[Waste of Space]

Hi, I'm ignorant.  But I know you guys most definitely aren't.

 

My desktop PC is a Dell Optiplex 7010 running Windows 10.  It was fine when I turned in last night, but this morning it just doesn't want to play ball.

 

Normally when I switch on at the wall socket, there's an initial brief whooshing noise which stops after a couple of seconds, but today there was nothing.  All that's happening is that the power button l.e.d. on the front of the case flashes twice, then there's a pause, then it flashes twice again, etc., etc., but that's it.  Hardly surprisingly, there's no light showing on the keyboard, on the mouse or anywhere else, because the power's simply not getting through into the PC.

 

If the power button itself is the problem, would it be flashing like it is?  Or would it be stone dead?

 

Or is it the PSU that's dead?  If so, how would electricity be reaching the power button and making it flash?

If anyone can make sense of this for me, I'd appreciate it colossally.

 

PS:  I have very little technical knowledge, so please be gentle with me or I may start gibbering like a monkey.

 

Thank you.

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The flash pattern gives an indication as to what the problem is. You need to carefully count the flashes as there is a pattern which is telling you what the issue is.

 

https://www.dell.com...83-375a950df672

 

If the pattern is 2,2 then the error listed is "system board, PSU or PSU cabling failure", which is vague, so the first thing to check is the power supply. There are testers available, which are good to have.

[Kemasa]

The flash pattern gives an indication as to what the problem is. You need to carefully count the flashes as there is a pattern which is telling you what the issue is.

 

https://www.dell.com...83-375a950df672

 

If the pattern is 2,2 then the error listed is "system board, PSU or PSU cabling failure", which is vague, so the first thing to check is the power supply. There are testers available, which are good to have.

[Waste of Space]

Kemasa, that's a lot more than I ever knew before  -  so please accept my very sincere thanks for supplying me with the link.

 

Perversely, the PC sprang back into life about six hours after it died, so I've done a back-up onto a flashdrive and am now expecting the machine to pack up once again.  I suppose I should maybe purchase a new PSU in readiness.....unless of course it's the system board that's at fault....or a cabling failure....

 

Sadly my nextdoor neighbor, who for twenty years was a computer tech, has retired and has made it known that he's never going to work on another computer ever again, apart from his own, so it looks like I'm at the mercy of repair guys uknown.

 

Let's hope i'm not back here bleating for help again in a few days.

[Kemasa]

At least it is working now, so you might want to mark this thread as solved. It wouldn't hurt to have another power supply as that is often the cause, but you never know for sure.

 

It is hard to find new trusted people, I have had to do that with many things as people retire.

[Waste of Space]

Best Answer

The problem has now been put to bed by a technician (I hope).  PSU replaced, everything appears to be working normally.....for the time being.

Mercifully the shop where I bought the PC works hand in hand with a computer tech, even though it doesn't advertise the fact, so if I experience any further problems, I can take it back again apparently.  And although the PC was out of warranty, they replaced the PSU gratis.

 

A happy ending, then.

 

Many thanks for sharing your thoughts, Kemasa-san.

Edited by Waste of Space, 22 July 2021 - 05:00 AM.

[Kemasa]

Good to hear that you got it fixed.