Unsolved
This post is more than 5 years old
15 Posts
0
1773
Inspiron 546 minitower won't start
This 546 seems to be dead in the water :( No beeps, no lights come on. Do I need to replace the power supply? And if so, what are the specs for it. Thanks.
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
44.3K Posts
0
June 12th, 2018 12:00
Is this 546, 546s or 546 MT?
Is the power supply LED on back of case on or off?
Do you know the outlet works? Have you tried a different power cord? If you use a power strip, surge protector or uninterruptable power supply, remove those and connect PC directly to a known working outlet.
You can try this:
It's a 300W PSU. You can check out refurbished Dell PSUs for the 546, 546s and 546 MT here, as one example. The systems use different PSUs, so check the part number on the one you have, and shop around for that part number or its equivalent for best pricing, condition (new/refurbished) and warranty.
And only you can decide if it's worth the money to repair this older system or not...
gracin
15 Posts
0
June 13th, 2018 05:00
Following your instructions,
1) power off, press power button for 30 sec.
2) plug in, Green light at the back comes on.
3) Press power button, Green light off and fans spin a few times.
Shipping says this is an Inspiron 546 MT.
Thanks!
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
44.3K Posts
0
June 13th, 2018 10:00
Does that PSU LED come back on or does it stay off after you press and fans rev?
And what about the power button on the front of PC when you press it? Does it light up, what color, and is it steady or blinking?
You might want to watch Dell's video here and follow the instructions offered.
gracin
15 Posts
0
June 13th, 2018 10:00
Do the symptoms suggest I should replace the Power Supply? Thanks.
gracin
15 Posts
0
June 15th, 2018 10:00
The Power Supply LED stays Off when you press the Power button.
The front Power button never lights up at all (or any other light for that matter).
The Dell video refers to a Power Supply Diagnostic button that my system does not have.
RoHe
10 Elder
10 Elder
•
44.3K Posts
0
June 15th, 2018 12:00
Sounding like a failed PSU, but only connecting a known working PSU will answer the question.
You could try the paperclip test:
Fans and hard drive should spin up. If not, PSU is probably defective.
Caveats: