[SOLVED] blinking yellow light on Dell

cooperspooky · 10-15-2007, 09:18 PM

I have a Dell Dimension 9150. After a power outage my PC will not turn on. It has a blinking yellow light. Everything I have read said it is most likely a power supply problem. I purchased a new power supply from 911 PC and still have the same problem. There is a green light lit up on the motherboard. Any ideas? I have also read about dianostic lights to figure out the problem. I don't believe this PC has any of those lights. Thanks

**speedster123** · 10-16-2007, 01:54 AM

welcome
http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/sys...m/adtshoot.htm

remove and reinstall the ram and graphic card
reset the cmos

cooperspooky · 10-16-2007, 06:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster123

welcome
http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/sys...m/adtshoot.htm

remove and reinstall the ram and graphic card
reset the cmos

I did remove the ram and graphic card and tried starting it up without any of that installed and got the same thing. I then put them back and got the same blinking light. The setting is 115 on the power supply although I have toggled it and tried the other setting.
I have also tried just the power supply connected to the MOBO--no drives and get the same blinking light. Two lights also blink on the back of the PC underneath an RJ 45 connection. Thanks for your help.

courage659 · 10-16-2007, 10:29 AM

Did you change the 115/240V voltage switch on your power supply and turn it on... that would explain a lot, you've blown your power supply by setting it to the wrong voltage, have fun buying yet another one.

Any beeps? Do the fans or anything else turn on.

**speedster123** · 10-16-2007, 05:30 PM

long shot-
did you reset the cmos?

cooperspooky · 10-16-2007, 06:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by courage659

Did you change the 115/240V voltage switch on your power supply and turn it on... that would explain a lot, you've blown your power supply by setting it to the wrong voltage, have fun buying yet another one.

Any beeps? Do the fans or anything else turn on.

nothing beeps and nothing else turns on. yes I did try the other setting. obvisously that won't blow the power supply. that's why people always say to take a look and see if somehow it has been changed and to then change it back.

cooperspooky · 10-16-2007, 06:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedster123

long shot-
did you reset the cmos?

have not tried that. I'm familiar with computers but not really with what that is. I did remove and change the memory to different slots and tried starting it up without any memory and got the same blinking light. I recieved a new power supply and tried it and got the same results. brought the new power supply to a PC shop and they let me try their testor. it produced lights but it grinded and the fan barely moved. possible I got a dud. the place I got the power supply from is great--911 PC . the guy I spoke to on the phone is going to open up and test the new one and initial it before shipping it priority mail--also not even charging me for the new one being shipped as long as I send the old one back. If it turns out the motherboard is shot I'll send both back and they will refund.

**mattlock** · 10-17-2007, 12:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by courage659

Did you change the 115/240V voltage switch on your power supply and turn it on... that would explain a lot, you've blown your power supply by setting it to the wrong voltage, have fun buying yet another one.

Any beeps? Do the fans or anything else turn on.

Quote:

Originally Posted by cooperspooky

nothing beeps and nothing else turns on. yes I did try the other setting. obvisously that won't blow the power supply. that's why people always say to take a look and see if somehow it has been changed and to then change it back.

Actually you are both correct. It just depends on where you're at in the world.

In the US, regardless of the switch position no damage will occur. If set to 230v the unit simply won't work due to insufficient power (Our single phase circuit is 115v). If however, you are in the UK and have the switch set to 115v instead of 230v it will fry the PSU. (Thier single phase circuits is 230v)

cooperspooky · 10-17-2007, 12:30 PM

just did something I should have done first...brought the origianl power supply to get tested and it lit up the lights and the fan started. damn...looks like it's the motherboard.

cooperspooky · 10-19-2007, 03:21 PM

just received new motherboard (two actually, Dell screwed up), and another new power supply and.....same freaking thing. blinking yello light on front and two lights blinking on back. I don't get it.

courage659 · 10-20-2007, 01:35 AM

Hm... could be the processor... have you tried booting up without the RAM?

cooperspooky · 10-21-2007, 02:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by courage659

