Topic: Dell Optiplex GX270 SFF boot up problem

[DaSilva]

Well this is the problem:
 I have a Dell Optiplex GX270 SFF, who was working just fine, I just formatted the hard drive, installed again a new fresh copy of the XP Professional and done some other installations.
 I decided to swap the cd drive for a dvd rw drive, so I opened the box after discharge all the residual power in the box and swapped the drives.
 I closed the box and powered it up, for my surprise she won't power up, giving me a fixed yellow light in the power switch and the noise of only the fans working really slow.
 I decided then to revert all the changes back, but with no effect at all.
 I swapped the power supply with a working one and nothing, I decided to unplug all the hardware and try 1 by 1 and with no effect.
 The caps in the motherboard look all really ok, no leaking and all flatted as they need.


 Any help (ideas)
 
 King Regards
                                       Da Silva 

[bigguy]

Check the jumpers on the back of the cd drive and make sure they are set right. Welcome to the site btw.

[DaSilva]

Thanks  , they are ok.
But even if they weren't I disconected all the hardware and all remained the same 

[butchas]

When you format a drive for a Dell you need to install all the dell drivers from the Dell Diagnostic CD.  Then go on-line and update them.

I would check and re-seat all the connections cables and etc.  Then I would check the power usage of the DVD drive and make sure it is not too excessive.

If possible try running the Dell Diagnostic CD and see if something is wrong with the hardware.  Choose custom test, select the non interactive tests only, and set the Iterations to at least ten or run them overnight at infinate.

Could still be the power supply.  The SFF PS's go bad when they are sitting.  See if it works on another computer?  I had bad power supply on three dells that sat for a year.  For one, I found an old GX100 SFF case (which is the same size as the midsize dell 270 case) and placed the GX270 SFF motherboard in it, swapped over most of the electronics except for th power button and upgraded the powersupply to a larger midsize flat GX270 PS.  Best choice will be one with a SATA connection.  You will need the cables and a SATA drive.  This was practically a bolt in.  Purrs like a kitten with a big speed boost.  I guess you could jury rig a 3rd party external PS too...

[DaSilva]

I have done all of that taking off the tests since the computer don't boot up, I tried with other power supply, who works in other GX270SFF ok, and still do not boot, disconnected all and reconnected still dead, could be the motherboard as died?

[butchas]

Possibly.

Check the dell diagnostic lights here.

Since you have another computer try swapping some parts.  I would borrow a working HD and CD from a good computer for a test.

I would try unplugging the computer, removing the battery and waiting a few minutes then reinstall the battery and start it up.

If you get it to work at any time run the dell diagnostics cd and make sure you configure the BIOS correctly.
 

[bigguy]

Swapping some parts might be the only way to figure this problem out. Are there any audible beeps at all.

[DaSilva]

no beeps at all, all dead just the fans working really slow motion  , I have tried all the hardware in other place and they work, i can't try the processor or motherboard cause they are compatible with the other system i have 

[butchas]

Is the processor a pentium?  Did the fan ever make loud noises for long periods of time?

[DaSilva]

It is a Pentium 4 HT 2.8 and yes before all happened the fan was working like if it was a jet, but people told me that if even was the processor the computer would give the test lights on the back, and that ones are all off.

[butchas]

Same thing happened to a midsize GX280 that was given to me that had a pentium 4.  The ps was yellow, no test lights, the fan roared like a jet engine, and the caps were not exploded.  The motherboard was bad.  The third cap from the right (standing behind the computer) under the fan looked puffy but did not explode.  My guess was that it was overheated by the old fan going too slow.  I am positive that your fan is bad.

With my system, I pulled the pentium4 and put it in a SFF motherboard and fitted that into the larger box (had to add ground lugs) with an extra fan for good measure.  It worked fine.

I tried swapping fan motors and it did not work for me.  Maybe it will work for you.  Please note that you should switch the fan motors only.  If you remove the heat sink then you will need dielectric compound.

Since it overheated the CPU may be good or it may be bad.  The only way to test it is to throw it in another computer and see if it runs for a week.  But make sure get a good fan for it...

[DaSilva]

Hi just posting back 


 Problem resolved with new motherboard, works just fine like a Swiss clock 


Thanks for all the help 

[bigguy]

Glad to hear it. To bad it took a new board to get it fixed but it happens.

[butchas]

Good news.  I hope you got a fan too.

[Talvace]

could have been a problem with one of the ram slots on the old board.