motherboard dead?

After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't boot, light
in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but the green light is on
inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on another PC). Before I buy a mobo
for it, I just want to know if there's anything else I should check. Thanks
for any feedback.

GreenieLeBrun
Mon May 05 16:45:49 PDT 2008



Elgeebell wrote:
> After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't
> boot, light in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but the
> green light is on inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on another
> PC). Before I buy a mobo for it, I just want to know if there's
> anything else I should check. Thanks for any feedback.

If the machine doesn't even POST then th MB is probably toast.

With a new MB you may have to do a repair install, unless of course it is
the same type of MB that the machine came with. If it is not then your OS
CDs may not even work with a non-Dell MB.

Shenan
Mon May 05 16:51:39 PDT 2008

Elgeebell wrote:
> After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't
> boot, light in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but
> the green light is on inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on
> another PC). Before I buy a mobo for it, I just want to know if
> there's anything else I should check. Thanks for any feedback.

It's more than likely the power supply - not the motherboard.

--
Shenan Stanley
MS-MVP
--
How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html

David
Tue May 06 06:27:33 PDT 2008

X2, try a new power supply first.

--

----
Crosspost, do not multipost http://www.blakjak.demon.co.uk/mul_crss.htm
How to ask a question http://support.microsoft.com/kb/555375



"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:O$Pt3rwrIHA.4788@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>
> It's more than likely the power supply - not the motherboard.
>
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP
> --
> How To Ask Questions The Smart Way
> http://www.catb.org/~esr/faqs/smart-questions.html
>

DellCA
Tue May 06 14:01:36 PDT 2008


GreenieLeBrun;3114404 Wrote:
> Elgeebell wrote:-
> After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't
> boot, light in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but the
> green light is on inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on another
> PC). Before I buy a mobo for it, I just want to know if there's
> anything else I should check. Thanks for any feedback.-
>
> If the machine doesn't even POST then th MB is probably toast.
>
> With a new MB you may have to do a repair install, unless of course it
> is
> the same type of MB that the machine came with. If it is not then your
> OS
> CDs may not even work with a non-Dell MB.

Actually, there are a number of things that could cause a Dell to
display an amber power light. The primary things to check are:
* Ensure that the processor power cable is securely connected to the
system board power connector (POWER2)
* Remove and then reinstall all memory modules
* Remove and then reinstall any expansion cards, including graphics
cards

My personal recommendation would be to pull all the cards, including
memory, disconnect the drives from the motherboard and power up the
computer to see what it does. If the system still shows the amber
power light then we know it has to be the motherboard, power supply or
processor.

If the problem is caused by one of the removed parts you should get the
diagnostic code (from the four LEDs on the back of the tower) for
missing or failed memory: A & B amber, C & D green. To determine which
one you just start putting pieces back in and testing the system, one
piece at a time.

Hopefully this will help get the problem fixed. If you have any other
questions about the system I'll be happy to help.

Larry
Dell Customer Advocate




--
DellCA

Don
Mon May 05 17:43:39 PDT 2008

> Elgeebell wrote:
>> After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't
>> boot, light in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but
>> the green light is on inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on
>> another PC). Before I buy a mobo for it, I just want to know if
>> there's anything else I should check. Thanks for any feedback.


"Shenan Stanley" <newshelper@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:O$Pt3rwrIHA.4788@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...

> It's more than likely the power supply - not the motherboard.
> --
> Shenan Stanley
> MS-MVP

The practical point is that a power supply module can be
tested (at a competent PC service store) in about 1 min.
while you wait, and if needed a replacement fitted in hardly
2 min. longer for about $30. I have needed to replace PC
power supply three times in 25 years of home computing:
this seems about average; it is cheap and easy.
--
Don Phillipson
Carlsbad Springs
(Ottawa, Canada)

Twayne
Thu May 08 06:38:49 PDT 2008

> After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't
> boot, light in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but the
> green light is on inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on another
> PC). Before I buy a mobo for it, I just want to know if there's
> anything else I should check. Thanks for any feedback.

I don't know what the flashing light means; you should be able to look
that up in your documentation or at their web site.
If I were you I'd suspect the power supply first. In fact, maybe
check the fuse in it, then see if it's putting out proper voltages. If
you're willing to replace a mobo you should have the expertise to ts the
power supply and its fusing/breakers. Else you should probably try
taking it to a shop.

DellCA
Thu May 08 07:37:53 PDT 2008


'Twayne[_2_ Wrote:
> ;3116254'] After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 240
> won't-
> boot, light in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but the
> green light is on inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on another
> PC). Before I buy a mobo for it, I just want to know if there's
> anything else I should check. Thanks for any feedback.-
>
> I don't know what the flashing light means; you should be able to loo
>
> that up in your documentation or at their web site.
> If I were you I'd suspect the power supply first. In fact, maybe
> check the fuse in it, then see if it's putting out proper voltages. I
>
> you're willing to replace a mobo you should have the expertise to t
> the
> power supply and its fusing/breakers. Else you should probably try
> taking it to a shop.

I just realized when I posted last time I missed the fact the powe
light was blinking, and not solid, amber. As others have stated, thi
is almost always something with the power supply.

The power supply the system originally shipped with will be a 200W, s
if testing verifies the PSU is the problem make sure that you don't ge
a smaller one. A larger PSU should work fine (and would be needed fo
upgrades like a higher end video card) as long as it fits into th
chassis.

Larry
Dell Customer Advocat


--
DellCA

John
Thu May 08 08:21:15 PDT 2008

Check the power supply unit (PSU) first this may be the cause of the
problem, but at the same time the power outage may also have damaged the
motherboard. My PC had a power outage just before Christmas 2007 so I
straight changed the PSU, unfortunately in the end it turned out to be both
the PSU and motherboard that had been fried.

--
--
John Barnett MVP
Associate Expert
Windows Desktop Experience

Web: http://xphelpandsupport.mvps.org
Web: http://vistasupport.mvps.org

The information in this mail/post is supplied "as is". No warranty of any
kind, either expressed or implied, is made in relation to the accuracy,
reliability or content of this mail/post. The Author shall not be liable for
any direct, indirect, incidental or consequential damages arising out of the
use of, or inability to use, information or opinions expressed in this
mail/post..

"Elgeebell" <u43420@uwe> wrote in message news:83b80b67781af@uwe...
> After a power outage last week my son's Dell Dimension 2400 won't boot,
> light
> in front flashes amber, it makes no noise at all, but the green light is
> on
> inside. The hard drive is fine (checked on another PC). Before I buy a
> mobo
> for it, I just want to know if there's anything else I should check.
> Thanks
> for any feedback.
>