| Author |
Message |
Brooks
| | Posted on Thursday, April 7, 2005 - 8:33 pm: | |
I have a 5-year old Dell Dimension L series, Pentium III processor, 667 MHz. It runs very well after the first startup of the day. However, if I shut it down after a brief session of use, say 1-2 hours, and then restart moments later, the computer won't turn on. But then if I wait long enough, it can be turned on again. A few times I just opened the case and used a dust spray and sprayed the inside to cool down, including the power supply fan; I could turn the computer on. The computer is plugged to a power bar. One time, I left the switch of the power bar on all night while the computer was already shut down, next morning I couldn't simply turn it on. Again I sprayed the inside of the computer a couple of times. The trick worked. I was able to turn the computer on.
What could be the problem? Was the power supply of the computer still drawing some current from the power bar which led to overheating? Is it the malfunction of the power supply? I don't think it was the CPU or its fan overheating because the computer was not on and running overnight.
I need some expert advice. Thank you.
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Moderator (Es)
Username: Es
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Friday, April 8, 2005 - 7:15 pm: | |
With the info you have provided, I would suspect the power supply failing. Check the fan in the power supply when you turn it on, if the fan does not spin than heat is probably the issue and you should at the very least replace the fan. |
Haley
| | Posted on Saturday, April 9, 2005 - 5:34 pm: | |
I had a similar problem with a Dell computer. What I did I took the power supply out and gave a good blast of dusting spray around the fan area and inside the assembly. Also it is a good idea to direct the spraying to the CPU fan. Pry open the heat sink and clean the area thoroughly with dusting spray. After the treatment, the computer has since been working fine with no power problem. |
Brooks
| | Posted on Tuesday, April 12, 2005 - 10:42 pm: | |
I took it out and gave a good blast of dusting spray then replaced. The problem hasn't really gone away. Is there a way to test if the power supply is at fault. Any diagnostic test? I've read that Dell power supply is proprietary and is not a standard ATX. So it would be hard to find it on the market except if I can get it from Dell. |
Moderator (Es)
Username: Es
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Wednesday, April 13, 2005 - 7:32 am: | |
Some Dell power supplys are proprietary and some are not. If you have a computer shop near you, take the power supply into them and have them check it. Most places will do this for free. |
Brooks
| | Posted on Saturday, April 16, 2005 - 5:51 pm: | |
Thank you Es. As it turns out the power supply is not a standard ATX. I have to get it from Dell which takes about 7-10 business days to arrive. In the meantime somebody said that the motherboard may be the problem. How could the motherboard cause the power-up problem? Can you explain?
If I decide to put this Dell computer to rest (a Pentium III, 667 mHz) and go for another computer (a similar one or P4), can I move all my programs and data over by installing the existing hard drive in the new system? I am using the Windows XP operating system. |
Moderator (Es)
Username: Es
Registered: 6-2003
| | Posted on Sunday, April 17, 2005 - 7:02 am: | |
The short answer on the hard drive issue/swap is yes and no. Yes, the hard drive can be used in the new system and data can be transferred via a master and slave config of two hard drives. The new being the master and the old being the slave.
No, you probably won't be able to use the existing operating system as it is already installed on the DELL P3, There would be to many changes hardware wise between the old and new mainboard.
The mainboard question isn't as easy to answer.
On your mainboard are electrolytic capacitors. These caps act as filters and have other properties which allow them to be used in many ways.
Over time these capacitors will "dry out" or "leak" and bulge out at the top and may appear to ooze from the bulged top.
These capacitors are easy to spot. they look like small "cans" with shiny metal tops.
Flat tops are good coned shape tops are bad. |
Brooks
| | Posted on Friday, April 22, 2005 - 10:32 pm: | |
To follow up the problem, it is very likely that the power supply is under-powered. The Dimension L PS that I have has 145 watts and it is running two printers, 1 network, 1 modem, 1 CD-RW and of course other standard hardware attached to a system. I have disabled a few peripherals attached to the computer and since then it has been running well. Now I am going to get a standard 250 watt PS plus a Dell PS adapter that is available over the internet because I have no way of knowing if I can get a higher wattage for this PS from Dell. |
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