Dell Optiplex PC restarts before booting
Hi,
After a power outage, my Dell Optiplex 960 can't start, and I can't figure out what exactly the problem is.
When first plugging it in, it starts for a couple seconds and shuts down, if I remember correctly, that's normal behavior.
When pushing the power button, the same thing happens again and again.
The way I see it, if it was a broken PSU, then nothing would start up at all, and the same for motherboard?
If it was RAM, then I would get the bips, and not continuous restarts.
any thoughts?
After a power outage, my Dell Optiplex 960 can't start, and I can't figure out what exactly the problem is.
When first plugging it in, it starts for a couple seconds and shuts down, if I remember correctly, that's normal behavior.
When pushing the power button, the same thing happens again and again.
The way I see it, if it was a broken PSU, then nothing would start up at all, and the same for motherboard?
If it was RAM, then I would get the bips, and not continuous restarts.
any thoughts?
mvalencia2003
outdated Intel Matrix Drivers. (specifically iastor.sys)
or :
If you have an extra NIC , try :
1. Disable the NIC in the BIOS.
2. Turn OFF the computer.
3. Install the extra NIC Card.
4. Turn ON the computer and make sure the new NIC card gets its drivers and is fully functional.
5. Turn OFF the computer.
6. Turn ON the computer, wait for a few minutes after it loads ..........................
7. RESTART the computer and let it try to load ..........................
If you have an extra NIC , try :
1. Disable the NIC in the BIOS.
2. Turn OFF the computer.
3. Install the extra NIC Card.
4. Turn ON the computer and make sure the new NIC card gets its drivers and is fully functional.
5. Turn OFF the computer.
6. Turn ON the computer, wait for a few minutes after it loads ..........................
7. RESTART the computer and let it try to load ..........................
ASKER
Can't reach the BIOS. it restarts before anything comes up, the lights only come up for a couple seconds before it restarts.
Anything USB connected?
Remove cables any external devices other than monitor keyboard mouse.
Could be a faulty external drive or device.
Once everything is disconnected
Can you get into safemode with networking?
Tap F8 continously as soon as you power on and see if you face the same issue there.
In safemode check your date and time is correct
Which windows?
To access the Windows reliability monitor,
Type Reliability Monitor into the search box
a power outage,!!! a power surge!!!- a power brownout are three different types of loss of power, a power outage should not damage your computer as it has just turned it off
how long was it off for?
jump in to safemode and run a quick chkdsk /r. Check the date and time is reset in the bios to correct
Take out the cmos battery put it back in again.
Check the bios
A surge could damage either network card and or video card
depending if it is onboard or a pci
the network card as it's the first device the surge comes in to from the telephone wire/ can be removed to test if there is boot after, if so then just replace it
wired or wireless??
With the video chip or video card noway to test other than get a professional to test a new pci card.
try the DEL diagnostics
As soon as you see the blue Dell logo, start tapping the ‘F12’ key which is at the top of the keyboard.
There's a guide here for the different DEL diagnostics
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19473839.aspx
Any Warranty?
The HDD is likely ok you may need to buy a new computer and just keep this HDD as a secondary drive to save your files off from a new system if that is the way you have to go.
Buy an 2.5 inch" drive external case ie enclosure with a AC power adapter drop this HDD in to it plug it in to the USB for times like this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_enclosure
Remove cables any external devices other than monitor keyboard mouse.
Could be a faulty external drive or device.
Once everything is disconnected
Can you get into safemode with networking?
Tap F8 continously as soon as you power on and see if you face the same issue there.
In safemode check your date and time is correct
Which windows?
To access the Windows reliability monitor,
Type Reliability Monitor into the search box
a power outage,!!! a power surge!!!- a power brownout are three different types of loss of power, a power outage should not damage your computer as it has just turned it off
how long was it off for?
jump in to safemode and run a quick chkdsk /r. Check the date and time is reset in the bios to correct
Take out the cmos battery put it back in again.
Check the bios
A surge could damage either network card and or video card
depending if it is onboard or a pci
the network card as it's the first device the surge comes in to from the telephone wire/ can be removed to test if there is boot after, if so then just replace it
wired or wireless??
With the video chip or video card noway to test other than get a professional to test a new pci card.
try the DEL diagnostics
As soon as you see the blue Dell logo, start tapping the ‘F12’ key which is at the top of the keyboard.
There's a guide here for the different DEL diagnostics
http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/desktop/f/3514/t/19473839.aspx
Any Warranty?
The HDD is likely ok you may need to buy a new computer and just keep this HDD as a secondary drive to save your files off from a new system if that is the way you have to go.
Buy an 2.5 inch" drive external case ie enclosure with a AC power adapter drop this HDD in to it plug it in to the USB for times like this
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Disk_enclosure
If you look at the small light on the back of the PSU it is probably flashing or possibly red. This would indicate a failed PSU and it needs to be replaced. If you aren't making it to the BIOS that is probably the case anyway.
You wan't be able to do any of the previous post because the computer is shutting down before you get to the BIOS. I have seen this numerous times and you need a new PSU.
You wan't be able to do any of the previous post because the computer is shutting down before you get to the BIOS. I have seen this numerous times and you need a new PSU.
ASKER
well yeah, everything related to BIOS and drivers cannot be it.
I never saw a light on the back of the PSU and not in this case as well.
I had a feeling it was related somehow to the power button itself, tried playing with the lead cable from the power button to the motherboard.
There's also an Orange light on the motherboard which is always on.
I started it now and it just worked properly. will leave this open in case someone knows how to explain it...
I never saw a light on the back of the PSU and not in this case as well.
I had a feeling it was related somehow to the power button itself, tried playing with the lead cable from the power button to the motherboard.
There's also an Orange light on the motherboard which is always on.
I started it now and it just worked properly. will leave this open in case someone knows how to explain it...
that looks like a bad contact, so i seggest to open the box, and remove - inspect and reseat ALL connectors and cables
if you need to troubleshoot in the future, use the minimum setup as described in my article :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html (Short-overview-of-how-to-
if you need to troubleshoot in the future, use the minimum setup as described in my article :
https://www.experts-exchange.com/Hardware/Components/Motherboards/A_1945.html (Short-overview-of-how-to-
ASKER CERTIFIED SOLUTION
membership
Create a free account to see this answer
Signing up is free and takes 30 seconds. No credit card required.
ASKER
From other investigation and consultations I have made, this is indeed the correct answer.
Great answer MASQUERAID and thank you for sharing that, personally I didn't know about this circute breaker..
Makes me wonder how many folks have suffered without being informed of this.
Cheers
Makes me wonder how many folks have suffered without being informed of this.
Cheers