Dell Dimension 2400 P4 2.66GHz
The user said that the computer "froze" and had to shut down with the power switch. Upon attempting to reboot, nothing. I found the original symptoms to be:
" Diagnostic lights: A=off B=off C=off D=amber
" Power light=steady amber
" No video, no boot, no post codes (beeps)
" CPU & PS fans=on, mobo flea light=on, hard drive spins up and drive light comes on.
I checked voltages from the PS and they seemed within tolerance so I replaced the mobo with a Dell certified refurb. After installing it I got:
" Diagnostic lights: A=off B=off C=off D=off
" Power light=steady amber
" No video, no boot, no post codes (beeps)
" CPU & PS fans=on, mobo flea light=on, hard drive spins up and drive light comes on.
So except for the diag lights, identical problem. In both cases I tried unplugging everything except the CPU power, but nothing changes, no beep codes. Also tried a different P4 processor (2.88GHz)... still nothing.
I replaced the power supply with an exact replacement (HP-P2007F3) and still have the same results. Again, voltages appear to be within tolerance.
The weird thing is that the 2.66GHz CPU gets very hot rapidly and the system shuts itself off after 10 seconds or so, but the 2.88GHz CPU stays cooler and the lights remain on.
Maybe 2nd mobo is bad again? Dell says that all diag lights being off means a "pre-boot failure". Nobody has been able to tell me exactly what that means but to me that means CPU or BIOS problem. Anybody have a clue?
