Desktops: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine.
Trying to Start Up a potential good machine.
by d9Uga - 8/31/06 5:17 AMI got a Dell Dimesion 4600 as a gift away from a company a week ago. I try to get it to run but it doesn't turn on. I open it up and saw that a green light on the moderboard is on, but when I push the power button, nothing happens. I researched online and learned that the power supply box usually gets bad, so I replace that part, but still, it doesn't start up the machine.
After a two day break I open it up and again and noticed that the rams are not the right kind. The machines uses DIMM, the 2700 DDR and it had some DDR, but not the right ones. The machine has 4 slots that go like this. Two next to each other, a little space and then two more next to each other. I heard that this type of RAM works in pairs.
Before I go for the 80.00 USD purchace of that kind of RAMs I wonder, is it normal for the machine to at least try to run even if no RAMs chip are present or even if the wrong type of RAM is install?
Any tips or advices that you can give me.
Thanks.
I go for beeps.
by R. Proffitt
- 8/31/06 5:22 AM
In reply to: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine. by d9Uga
I strip such a machine down to just CPU/HSF, motherboard, power supply and the speaker. If it doesn't beep then I am looking at the bad parts.
Bob
Re: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine.
by WhyFi - 8/31/06 5:29 AM In reply to: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine. by d9UgaIt should still start, even with the slower than spec RAM (PC3200).
Is the MB doing anything else? Beeping?
If you do suspect a bad stick of RAM, you can always try to fire it up with only one stick at a time.
Also, was this PC new? Or was it part of a the company fleet that they were replacing? IE, has it been known to work in the past?
Trying to Start Up a potential good machine.
by yohyohoshin - 8/31/06 5:49 AM In reply to: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine. by d9Ugasince the green light on the moderboard is on, looks like the power supply is working....
Might be that the cable from the power switch isnt connected to the right slot on the mother board!
Good luck
Not the RAM
by weirdboy09 - 8/31/06 9:23 AM In reply to: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine. by d9UgaWell, first of all I would doubt that Dell would send out a computer with the wrong type of RAM. If it were the wrong type of RAM, it probably wouldn't fit the slots. Also, RAM does not have to be installed in pairs anymore, that was true of very old computers, Pentium I and earlier. Another thing, if the computer has no RAM or often times if the RAM is bad, the computer will emit a beep code when you try to power it on, same if there is not a working video card or no video card present.
When installing the new power supply, be sure that you are connecting both the 24-pin and the 4-pin connectors to the motherboard. If only the 24-pin connector is plugged in, the computer will not boot but the green motherboard light may still come on. If you are not getting any lights or fans it is usually the power supply.
Try removing the components from the machine one by one and trying to turn the machine back on after each removal. IE, remove one stick of RAM and try to turn it on. Then remove the other stick and put the first stick back in. The goal here is to reduce the number of components that could be causing the problem.
If you get down to just the motherboard, RAM, and power supply, try removing both sticks of RAM and turn the machine on. If it emits a beep code you probably have bad RAM. The last thing to do is remove the motherboard from the casing and try to start it on a solid, non-conductive surface such as a wood bench. This is called bench-testing. The last thing that could be causing your problem is the motherboard. It also could be the processor, but it is EXTREMELY unlikely that a processor would go bad, unless there was an issue with your processor heatsink and fan.
Hope this helps.
A very new machine and it takes PAIRS.
by R. Proffitt - 8/31/06 9:27 AM
In reply to: Not the RAM by weirdboy09
"Modules must be installed in Matched Pairs"
http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/memory/Mac-Pro-Memory
Go figure.
Bob
PSU
by Scrotes4Life - 8/31/06 5:24 PM In reply to: Trying to Start Up a potential good machine. by d9UgaSome of the DELLs use proprietary wiring. Of the top of my head, I think that unit is one of those. Check your wire colors at the main connector and see if they match and align with the old unit's connector. I'll sign out and see if I can locate the website for DELL PSUs. Be right back.
PC POWER AND COOLING
by Scrotes4Life - 8/31/06 5:26 PM In reply to: PSU by Scrotes4Lifewww.PC Power and Cooling.com has all the DELL PSUs.
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