhere and buy one normally-open push-button switch, two #24AWG but-splices, or the smallest wire-nuts you can find.
- Strip all 4 wires about ½ inch. (1.25 cm).
- Attach one wire from MotherBoard to one wire from switch.
- Attach other wire from MotherBoard to other wire from switch. The coloring of the wires doesn't matter...
- Replace switch in bracket.
- Replace bracket in holder.
- Replace Side Cover.
- Replace power cord to wall outlet/receptacle.
Try it out.
Message Edited by arcfault777 on 01-14-200706:00 PM
- I have an identical problem with my Dimension 4600. Turning it on is intermittent and when it won't turn on, on several occasions I have noticed the power light have come on and then it starts up. As long as I don't power it off it works without and prdoblem. Were you able to get yours fixed?Thanks
- Same problems as below. No lights go on when button pressed. Open and reseated cables. Installed new off/on switch $18.55 including shipping, I have determined that somewhere between 57 degrees F and 72 degress F temperature of the room, it will not turn on. As I warm it up with a space heater, it will develop the turning on and turning off problem described by maercklein4. As it warms up more the period between turning on for a moment decreases, then it stops. At that point, I can turn on the computer. Somewhere between 69 and 72 room temp it will turn on. I have not done instructions recommended by shesagordie. Has it worked? It appears that 288 other people with a 4600 are having this problem. Help please
Darth_Denz
34 Posts
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Posted March 8th, 2006 02:00