Dell Dimension 2300- anyone have one?

Seany · October 28, 2010, 06:41:45 PM

I am trying to fix a Dell Dimension 2300 that refuses to power on. What I would like to know, If anyone has one, is if there is an LED on the motherboard that indicates that power is successfully going through the motherboard.

Most PCs for the past few years have such an LED but I think this model of Dell may not.

If it does have one that would be great because it would let me know for sure that the mobo is toast, as I see no such lights on this Dell. :g:

thanks.

TeaLeaf · October 28, 2010, 08:34:58 PM

If there's power to the mobo you should get beeps from it. Either a RAM post or a series of beeps telling you something is wrong. So if you're getting no beeps then either then speaker has blown or you're getting no power to it. That's my 2 cents anyway.

Gorion · October 29, 2010, 02:46:48 PM

There are circumstances were the mobo works yet it doesn't beep.

By any chance, did you check your psu? Plug it into another pc if possible.

TeaLeaf · October 29, 2010, 03:48:26 PM

Quote from: Gorion;318577There are circumstances were the mobo works yet it doesn't beep.

Did you want to give us an example? Assuming things are properly connected I had thought it a 2 option decision and would be interested to know other options.

Gorion · October 29, 2010, 04:11:19 PM

It can be either mobo, psu, wires/switches or cpu related.

The "beep" is an indication that the post has been completed successfully. If there is no beep and the pc is on, you have to test those three components out by themselves.

Basically, if any of those three fail the post, you won't hear a beep and the bios won't load. If a pc doesn't even start up the problem should be either the psu or the mobo, but it might also be switch, fuse or internal connectors. One needs to start testing individual components out and start crossing off the items form the list.

TeaLeaf · October 29, 2010, 06:06:04 PM

Ahah, so true, the bleeding obvious usually is! Thanks

Gorion · October 29, 2010, 06:13:34 PM

Quote from: TeaLeaf;318595Ahah, so true, the bleeding obvious usually is! Thanks

No probs.

The obvious tends to be the most frustrating sometimes, and the kind of problem that slips the mind.

Seany · October 30, 2010, 05:36:54 PM

Thank guys, managed to get my hands on another PSU and confirmed the original is dead.

What made me believe it was the motherboard was fact it's a Dell, whom have terrible track record with leaking capacitors and failed mobos in general. Never a good frame of mind to start troubleshooting with though (assumption)

T-Bag · October 30, 2010, 07:05:31 PM

Quote from: Seany;318627Thank guys, managed to get my hands on another PSU and confirmed the original is dead.

What made me believe it was the motherboard was fact it's a Dell, whom have terrible track record with leaking capacitors and failed mobos in general. Never a good frame of mind to start troubleshooting with though (assumption)

They have an even worse track record on PSUs. The IT guy in my department keeps having to change them regularly. I doubt there are many more than 150 machines, but as it's a physics department they're generally on 24/7 and being run as a cluster when people go home (or that's the idea at least)...still the failure rate seems pretty high.