Dell PSU problem?

Cthonix · 01-04-2008, 06:09 AM

I wasn't quite sure where to post this but I think it might be a PSU problem.
Yesterday I got back from being on holiday for Christmas and New Year, I've been away about 2 weeks, I turned my PC on, it worked fine. I left it on overnight to download some things. (Not very eco friendly) But when I woke up my power light was flashing orange, it would not turn back on, the light which should turn green just flashes orange.

My PC specs are:
Dell Dimension 9100
Intel Pentium 4 processor with HT
ATI Radeon X600 gfx card
2.5 GB of Ram (2 1GB sticks and 2 256 mb sticks)
160 GB hard drive
Had it for about 2 and a half years no problems bar having to reformat because of a virus once.

I’m not sure how relevant any of that is, I've never experienced problems with my power supply before but when googling "dell power light flashes orange" I found many people with the same problem offering all kinds of weird solutions... According to my user manual the problem is an internal electrical problem. The weird thing is that on the first few times I tried to boot the PC up it actually worked for a while, the longest being about 2 minutes.

Please help!

Cthonix · 01-04-2008, 10:47 AM

Update: managed to boot up pc again a few times only for it to die 5 minutes later. Also when PC is unplugged and i want to discharge remaining power, light shows same behaviour, does this rule out a faulty power supply.
Want to add that i stupidly left the case open in the 2 weeks i was gone, wondering if this could have affected it.

**speedster123** · 01-04-2008, 11:15 AM

try clearing the cmos first, of course unplug it, destatic yourself, and pop the battery out for 10 minutes.
the power supply could very well be the culprit.

Quote:

only for it to die 5 minutes later

you need to make sure the cpu fan is spinning fast, along with any case fans.
does it quit when the side is left off? try a fan blowing in. you need to eliminate heat as a cause.

Cthonix · 01-04-2008, 01:06 PM

Wasn't entirely sure how to clear the cmos but I assume that turning off the pc, unplugging, removing battery for 10 minutes then putting it back in and plugging the pc in was correct? If so then it didn't work, the orange lights started flashing the minute I plugged it back in.
As for the heating and the fans, none of the fans start, when I turn the pc on there is a flash of a green light then it blinks orange, no time for the fans to turn on. If i do manage to boot it up then the fans sound fine, although im not sure how to tell.
I find it very unlikely that heating is the problem, the pc was left in my room which was very cold for the 2 weeks, it might explain why it was working yesterday when i got back and not today when it had warmed up a bit but I still find this doubtful. Im in north west England in the dead cold of winter... my pc has operated in far warmer temperatures just fine.

**linderman** · 01-04-2008, 02:29 PM

I would try another PSU dell's are famous for weak power supplies

try an antec trio power 550 watt

avoid the junkers and the cheapies

http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114931

Cthonix · 01-04-2008, 03:02 PM

Well besides the fact that I’m working on a budget (I can afford it but it cuts into my funds for a new CPU and/or Graphics card), I'd prefer to ascertain that it is in fact the PSU, which is the problem before buying a new one. Got a friend coming over with one of his own PSUs tomorrow to see if that'll make it work.
Until then I'm just wondering if there’s anything I could have missed. It seems odd to me for it to be a PSU problem. Wouldn't it show different behaviour when unplugged if it were the PSU?

**linderman** · 01-04-2008, 03:25 PM

psu problems can take on so many different behaviors; they can be really rough to isloate

let us know once you try your friends unit

Cthonix · 01-05-2008, 08:21 AM

Last night I decided I'd give it one last go and see if my PC worked. And for some reason it did. Apparently all my tinkerings over the day and de dusting of everything did something. Though why it chose to work then I have no idea. When it rebooted it gave me some wierd beeps, told me I didnt have a floppy drive (which I don't) and that system battery voltage was low or some such. Then when it loaded it told me that it had to recover from a registry log file and that half my programs were new to it and that it was May. 2005. 1am. But other than that it works fine, and since it's still working today I think its fixed...maybe...

