Standby and Die

Standby and Die

by Powlaz Sep 13, 2006 9:34AM PDT

I have a P4 1.4 512MB RAM, 80GB HDD, Windows XP Dell PC in excellent condition up until I went to turn it off last night. Instead of powering down the PC I put it in standby mode.

The computer is now making a ticking noise, I can't power it down using the power button and when I pull the plug then plug it back in nothing changes. I can hear the HDD turn on, but the DVD-RW tray doesn't close, the monitor doesn't come on, Windows doesn't load - nothing. Something just keeps ticking.

What am I supposed to do fix this. I don't think I mentioned that I just reloaded the C: drive. There's hardly any software installed. The HDD is from Western Digital and is only 1 year old. I don't expect it to go for a while. The ONLY thing I did differently was clicked 'Standby' instead of 'Turn Off'.

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by Powlaz Sep 13, 2006 10:02AM PDT

Dell 8100 PC with Dell mobo. I opened the PC and disconnected the DVD-RW, HDD 1, HDD 2, HDD3 etc. I found the ticking is somehow related to the motherboard. The green power light on the mother board is flashing in rhythm with the ticking.

Anybody run into this before?

PO

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(NT) (NT) Sounds to me like the power supply died.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 13, 2006 12:00PM PDT

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Are you certain?

by Powlaz Sep 17, 2006 10:29AM PDT

I'm inclined to trust your statement but what I didn't mention is that my P4 is one of the first generation P4s in a Dell 8100. My Dell 8100 was the last of the Dell PCs with a propietary power supply (24 pin and 16 pin to the motherboard). So I'm going to need to spend $80 to test your idea.

Is there a way I can prove that the power supply is the problem or are you certain based on what I described?

Po

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Easy to test.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 17, 2006 12:14PM PDT

Put an oscilloscope on the power supply legs and see if it's flat and steady or jumping up and down.

I never leave such units on since such a failed supply is usually overshooting the supply rails and frying more parts. But this is the choice of the owner here.

You should also be aware of the inexpensive Dell power supply adapters that from memory were all of 15 or less dollars that let us use common power supplies. I don't know if they are still around but it was the solution friends used a few years ago.

Bob

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Know Your Audience

by Powlaz Sep 26, 2006 12:06AM PDT

An Oscilloscope??? Thanks a lot Bob. Would a power supply test tool ($12) serve the purpose?

Anyway, I do appreciate the heads-up about the power supply adapter. Unfortunately I only found 2 sites that offer them and neither of them make one to work with the Dimension 8100.

So I bought a new power supply. Here's hoping . . .

Thanks for the advice.

Po

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I'll write no.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 26, 2006 12:24AM PDT

The power supply test tool is too limited in it's test. It does not check for ripples, dips, spikes or if the voltage is in spec on each line. The oscilloscope does all that. We have them in the office and while expensive they are indispensable at such tests.

The rest of the world finds replacing the supply to be the cheap route.

Bob

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Thanks Bob

by Powlaz Sep 28, 2006 9:42AM PDT

I appreciate and respect your advice. The oscilloscope was a little over my head (I'm a home user and a new power supply is the better alternative $$ wise) but it gave me something to think about.

I very recently learned how to use a mulitmeter to test the output of a power supply. I own a mulitmeter so that's what I'm going to use from now on. Any draw backs you can think to checking the voltage output of the power supply (3.3, 5, 12v +/- 10%)

Thanks again Bob

Po

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I think that's a great idea.

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Sep 28, 2006 9:54AM PDT

While not as thorough as an oscilloscope it could see if the rails are close to spec.

Bob

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Well . . . I'm . . . Speechless

by Powlaz Oct 3, 2006 12:16PM PDT

I installed the NEW power supply and nothing changed. I reinstalled the original power supply and - you guessed it - everything worked just fine.

I don't know what to say. Thanks anyway for the help. I don't know what to say.

Po

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Next time. Wiggle, shove ...

by r. proffitt Forum moderator Oct 3, 2006 10:46PM PDT

Unplug and plug in all connections. Your last change now gives up the clue a connection was failing.

Bob

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