Hm... could be the processor... have you tried booting up without the RAM?

yes I have tried that and get nothing. What I have found out is I can get power if I disconnect the ribbon cable going from front usb ports/power switch to the motherboard. I get power in that the fans start to run but the PC does not boot up. When I connect that cable is when the blinking yellow light on front and two lights on back start.

cooperspooky · 10-21-2007, 06:23 PM

i've found out what the problem is but do not have it fixed yet. the problem is the front panel usb ports. some kind of short must be happening. one of the usb ports is pretty beat up and when i took a screwdriver to it and moved some of the pins inside around I now have gotten rid of the blinking light and have a solid yellow light on power button and no lights on back.

**linderman** · 10-21-2007, 06:59 PM

try this

How to Bench Test Your System

**linderman** · 10-21-2007, 07:02 PM

you may have to eliminate the front panel USB connectors or replace them if they are the culprit

keep us posted with your findings

**mattlock** · 10-22-2007, 01:08 AM

On some Dells the wiring for the On/Off switch runs through the Front I/O panel circuit board. If you system is like that, it's possible that you damaged the I/O panel board when the USB port shorted out, and that may be the cause of you problem.

You can get a refurbed I/O assembly from Dell for $11.
http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...chassisid=8236

cooperspooky · 10-23-2007, 05:54 PM

problem fixed. It was the front USB ports that were causing the computer not to power on and the blinking yellow lights. I took a screwdriver and kept messing with the pins on the beat up port--pushing them down, spreading them apart, etc. etc.. until finally no lights on power button. I then pushed the power button and it started right up. That port for sure is fried but I don't care. The computer works.

Thanks for the advice on the refurb board. That's pretty cheap but I think I'm going to try and find a USB hub cheap that I can plug into the existing ports on the back. That way I can use it on my next computer.

Thanks for all the help.

**mattlock** · 10-23-2007, 11:52 PM

You're welcome. Glad to hear you got it worked out.

tjshokk46 · 03-19-2009, 08:57 PM

This thread is failry old but, while searching google for "dell 520 power light blinking yellow" I found this page was the first result. My problem was a shot 500W PSU (an upgrade) that got ruined during a 3dmark test.

First off, I meant the "520" to be "E520" so I'm not sure really where this thread places with the correct model ...

The 500W PSU was only one of the PSUs that went during the test.
There's really no reason it should have.

The other PSU isn't in anyway connected to the motherboard, only a harddrive, cd burner, and 2 fans, and it's just fine.

IDK :) .. Just posting this so people might consider also checking the PSU because you never know what can happen.

10-15-2007, 09:18 PM	#1 (permalink)
cooperspooky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 9 OS: winXP	[SOLVED] blinking yellow light on Dell I have a Dell Dimension 9150. After a power outage my PC will not turn on. It has a blinking yellow light. Everything I have read said it is most likely a power supply problem. I purchased a new power supply from 911 PC and still have the same problem. There is a green light lit up on the motherboard. Any ideas? I have also read about dianostic lights to figure out the problem. I don't believe this PC has any of those lights. Thanks

10-16-2007, 01:54 AM	#2 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,228 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell welcome http://support2.jp.dell.com/docs/sys...m/adtshoot.htm remove and reinstall the ram and graphic card reset the cmos __________________

10-16-2007, 10:29 AM	#4 (permalink)
courage659 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Africa Posts: 54 OS: Good ol' XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell Did you change the 115/240V voltage switch on your power supply and turn it on... that would explain a lot, you've blown your power supply by setting it to the wrong voltage, have fun buying yet another one. Any beeps? Do the fans or anything else turn on. __________________ Completely and utterly insane

10-16-2007, 05:30 PM	#5 (permalink)
speedster123 Mentor Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: United States-New York-Long Island Posts: 5,228 OS: xp pro SP3	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell long shot- did you reset the cmos? __________________

10-17-2007, 12:30 PM	#9 (permalink)
cooperspooky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 9 OS: winXP	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell just did something I should have done first...brought the origianl power supply to get tested and it lit up the lights and the fan started. damn...looks like it's the motherboard.

