anyone,
I have a Dell Dimension 5100. Now I am A+ certified and normally can fix any computer problem but this one has me stumped. The system will not start. No post, no power up, heck the LED wont even light up on the front. I have replaced the front I/O board and I can see the power supply is good because the LED on the motherboard lights up. I have even gone as far as replacing the Power supply. I have checked all the connections and the ONLY guesstimation I have is that the hard drive is shot so it doesn't know to send power through the system to start up. Any thoughts? Ideas? Much obliged!
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Well, I have removed the CMOS battery, I still get the LED on the MoBo itself but the power still does not spin up the hard drive. Heck I can't even get a fan. I guess this means the MoBo is shot. I just wanted to check with some other IT folks to make sure I wasn't missing anything. Well, like they say, easy come, easier go.... Thanks all for your help!
Although an answer has already been accepted, would like to add these comments.
Anytime you have a system that will not boot, the very first thing to do is reduce down to the minimum number of components required to boot the system. You should be left with, mobo, CPU, memory, video adapter (if not integrated), PSU, and keyboard. Then if it still won't boot, start replacing any components you can, starting with PSU. It will even power on with memory removed although it'll beep constantly.
Yes, it's probably the motherboard, but you don't know if a drive or PCI card is shorted at this point.
All the green (or amber or red or some other color) LED on motherboard means is that 5VDC standby power is being applied. I recently replaced a PSU where all rails except 5VDC were dead. It lit the mobo LED. That's a very unusual occurrence, but it can happen. I recommend you invest in an inexpensive power supply tester. They start at under $10.00.
http://www.ascendtech.us/i
Had same problem with client found motherboard here lot less than $700.00
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by: eagle0468Posted on 2007-08-27 at 16:49:38ID: 19779445
You've replaced the PS and still having the same issue. Your next likely suspec is the MB. I would suggest having that replaced. Just one question though; do you hear the hard drive spin up when you power the system on? If so, then that would also indicate an issue with the MoBo.