Dell PC power on problem (weird)

karyins

Reputable
Apr 6, 2014
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Dell Vostro 220, power up problem 2 months ago. Pressing power button, amber light flash once then nothing. Repeat, nothing. After about 100 tries, before I gave in, somehow the PC started.

Since I turned on the PC 2 months ago, I have kept it on. At night I put it into sleep mode (with blue light flashing, not hibernation). For the first 2 weeks, I can wake up the PC by clicking the mouse. Then clicking on the mouse didn't work any more, so I had to press and hold the power button for a few seconds to shut down the PC, then in a few seconds press the power button again to power on. However, if I only put the PC to sleep for a short time, say 30 minutes or so, then I can wake it up by a mouse click.


Weird thing is, shortly after I turn off the PC, when I press the power button, after about 2 seconds delay, amber light will flash once, then blue light came on then the PC starts.


When the PC is on, it works fine without any problem. So I used this trick to keep it alive.


Unfortunately, today my nephew came over and he shut down the PC when he left. By the time I found out, the PC was left in the "cold" for a few hours, and I haven't been able to turn it back on again. Same as in my last post, it will flash amber once when I press power button, then nothing.


Most strange isn't it? I am considering the following 3 problems:


1. CMOS battery failure: not sure if CMOS battery issue would prevent power on at all though?
2. PSU failure: not sure because the PC works fine when it's on.
3. Motherboard failure: could it be some capacitor issue? since If I keep the PC on, or just in sleep mode for a short time the PC seems to boot up or wake up no problem.


Please Help!


Thanks!
 

Vic 40

Titan
Ambassador
Don't think it's the battery and that only costs very little so replacing it shouldn't be the issue.

With me does the psu come to mind as well ,but that is at the end again only confirmed by replacing it.
The next isn't that expensive if you can use the rebate ystem,but you still have to have $25 laying around,
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx430m
i assume with this psu that your case looks like this
http://www.google.nl/imgres?imgurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lomitabusinessmachines.com%2FVostro220_2.jpg&imgrefurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lomitabusinessmachines.com%2Fdell-vostro220.html&h=400&w=400&tbnid=0pXvRm3exdmU1M%3A&zoom=1&docid=HtJ9kQ6kzcqhLM&ei=YtBCU4v4N4aEO_2hgMAI&tbm=isch&ved=0CFgQhBwwAA&iact=rc&dur=683&page=1&start=0&ndsp=11


 

karyins

Reputable
Apr 6, 2014
7
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4,510


Thanks for the links! Yes that case is what I have. So the PSU in the link is compatible? I'm considering getting one.
 

Vic 40

Titan
Ambassador


IIt should be.You could measure the psu to see if it is if you want to know for sure
Measurements should be,
width:150mm
hight:86mm
depth:140mm and up,but probably just that
The first two are when seen from the back side of the case.

A link for the non modular one of that psu,
http://pcpartpicker.com/part/corsair-power-supply-cx430
a bit cheaper at this moment,prices change though so keep an eye on that..
With the modular one isn't it necessary to keep all the cables in the case,you could just use the ones necessary and keep the rest in the box.