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16 Posts
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4682
June 30th, 2017 16:00
Dell Vostro 270s does not start
I trying to fix a Dell Vostro 270s from 2013 that does not start. It had been left on - sleeping - over the weekend and was found off on Monday morning.
When I looked at it the first time the green LED next to the power cable at the back of the computer was not on even though the cable was connected to an outlet.
After removing the cable, waiting for some time, then reconnecting the cable again the green LED comes on. However, as soon as I press the power button the LED in the power button flashes for a split second, I can hear a very faint click, and the LED goes off again. I can reproduce this again and again.
I replaced the CMOS battery, I tried to clear the CMOS (does not work as the computer does not power on). Nothing changed.
Is it likely that just the PSU is defective? That would be possibly worth replacing. Or is it more likely that this is motherboard relatated, meaning that the computer is basically gone?
Would be great if some people here could shine some more light onto this.
kposer
16 Posts
1
July 6th, 2017 07:00
I just installed a new PSU (Dell OEM from eBay for $48) and the computer works again.
Thanks for all the answers.
Dell-Parnoshree C
2 Intern
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309 Posts
1
June 30th, 2017 16:00
Hi Kposer,
As we are working on a desktop computer we can try performing PSU stand alone BIST by pressing the small button behind the PSU if that passes (green led glows) the PSU is fine if doesn't it has failed. In that scenario we need to replace the Motherboard.
Do get back to us for any further questions or query
kposer
16 Posts
1
June 30th, 2017 16:00
Sreejith:
The very moment I press the power button the green light goes off.
(And coming back to Parnoshree's post: The 270s has no dedicated BIST button next to the green light like the 270. I guess with the 270s the BIST happens when the power button gets pressed.)
kposer
16 Posts
0
June 30th, 2017 16:00
Thanks for the reply.
What do you mean by "small button behind the PSU?" I know that the Vostro 270 has a button next to the green LED to perform a BIST but the Vostro 270s does not. If this PSU also has such a button, where exactly is it?
Dell-SreejithR
4 Operator
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3.4K Posts
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June 30th, 2017 16:00
Thank you for your message.
This could be an issue with the PSU.
Disconnect all the cables from the tower, press & hold down the power button for 30 seconds (to remove static)
Connect only the power cord & start the computer & check if the PSU light stays on if the light stays on the power supply is working fine.
If not it could be another component causing a no post.
ejn63
9 Legend
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87.5K Posts
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June 30th, 2017 17:00
If you have access to another power supply,it's worth trying. If not, an inexpensive power supply tester might be worth the cost:
www.amazon.com/.../B005CTCD6S
It sounds more like a mainboard problem than a power supply issue.
Dell-Parnoshree C
2 Intern
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309 Posts
1
June 30th, 2017 17:00
Please try checking with a known good power supply before buying a new one(provided if you have one of similar spec)as there are chances of motherboard failure also because the green light comes on and goes off according to our previous conversation.
Parnoshree.
kposer
16 Posts
0
June 30th, 2017 17:00
OK, thanks for all the answers. I also think that it is more likely that it is not the PSU.
I can buy at Staples a refurbished Dell Optiplex 390 (with 1 year warranty) for $117 plus tax:
www.staples.com/.../product_2417331
The question is: Could it be possible that I can take the hard drive from the Vostro (with Windows 7) and put it into the Optiplex (which comes with Woindows 10), and then it works (possibly with the necessity to update some drivers)?
The reason I'm asking is that the Vostro belongs to a local, small pet food store and is has some kind of database on it (the owner does not even know the program's name), and it could be quite difficult to figure out what it is and how to get it over to a new (Windows 10) computer.
If I could just put the old hard drive into the new computer then this could be possibly the easiest solution.
kposer
16 Posts
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June 30th, 2017 18:00
Parnoshree, this sounds good. Both computers have 250 GB hard drives. This is what I will suggest to the computer owner.
Thanks for all the answers! I think it is really cool that I got so many substantial replies here in such a short time.
Dell-Parnoshree C
2 Intern
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309 Posts
1
June 30th, 2017 18:00
That shouldn't be a issue if the SATA ports on the Optiplex you are going buy and the size of the hard drive or hard drive slot are similar to the Vostro, Please check what is the maximum capacity hard drive supported by the Optiplex computer, so that when you connect the old hard drive it should work.
Parnoshree.
shesagordie
10 Elder
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46K Posts
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July 1st, 2017 13:00
kposer
That is very doubtful, unless you reinstall windows 10 on the transfered hard drive, because differences [Registry, etc] between the two systems will be too great, plus, Dell OEM copies of windows are tied to the system's BIOS it was factory installed on, or upgraded to.
Therefore a hard drive running a Dell copy of W-7 will not work on a system running W-10.
Bev.