PC Not Powering on... Why not?

[Rando]

Hey all,
Quick question for you, don't have a lot of information, but looking for what I can look for maybe:

PC is a old 2.4 or so Dell, was working up until a few days ago when I moved it to a new location.  PC is plugged in, green light glows on MB so I know it's gettng power, and when you push the Power button the button itself lights up, but the PC itself does nothing and does not boot.  No fans, no HD noises, nada.  If I hold in the button for a few seconds again, the light will turn off, but the PC doesn't turn on/off.

I did have a few times in past when I had to hold the power button in for a few seconds to get it to power on, but now that doesn't work either.  Thinking I have a loose connection either at button, or at MB, or at power supply?

I could just grab another $50 system via CL or local shop, but PC was loaded and ready to go so that will move me back a few steps if I have to start over.

Ideas appreciated, thanks!

[leapinlew]

Reseat Memory and processor
Try a different power supply
Try starting the PC from the motherboard by jumping the pins (bypass the button)

[Rando]

Reseat Memory and processor
Try a different power supply
Try starting the PC from the motherboard by jumping the pins (bypass the button)

1) Can do
2) Can do but a hassle, I have 2 non-working PC's that I've been pilfering from
3) More information on this please?

[Donkbaca]

You get any beeps or anything?

I wouldn't worry about the setup on a new PC, all you would have to do is plug in the hard drives an possibly update some drivers, wouldn't be too much work

[scofthe7seas]

Reseat Memory and processor
Try a different power supply
Try starting the PC from the motherboard by jumping the pins (bypass the button)

1) Can do
2) Can do but a hassle, I have 2 non-working PC's that I've been pilfering from
3) More information on this please?

3: You might not be able to do this on a dell. Depending on the model, alot of them have little boards for the button/error lights, which connect to the motherboard via a ribbon. annoying. However, if this is not the case on this model, he means there should be a set of wires that goes to a 2 pin switch on the mobo, and you would just kind of pock them with either a jumper or a screwdriver.

What model is it? GX240 ? 270/280?
I would bet it's the power supply, especially if it is a 620.

[scofthe7seas]

Also, try powering up with nothing plugged in, then add one component at a time. Even the ram, if you get some beeps about no ram, that's a good start.

[Malenko]

check for the yellow/green lights on the back of certain dells. odds are power supply or mobo, they both suck on Dells. Well, pretty much everything on Dells suck.

[ark_ader]

Follow the black cord from the PSU to the wall socket.  Is it plugged in?

You be surprised how many of those calls I took at Tech support. 

[Rando]

3: You might not be able to do this on a dell. Depending on the model, alot of them have little boards for the button/error lights, which connect to the motherboard via a ribbon. annoying. However, if this is not the case on this model, he means there should be a set of wires that goes to a 2 pin switch on the mobo, and you would just kind of pock them with either a jumper or a screwdriver.

What model is it? GX240 ? 270/280?
I would bet it's the power supply, especially if it is a 620.

I'll check tonight.  I've poked around inside but haven't gone too deeply yet.  The wiring behind the power button is difficult to get to without removing plastics and components.  I'll try to trace back what/where I can.

Also, try powering up with nothing plugged in, then add one component at a time. Even the ram, if you get some beeps about no ram, that's a good start.

I currently have everything (monitor, speakers, keyboard, etc.) disconnected, it's just the PC and it's internal components at the moment.

I'll unplug some internals and see what happens.

You get any beeps or anything?

No beeps, no buzzes, no crunching of HD.

Follow the black cord from the PSU to the wall socket.  Is it plugged in?

You be surprised how many of those calls I took at Tech support. 

Ha,
Understood, but that's why I made sure to mention that the MB was getting power of some sort as evidenced by the little green light. If I remove the plug the light stays on for 5-6 seconds and then goes out.

Not a complete spaz!! 

Thanks for help so far.

[ark_ader]

OK I reread your original post.

Check power coupling on the mainboard.  Take the MB power connector off, switch on the PSU with the drives unplugged.

Reseat power coupling on board and slowly attach each drive (if you have more than 1) to the PSU.

I had this problem on a Gateway, drove me nuts until I did that and it came back.

Drain BIOS and then retest if above didn't work.

Again outlet check voltage with a multimeter, maybe you are not getting enough juice, try other outlets in the dwelling.

Reseat the I/O cards.  I had a problem with a faulty video card that did something similar.  One day it was working, then after a server move it did not.

Lastly check the mainboard for any damage or vibration that might have goofed a component or is something on the traces.

Other than that - bin it. 

[scofthe7seas]

Also, try powering up with nothing plugged in, then add one component at a time. Even the ram, if you get some beeps about no ram, that's a good start.

I currently have everything (monitor, speakers, keyboard, etc.) disconnected, it's just the PC and it's internal components at the moment.