10-19-2007, 03:21 PM	#10 (permalink)
cooperspooky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 9 OS: winXP	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell ????* just received new motherboard (two actually, Dell screwed up), and another new power supply and.....same freaking thing. blinking yello light on front and two lights blinking on back. I don't get it.

10-20-2007, 01:35 AM	#11 (permalink)
courage659 Registered User Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Africa Posts: 54 OS: Good ol' XP Pro SP2 My System	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell Hm... could be the processor... have you tried booting up without the RAM? __________________ Completely and utterly insane

10-21-2007, 06:23 PM	#13 (permalink)
cooperspooky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 9 OS: winXP	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell i've found out what the problem is but do not have it fixed yet. the problem is the front panel usb ports. some kind of short must be happening. one of the usb ports is pretty beat up and when i took a screwdriver to it and moved some of the pins inside around I now have gotten rid of the blinking light and have a solid yellow light on power button and no lights on back.

10-21-2007, 06:59 PM	#14 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,442 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell try this How to Bench Test Your System __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial Last edited by linderman; 10-21-2007 at 07:07 PM.

10-21-2007, 07:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,442 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell you may have to eliminate the front panel USB connectors or replace them if they are the culprit keep us posted with your findings __________________ I still know nothing and I respect that fact, striving to improve and, along the way, help anyone that comes from the place that I used to be! Power Supply Selection LEARN TO BACK-UP YOUR DATA FREE & EASY YouTube - Runtime Software DriveImage XML tutorial Last edited by linderman; 10-21-2007 at 07:10 PM.

10-22-2007, 01:08 AM	#16 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell On some Dells the wiring for the On/Off switch runs through the Front I/O panel circuit board. If you system is like that, it's possible that you damaged the I/O panel board when the USB port shorted out, and that may be the cause of you problem. You can get a refurbed I/O assembly from Dell for $11. http://accessories.us.dell.com/sna/p...chassisid=8236 __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

10-23-2007, 05:54 PM	#17 (permalink)
cooperspooky Registered User Join Date: Oct 2007 Posts: 9 OS: winXP	Re: blinking yellow light on Dell problem fixed. It was the front USB ports that were causing the computer not to power on and the blinking yellow lights. I took a screwdriver and kept messing with the pins on the beat up port--pushing them down, spreading them apart, etc. etc.. until finally no lights on power button. I then pushed the power button and it started right up. That port for sure is fried but I don't care. The computer works. Thanks for the advice on the refurb board. That's pretty cheap but I think I'm going to try and find a USB hub cheap that I can plug into the existing ports on the back. That way I can use it on my next computer. Thanks for all the help.

10-23-2007, 11:52 PM	#18 (permalink)
mattlock Mentor Hardware Team Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,183 OS: XP SP2, Win 7 Beta, Win 7 RC My System	Re: [SOLVED] blinking yellow light on Dell You're welcome. Glad to hear you got it worked out. __________________ Matt Everest-Thermal Paste Instruction-Power Supply Info-Sensorview PSU Calculator-Speedfan-Bench Test Help TSF Fight Disease. It's Free!

03-19-2009, 08:57 PM	#19 (permalink)
tjshokk46 Registered User Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 1 OS: slackware linux 12.2, freedos, windows xp sp3	Re: [SOLVED] blinking yellow light on Dell This thread is failry old but, while searching google for "dell 520 power light blinking yellow" I found this page was the first result. My problem was a shot 500W PSU (an upgrade) that got ruined during a 3dmark test. First off, I meant the "520" to be "E520" so I'm not sure really where this thread places with the correct model ... The 500W PSU was only one of the PSUs that went during the test. There's really no reason it should have. The other PSU isn't in anyway connected to the motherboard, only a harddrive, cd burner, and 2 fans, and it's just fine. IDK :) .. Just posting this so people might consider also checking the PSU because you never know what can happen.