Dell desktop shuts down and restarts on its own
So I have a client that have a continious problem with his fairly new desktop (about 1 year old). The computer shuts down on its own and restarts. No BSOD so no dmp files to analize.
The Dell quick diagnostics do not give any failures and all components test pass. I did re-seat all the RAM modules.
I had Dell to come out and swap the motherboard and a power supply. The system ran OK for a day and shut down again today.
The only thing I noticed the aux led on the motherboard is yellow. Not sure if that should be green or maybe its ok.
The system is still on warranty but its a horrendous experience to deal with Dell.
Any advice appreciated.
Thank you.
The Dell quick diagnostics do not give any failures and all components test pass. I did re-seat all the RAM modules.
I had Dell to come out and swap the motherboard and a power supply. The system ran OK for a day and shut down again today.
The only thing I noticed the aux led on the motherboard is yellow. Not sure if that should be green or maybe its ok.
The system is still on warranty but its a horrendous experience to deal with Dell.
Any advice appreciated.
Thank you.
There are normally only 3 things that will make a system suddenly shut down. The PSU, motherboard and the display adapter.
ASKER
This is an Optiplex 755. I looked around the Dell's support and did not see anything regarding that yellow AUX LED. I am suprized too the motherboard replacement did not correct the issue.
I would try re-installing the drivers for the display adapter.
ASKER
The thing is the system event log doesn't show any errors either.
These mobos have a yellow heartbeat LED so no worries there. Do you have a power surge protector on the unit? Is Windows patched with all updates? Reseating the ram was a good start but this time try putting one in at a time and running the PC. If it runs good for a bit then add a second etc.. I suspect bad ram.
Were you able to look at the cpu seating yet? As I said, a system that shuts down on it's own after about the same amount of up time usually means an overheating somewhere.
ASKER
Didn't get to CPU yet. I don't think it shuts down after same amount of uptime. Its completely sporadic.
I know it may not be pretty, but put the onus where it lies. Make Dell honor the warranty.
If it's random and the motherboard and power supply have been replaced the problem is narrowed down quite a bit. RAM, CPU, Video or even possible short between the motherboard and casing (which I doubt).
At this point I would start replacing one RAM stick at a time (as mentioned above). And test. One stick only and run for effectiveness. If it fails, remove that stick and replace, so and so forth. But also as mentioned above, if this were my system (and I'm a tech), Dell is honoring this warranty. It's their obligation to troubleshoot and repair this system. Not yours. And besides, you could run the risk of ruining the warranty if they find out you've had your hands in the system.
At this point I would start replacing one RAM stick at a time (as mentioned above). And test. One stick only and run for effectiveness. If it fails, remove that stick and replace, so and so forth. But also as mentioned above, if this were my system (and I'm a tech), Dell is honoring this warranty. It's their obligation to troubleshoot and repair this system. Not yours. And besides, you could run the risk of ruining the warranty if they find out you've had your hands in the system.
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The machine is very clean inside/out. I will check the power tonight though.
Light is always amber on the motherboard of a Dell optiplex 755, check and see in the bios for "restart computer after power failure" and if that is on turn it off... That will tell us what is going on next time you experience this issue... The computer won't restart if it thinks it is experiencing a "power failure" and then we can look forward to see if you need some kind of power conditioning device or whatnot.
-Joe
-Joe
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for troubleshooting, disconnect devices and cards, or disable tehm from the bios.
i mean : all extra disk, and cd drives, remove extra ram sticks - add on cards
disable sound and network from bios to test !
i mean : all extra disk, and cd drives, remove extra ram sticks - add on cards
disable sound and network from bios to test !
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Looks like I found a cultpit last ngiht. The computer plugged into the APC UPS and the USP into the power strip that is plugged into the wall jack.
I noticed the power green light on APC is off even though it still holding a power. So I removed the UPS and plugged directly into the power strip. So shut downs so far. Most likely that UPS was causing power spikes that shuttnig down a computer.
I will report in a bit.
Thanks!!
I noticed the power green light on APC is off even though it still holding a power. So I removed the UPS and plugged directly into the power strip. So shut downs so far. Most likely that UPS was causing power spikes that shuttnig down a computer.
I will report in a bit.
Thanks!!
an UPS causing power spikes...lol
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Exactly :-)
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Hopefully that's the problem. I will wait through the day today to confirm. No shut downs so far.
hi
just chk power supply wattage,
if power supply wattge is good(450w) then u chk with out hard disk system will run properly,then u have to install new os.
just chk power supply wattage,
if power supply wattge is good(450w) then u chk with out hard disk system will run properly,then u have to install new os.
Dell has a good web site for troubleshooting. You might head over there and look up the customer's make and model. Then you can take a look at that yellow motherboard LED.
I'm a little surprised that a new power supply and/or motherboard didn't correct this issue though. But as I'm sure you know, new doesn't mean that it can't be bad.