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Question

Dell Optiplex Won't Boot UP

May 10, 2012 3:40PM PDT

My granddaughters computer. Has been working fine. Four days ago my wife took over a new modem {internet provider Clear}. Kids also connected to tv the same night.Computer will not boot up. Tried to do system repair and system response is CD drive is not available.When system gets close to booting {will not boot in safe mode] the fan starts racing I cleaned fan, heat sink and applied new thermal compound. The screen also goes very dim.

All four diagnostic lights are green

I am lost here. I have numerous Dell Optiplex parts here but I do not know where to start.

Discussion is locked

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Answer
Tell more about this close to booting.
May 10, 2012 3:48PM PDT

It appears the machine did in fact BOOT. It just didn't boot up Windows. It could be the old issues with old CD drives and failing hard drives but the clues and story are too slim. But I'd still swap those out.
Bob

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Dell Optiplex Won't Boot UP
May 24, 2012 8:48AM PDT

Hi, I have five Dells because they are cheap and easy to work on as long as they work. In my grandaughters, I have tried 3 DVD which I just pulled a month ago when I updated by PCs' Have tried two hard drives. Have replaced power supply three times; replaced the IDE cable for DVD. Removed the graphics card. Replaced the RAM. Replaced the hard drive connection cable. I have one more hard drive I am going to replace even though I am pretty sure the first two are ok. All these parts were pulled from working computers; I buy a couple every month strictly for parts. Only cost is $50 - $60. It is the challenge that drives me on this. PC still will not boot to windows and does not ego

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All that means is
May 24, 2012 10:35AM PDT

You didn't find the bad part or parts. But you did reveal you are swapping drives but didn't write you reinstalled Windows. That's a great clue.

Has anyone told you why Windows fails to boot after such a move? (I won't today)
Bob

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Answer
Dell Optiplex Won't Boot UP
May 24, 2012 8:47AM PDT

Hi, I have five Dells because they are cheap and easy to work on as long as they work. In my grandaughters, I have tried 3 DVD which I just pulled a month ago when I updated by PCs' Have tried two hard drives. Have replaced power supply three times; replaced the IDE cable for DVD. Removed the graphics card. Replaced the RAM. Replaced the hard drive connection cable. I have one more hard drive I am going to replace even though I am pretty sure the first two are ok. All these parts were pulled from working computers; I buy a couple every month strictly for parts. Only cost is $50 - $60. It is the challenge that drives me on this. PC still will not boot to windows and does not recognize the DVD drive.

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Bad caps
May 25, 2012 9:06AM PDT

You didn't state what Dell PCs are at work here. But, often enough many a Dell has the "bad caps" or the mtrbd. is kaput. If you did a complete re-install, etc., all that was left is the mtrbd. which probably didn't get swapped out, you have your clue. Google for bad caps examples and YES! I have replaced many a Dell mtrbd. for clients.

tada -----Willy Happy

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Dell Optiplex Won't Boot UP
May 25, 2012 1:51PM PDT

Hi, was not thinking, can't reload windows because PC does not recogize DVD drive; All of my PCs are GX280's; do you think it is a bad motherboad?

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Very common
May 26, 2012 12:50AM PDT

If another drive works or tests OK elsewhere, then consider a bad mtrbd. and/or the drive port itself is bad. A good test is make a bootable Ubuntu disc, make sure drive is 1st boot device and check results. If it still doesn't work, then very probable bad mtrbd. or port. The Dell GX260 and 280 models are constant mtrbd. replacement items. The good news, if you had a working Dell GX280, replace the mtrbd. can w/o any other item fix the problem. Of course, you do need to check and inspect any replacement mtrbd., it just MAYBE one I've sent back. Wink

FYI- Google for bad caps examples, understand it doesn't need to be entirely blown or so obvious, many are slightly tilted or busted/distended bottoms.

tada -----Willy Happy