01-04-2008, 06:09 AM	#1 (permalink)
Cthonix Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Dell PSU problem? I wasn't quite sure where to post this but I think it might be a PSU problem. Yesterday I got back from being on holiday for Christmas and New Year, I've been away about 2 weeks, I turned my PC on, it worked fine. I left it on overnight to download some things. (Not very eco friendly) But when I woke up my power light was flashing orange, it would not turn back on, the light which should turn green just flashes orange. My PC specs are: Dell Dimension 9100 Intel Pentium 4 processor with HT ATI Radeon X600 gfx card 2.5 GB of Ram (2 1GB sticks and 2 256 mb sticks) 160 GB hard drive Had it for about 2 and a half years no problems bar having to reformat because of a virus once. I’m not sure how relevant any of that is, I've never experienced problems with my power supply before but when googling "dell power light flashes orange" I found many people with the same problem offering all kinds of weird solutions... According to my user manual the problem is an internal electrical problem. The weird thing is that on the first few times I tried to boot the PC up it actually worked for a while, the longest being about 2 minutes. Please help!

01-04-2008, 10:47 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cthonix Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: Dell PSU problem? Update: managed to boot up pc again a few times only for it to die 5 minutes later. Also when PC is unplugged and i want to discharge remaining power, light shows same behaviour, does this rule out a faulty power supply. Want to add that i stupidly left the case open in the 2 weeks i was gone, wondering if this could have affected it.

01-04-2008, 01:06 PM	#4 (permalink)
Cthonix Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: Dell PSU problem? Wasn't entirely sure how to clear the cmos but I assume that turning off the pc, unplugging, removing battery for 10 minutes then putting it back in and plugging the pc in was correct? If so then it didn't work, the orange lights started flashing the minute I plugged it back in. As for the heating and the fans, none of the fans start, when I turn the pc on there is a flash of a green light then it blinks orange, no time for the fans to turn on. If i do manage to boot it up then the fans sound fine, although im not sure how to tell. I find it very unlikely that heating is the problem, the pc was left in my room which was very cold for the 2 weeks, it might explain why it was working yesterday when i got back and not today when it had warmed up a bit but I still find this doubtful. Im in north west England in the dead cold of winter... my pc has operated in far warmer temperatures just fine.

01-04-2008, 02:29 PM	#5 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Dell PSU problem? I would try another PSU dell's are famous for weak power supplies try an antec trio power 550 watt avoid the junkers and the cheapies http://www.ebuyer.com/product/114931 __________________ 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

01-04-2008, 03:02 PM	#6 (permalink)
Cthonix Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: Dell PSU problem? Well besides the fact that I’m working on a budget (I can afford it but it cuts into my funds for a new CPU and/or Graphics card), I'd prefer to ascertain that it is in fact the PSU, which is the problem before buying a new one. Got a friend coming over with one of his own PSUs tomorrow to see if that'll make it work. Until then I'm just wondering if there’s anything I could have missed. It seems odd to me for it to be a PSU problem. Wouldn't it show different behaviour when unplugged if it were the PSU?

01-04-2008, 03:25 PM	#7 (permalink)
linderman Moderator, Hardware Team Join Date: May 2005 Posts: 20,437 OS: win 2000 pro / Win XP pro My System	Re: Dell PSU problem? psu problems can take on so many different behaviors; they can be really rough to isloate let us know once you try your friends unit __________________ 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

01-05-2008, 08:21 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cthonix Registered User Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 20 OS: XP	Re: Dell PSU problem? Last night I decided I'd give it one last go and see if my PC worked. And for some reason it did. Apparently all my tinkerings over the day and de dusting of everything did something. Though why it chose to work then I have no idea. When it rebooted it gave me some wierd beeps, told me I didnt have a floppy drive (which I don't) and that system battery voltage was low or some such. Then when it loaded it told me that it had to recover from a registry log file and that half my programs were new to it and that it was May. 2005. 1am. But other than that it works fine, and since it's still working today I think its fixed...maybe...