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Optiplex 320 won't work; yellow light keeps blinking on the front panel.
I'm trying to fix a relative's computer for them; when I turn the machine on I hear nothing. No hard drives spinning, no fans moving, not even the crackle of electricity. One interesting note; on the front of the computer, where the yellow light keeps slowly blinking on and off, I've discovered that it will keep doing this for several seconds, even if it is unplugged from the electrical outlet. From my own research I have discovered that either the CPU isn't seated correctly (and judging by the way the heatsink is clamped to the CPU I doubt it), or the power supply has gone bad.
Before I sink $60 into the purchase for a PS-5281-3DFS power supply, I decided to make sure that is what is wrong. Is there anything else that can cause the above problems? They keep asking me if it was a virus, but I've heard of no virus that would make a computer completly unable to provide power to itself, so I doubt that's the situation.
Also, another good question, can anyway make a suggestion for a 400 watt powersupply that costs roughly the same as the above? The only problem is I'm not sure what will work, and what will not work in their machine.
- What you mean by jump the green wire? I assume I'm using the paperclip as a makeshift jumer correct? As for the fans, sorry, the case is dead silent. The yellow light (auxelery power) is the only thing that I notice. Also, with the case off, I also noticed a yellow bulb also flickering on the motherboard. So, yeah, my guess is leaning more and more towards a bad power supply.
Yes, use the paper clip as a make shift jumper just to short the pins together.
But I can tell you that I had a system that was doing exactly the same thing. Even tested
the power supply with a Power Supply Tester and it tested good.
It would just flash the amber light on the motherboard on and off contiously, put a new
power supply in it and it came right up.
Also had another system that was doing something very similar, ended up reseating the Microproc
on that one and it came up.
- By reseating the processor you mean taking the processor out, turning the computer on/off, and then reinstalling the CPU right? Also, as for the powersupply, here is a good question; how do you take it out? Even though I took out both screws that attach the device to the case, and even though it will tilt forward, the stubborn thing simply refuses to be removed. Any advice so that I can put the new device in it's place?
NO!!!! Take it out, then put it back in. No need to turn power on with it out.
Connectors can oxidize after sometime and start making intermitten connections, just
by removing it and reinserting it can resolve the connection problem.
Links for Power Supply Removal
Link for Mini Tower System:
<ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
Link for Desktop System:
: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell>
I just installed the new power supply and...no dice. :smileymad:
Since the CPU was the only option left available I cleaned the bottom of it on my shirt, and tried blowing on the connectors. Even then it didn't work. Since the new power supply didn't change things, and since I already removed/reinstalled the CPU, what else could have gone wrong? The only thing that I can think of is the P4 connector (direct current) to the power supply. I couldn't find anywhere inside the computer that this connector could have gone into. Should I have plugged it in somewhere?
If not then why is it that the computer is still flashing a yellow light at me whenever I plug it in? Again...I hear no noise when it starts up, and not even the power supply's fan is moving.
Only two possbilities left. Motherboard is bad, which is most likely. Or the power switch board, small board on front of unit, has a 20 pin ribbon cable running from motherboard to front of system case.
The P4 connector is typically not used. Motherboard usually has 20/24 pin connector (P1) and 4 pin Connector (P2)
I came across this article while doing a search.
http://www.randomfix.com/2007/04/19/dell-dimension-%E2%80%93-flashing-orange-power-light/
It might just be corrosion. How do you take corrosion off of the motherboard without damaing anything? If I can do this that will help pocket $80-$100.
I have always used Alcohol and q-tips or a small brush.
I had a friend that had a GX520 that was flashing the orange light, Dell replaced every single component
on the system, Motherboard, Processor, Power Supply and memory, and still did not fix the system.
They finally just had him ship the system back and they replaced it. Dell Tech had given up on it, only
thing that was left was the case.
kenn60
37 Posts
4399
0
Posted August 11th, 2008 20:00
Sounds like possible bad power supply.
Remove all power supply connectors. (WITH AC CORD UNPLUGGED OF COURSE)
Use a paper clip and jump the green wire with any black adjacent wire on the 20/24 pin connector that plugs into the motherboard.
Plug in AC Cord.
This should power the supply on. It is a simple power supply test. If fans in the power supply don't run
then it is bad. This does not test it under a loaded connection, so just because the fan run does not mean it is completely good.