[KINNEY0201]

Hi,
We have a Dell Dimension 4500 that will not power up. When plugged in, one of the lights on the internal modem will light up. Then, when you push the power button, one of the cd-rom's lights flashes on and off once and nothing else happens. The power button light stays on, but that's it. Can someone please tell me if they've had this problem and what to do to correct it. Thanks! Also, both cd/dvd drives will not open.

Edited by KINNEY0201, 16 December 2005 - 10:40 PM.

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Check to see if the CPU fan runs and stays running. If not the first thing to do is try another power supply. be careful of what power supply you use for troubleshooting. Many of the dell PS's are not wired the same as normal PS's. If the PS is good the next thing to check is the memory. Try another stick of the same type. After that you need to start with the basic parts needed to get it to bootup, MB, Cpu, memory, video, keyboard, and mouse. Everything else needs to be disconnected. See if you can get to the bios screen. Let us know, please.

SRX660

[SRX660]

Check to see if the CPU fan runs and stays running. If not the first thing to do is try another power supply. be careful of what power supply you use for troubleshooting. Many of the dell PS's are not wired the same as normal PS's. If the PS is good the next thing to check is the memory. Try another stick of the same type. After that you need to start with the basic parts needed to get it to bootup, MB, Cpu, memory, video, keyboard, and mouse. Everything else needs to be disconnected. See if you can get to the bios screen. Let us know, please.

SRX660

[KINNEY0201]

Okay, I swapped out the power supply. Still the same issue. Power button light came on, motherboard light came on, no fan activity. THEN, I started dismantling the computer piece by piece, continuing to check fan activity. I didn't get fan activity until I disconnected the P4 (two yellow & two black) plug from the motherboard. The fan now comes on and stays on. However, it still will not boot, no picture to monitor, activity light stays lit on front of computer along with cd-rom drive light. What is going on? Why would this happen? What does this mean? Do I need the P4 cable to be plugged in? And if so does this mean that the motherboard is bad? PLEASE HELP!

Edited by KINNEY0201, 17 December 2005 - 08:44 PM.

[Doby]

Hi,

Most likely a bad motherboard seeing as you tried another psu, the P4 connection is critical for intel systems and of major importance with Amd.

P4 supplies extra power to the cpu and it seems the board is not providing it.

Sorry rick