power problem on Dell 5150

  • Thread starter Thread starter Lenny
  • Start date Start date
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Lenny

Hi,
I have a Dell 5150 that is about 15 months old. A month ago it would not
start up at all. The power button on the front would just flash dimly and
constantly. I replaced the power supply but this didn't seem to make any
difference so I changed the powersupply on the chance that the new one was
faulty. The PC powered up and I checked it about 10 times. Start up no
problem every time. Less that a month later I have exactly the same problem.
Sometimes I can keep pressing the power button on and off and after about 30
or 40 times the computer might start.

Any advice gratefully received.
Cheers
 
Many power supplies for tower pcs are junk,& they way over-rate thier
actual output.For checking power,if the obvious doesnt stick out,take the
tower to a descent pc repair shop for diagnostic checks.Otherwise,you can
purchase a power supply chk output scanner,they start at 15.00 or so...
 
... I replaced thepower supplybut this didn't seem to make any difference
so I changed the powersupply on the chance that the new one was faulty.
The PC powered up and I checked it about 10 times. Start up no problem
every time. Less that a month later I have exactly the same problem.
Sometimes I can keep pressing the power button on and off and after
about 30 or 40 times the computer might start.
Click to expand...

You shotgunned. 1) Replaced parts only on speculation rather than
first identifying the problem. 2) Assumed was a working computer
means a working power supply. A fully defective supply can still boot
a computer. And finally, 3) assumed the power supply is the complete
power supply 'system'. Supply is only one component.

After all that, which part was defective? Nobody knows even after
doing all that work. That is shotgunning.

Start all over again by first collecting facts. Get a tool so
ubiquitous as to be sold even in K-mart (Walmart may have better
prices). Procedure is in "When your computer dies without
warning....." starting 6 Feb 2007 in the newsgroup alt.windows-xp
at:
http://tinyurl.com/yvf9vh

Numbers exist to first identify the problem. Get further facts
inbedded in those numbers when posted here. IOW better posts (those
numbers) means replies come from the better informed. Your replies
will only be as good as information provided.

Especially important in your case are numbers from red, orange,
yellow, and purple wires when system is booted and accessing all
peripherals simultaneously (multitasking) - as described by that
procedure. When system does not boot, then numbers from gray, green,
and purple wires are also important.
 
Lenny said:
Hi,
I have a Dell 5150 that is about 15 months old. A month ago it would not
start up at all. The power button on the front would just flash dimly and
constantly. I replaced the power supply but this didn't seem to make any
difference so I changed the powersupply on the chance that the new one was
faulty. The PC powered up and I checked it about 10 times. Start up no
problem every time. Less that a month later I have exactly the same
problem. Sometimes I can keep pressing the power button on and off and
after about 30 or 40 times the computer might start.
Click to expand...

I service Dell computers as part of my job, if you could answer a few
questions, I may be able to help you out. You say that you press it 30 or
40 times before the computer finally powers up; what happens if you press
the button and it doesn't power up, blinking power light, nothing at all,
fans spin up, and nothing, etc.? If the power button lights up, or blinks,
let me know, also what color the power button is at the time.

There is also 4 diagnostic lights located on the front panel of the machine,
let me know which ones are lit (they are numbered 1 through 4.)
 
replace the power switch!

Later, Ray Parrish

Lenny said:
Hi,
I have a Dell 5150 that is about 15 months old. A month ago it would not
start up at all. The power button on the front would just flash dimly and
constantly. I replaced the power supply but this didn't seem to make any
difference so I changed the powersupply on the chance that the new one was
faulty. The PC powered up and I checked it about 10 times. Start up no
problem every time. Less that a month later I have exactly the same
problem. Sometimes I can keep pressing the power button on and off and
after about 30 or 40 times the computer might start.

Any advice gratefully received.
Cheers
Click to expand...
 
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