Problem with Dell 5150 Computer

[adamantium]

Okay, here is what's going on:

This is a Dell Dimension 5150.

When you power it on, the power switch LED flashes on and off and just keeps doing that. The green power LED on the motherboard is on, so apparently the motherboard is being powered, but none of the fans are spinning, including the one inside the PSU itself. Dell did send a new PSU but it's doing the same thing. I was of the opinion that it was a PSU problem, but what are the odds of them sending a bad one?

Anyway, any ideas/opinions, please help.

[N4P4LM]

Dimension (Desktop) or Inspiron (Laptop)? there's a 5150 model number for both, and google search turns up a lot of results for the the inspiron having booting issues.

[adamantium]

Ah, sorry, it's a desktop. I'll edit my first post.

[RD]

If the PSU you recieved was good and it still does nothing, its most likely your motherboard is shot

[adamantium]

If the PSU wasn't bad, wouldn't the case fans at least come on? Or maybe if they are plugged into the chassis fan spots on the mobo and the mobo was bad they wouldn't?

[ass*assassin]

same as above..

if you got a for sure, known good power supply at this point, then you may have a bad motherboard.. if the lights are flashing, then disconnect everything from the motherboard (WITH POWER OFF)..

lets do some troubleshooting..

disconnect all drives from the powersupply and motherboard (ribbon cables too)
remove the ram from the motherboard
take out video card, modem, network cards, video cards, etc.. if they got 'em..


then, power it up.. if it still does it, then you got a bad motherboard.. if the power lights are nice and steady, then start putting back everything one at a time until you get the bad power indication.. that will be your culprit..

happy troubleshooting..

[Janus]

after dealing with Dell's all day it shoulds like a bad PSU. you will have to get one sent from Dell in order to replace it as mostof their PSUs are proprietary and would fry your motherboard if you tried to replace it with a regular store-bought one.

[adamantium]

after dealing with Dell's all day it shoulds like a bad PSU. you will have to get one sent from Dell in order to replace it as mostof their PSUs are proprietary and would fry your motherboard if you tried to replace it with a regular store-bought one.

:( That is weak :(

Thanks for the heads-up though, before I tried a different PSU.

[adamantium]

Thought I'd let you guys know how I fixed the problem, might help someone in the future.

One of the front panel USB ports had a wire inside bent down and against the metal casing of the port, and since the whole front panel on a Dell is linked together with one make-shift "IDE" cable, that one fucked up USB port was causing a short and thus not letting the computer boot up. Stuck some wire nose pliers down in there, pulled up the pin, plugged everything back in, worked like a charm.

Thanks for all the help/suggestions.