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iman2418

14 Posts

18394

October 25th, 2007 08:00

XPS400 shuts off right after powering up

 
Here's the status:
-My computer shuts down a few seconds after I power up.
-If I leave the computer off for 2-3 weeks, then it powers up!!!
-Last time it powered up, it actually ran fine for about day. In that time, I got a chance to run all the DELL diagnostics and check everything and all seemed to work. Then the next time I tried to power up, it shut off right after I tried to power up.
-That was about a month ago. I tried a few times since then, it was showing the same behavior.
-I tried again last night after a week or two of not touching it. IT POWERED UP!! Running dignostics doesn't show any problems.
 
One observation I've made is that if the computer is in a mood to power up (Once a month) then, if I plugin the power cord, the computer fans spins for a split second and then it quiets down. Then if I presss the power button, it starts without any problems.
If however the computer is in a mood not to start, when I plug the power cord in, the fans start running in full force as if the computer is trying to start even though I haven't pressed the power button. But once it goes down this path trying to power up for 2-3 seconds, then it shuts off as if I cut the power. The green light on the motherboard stays on.
 
HEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLPPPPPPPPPPPPP
 
I am so frustrated with this!

iman2418

14 Posts

October 26th, 2007 01:00

 
Well... it doesn't get far enough for the diagnostics lights to do much. It shuts down within 1-2 seconds. Within that time however, the light colors are pretty much the same as when the system does power up,
 
I did unplug everything, including all the ram modules (except one of course) and changed the power supply just in case. In one instance, I even took out the video card. The behavior is the same even with the barebone system and with the new powersupply!
 
Si
 
 
 

PETER345

5.8K Posts

October 26th, 2007 01:00

What do the power light and the diagnostic lights indicate when it doesn't start?

Did you try reseating all cables, cards and RAM?

Did you try disconnecting everything optional (everything except 1 HD, minimum RAM and graphics card) including USB devices?

Peter

PETER345

5.8K Posts

October 26th, 2007 02:00

That seems to leave the motherboard and CPU.


Peter

iman2418

14 Posts

October 26th, 2007 03:00

 
Yes!
On one occasion when the computer didboot up, I ran the full suite of DELL diagnostics. Both the CPU and the motherboard passed with flying colors!
 
 

PETER345

5.8K Posts

October 26th, 2007 04:00

Is it possible that something is loose?

How about a problem with the input power?

Peter

iman2418

14 Posts

October 26th, 2007 04:00

 
Well, I have changed the power supply so that is not a problem.
 
I think the key is in the following observation:
 
When computer working:
if I plug the power cord in, then the computer doesn't try to power up, fans don't start moving. Things start only when I press the "power on" button.
 
When computer not working:
The computer tries to power up when I plug the power cord in.Fans start in full force, etc. and things shut off withing a few seconds.
 
 

iman2418

14 Posts

October 26th, 2007 04:00

 
Well. that is not possible since the green LED on the motherboard stays on when the computer cannot power up.
 
:(
 

PETER345

5.8K Posts

October 26th, 2007 04:00

I wouldn't read too much to that LED being on. It seems to go on even when there are big problems with the PSU or elsewhere.

Peter

masteff

65 Posts

October 26th, 2007 17:00

Why are you pulling the power cord out everytime?  You should be on a surge protector and, if you really want to cut power completely, use it's switch.
 
1) Since you're pulling the power, the battery on the motherboard for the clock, etc, is getting used more.  It may be run down.  Try replacing that battery.
2) Check all your bios settings.  Especially look at the one for what action to take if power is lost.  You're unplugging it, which to the PC looks like a power outage.  Even turned off, a trickle of power goes to the motherboard so it knows.
3) Try reflashing the bios.

Davet50

4 Operator

 • 

14.4K Posts

October 26th, 2007 20:00

masteff
you have hit his problem right on the head...all that pluging and unpluging the computer has thrown it into a tizzy......
 
and FYI .Iman2418....... it is normal for the fans to ramp up if the power cord is unpluged and pluged back in that is the system accessing a small part of the Bios program to load necesssary data into the bios ram in order for the system to boot
 
 
Bottom line like Masteff has said DON"T unplug the power cord unless your are going inside the system case...just use turn off command from within windows...


Message Edited by Davet50 on 10-26-2007 05:18 PM

iman2418

14 Posts

October 26th, 2007 20:00

 
Well.. it's not like I unplug the power cord every time I'm done using the computer! It's usually hybernating.
The reason I'm talking about unplugging the power cord is that I sure don't want the power cord to be attached when I'm unplugging components! So the observations I'm posting is along that course of experimenting.
 
aaaahhhhhhh....... :(
 
Oh! And I did re-flash the bios before. Probems continue on.
 

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