I'll unplug some internals and see what happens.

Yes, I meant internals. Make sure all the drives and such are unplugged, a short in one of those could be causing the boot failure.  I don't know if I've seen a keyboard/mouse stopping a PC from booting before (though a peer claims he has)
The more I think about this, the more I lean towards a bad motherboard
Also, what Malenko suggested is something to look into. Google your Dell model with the words "diagnostic lights" and one of the books for your model should come up. There should be either a set of glowing numbers in the front of the PC, or 4 numbered lights in the back. See if there is a match in the instructions found online.

[Thenasty]

100% it's the PSU. 

[BobA]

100% it's the PSU. 

If it is not the PSU then it is the MB and if that is the case toss it.

[muggsy]

The Dell SX270 has a known problem with capacitors ... if you look on the mainboard you'll probably find some are leaking (or whatever you refer to it as)

Used to support a heap of these models and had to get Dell in weekly to replace mainboards. Not sure if this is helping you though, probably need a new PC , or a least mainboard, CPU and memory

Links
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/17329889.aspx
http://www.badcaps.net/forum/showthread.php?t=2607
http://thecapking.com/sx-270.html

[scofthe7seas]

Right Right, the bulging cap issue. Bleh. Forgot about that, was a few years ago

[scofthe7seas]

Works great until you unplug it and then you have to do a magical incantation to get it to come on again.  Once it powers up the first time, you never have an issue with it until it's unplugged again.

Haha, except this?

I've seen the bulging cap issue definitely break a number of mobos, it just depends on the amount. I wouldn't trust one with that issue at all, the power levels can fluctuate and potentially damage other component.. then again, if you're rockin' a computer that old you probably know this and wouldn't be devastated to have to replace it

[Rando]

The second problem, 100% of the time when the system is unplugged from the wall, I have to physically hard toggle the 'smart' strip the first time the PC comes on.  My guess on this is that the motherboard sits in some low power state the entire time and that relay sits around half-toggled and makes the PC think there's a current draw.  Essentially, I think some watchdog circuit is getting fooled that the PC is already on

PinballJim wins this round.

Turning the machine "on" and then toggling the power on the strip got the machine to boot up.  Odd.  Like, really odd.

So I'll leave the PC on one strip and have everything in another since I'll use the second strip to power on all the components including the TV which I discovered has a Power Return which is sweet.

So thanks for help, got the machine up and running last week, in the cabinet, but without arcade controls yet!

[leapinlew]

PinballJim wins this round.

You're new here, aren't you? We don't like to inflate Mr. PBJ's ego. 

[Rando]

PinballJim wins this round.

You're new here, aren't you? We don't like to inflate Mr. PBJ's ego. 

Oh that's one of the first things I picked up around here, trust me!   Unfortunately he was on the mark in this case.  Problem ocurred again last night, and resetting the strip resolved the problem again.  Not sure what is causing the issue to happen but I have a temp solution at least.  Likely replace PC unit in near future with some better components.

[RandyT]

Oh that's one of the first things I picked up around here, trust me!  Unfortunately he was on the mark in this case.  Problem ocurred again last night, and resetting the strip resolved the problem again.  Not sure what is causing the issue to happen but I have a temp solution at least.  Likely replace PC unit in near future with some better components.

I have one (IBM) that has been giving me boot problems as well.  Tried the method Jim suggested and it fired right up!  Gotta give 'em where they're due

[Rando]

Bah,
Spoke too soon.  PC kept giving me problems despite what tricks I tried, so last night I swapped the Power Supply with one I had and that worked from a Power standpoint, beast fired right up.

Created new problems however, where it's now giving me ChkDsk errors and scanning and rebooting and such.  After a few scans and trials it booted up in safe mode, then a few more errors and got it in regular mode, but still encountering errors.  Would a Power swap normally cause these problems?  Did I cause damage with my power problems?  Should I format and see if I can start from scratch?

Or is my Power Supply somehow incompatible? (Is that possible?)

[BobA]

More than likely all your power problems caused disk problems from incomplete starts and powering up and down.  With a new supply I would try low level formating of the disk again and starting over.

[Encryptor]

It would depend on what errors chkdsk is giving you. Are they just messed up index file type errors or are they bad sector moving data type files? If they are the second I would say all the rebooting and such has trashed your hard drive. If they are the first type then formatting and starting over should take care of them.

[bkenobi]

I had a printer that got all screwed up somehow (it was an all-in-one, so it was basically another computer connected by USB).  I had unplugged everything except the USB stuff that I thought was just mouse and keyboard (and accidentally the printer too).  Long story short, the printer needed a hard reset and was somehow keeping the PC from posting.  Make sure you unplug everything except the power cord for testing.