I have a Dell Dimension 4600 that was working perfectly fine with no problems as of late. I recently moved to a new apartment and had to pack up my Dell and move it to my new place.
When i plugged everything back in and pressed the power button it sounds like it is starting up but then it goes into what seems like standby or sleep mode. A steady amber light comes on the front of the tower along with an amber light on the monitor (screen is black). The fan is running slowly and all of the diagnostic lights on the back of the tower are off. There are no lights on the keyboard as well. When i press the a button on the monitor it says that the computer is in "power save mode".
I've checked all the chords to make sure they are plugged in correctly, i've held down the power button while everything was unplugged, i've reseated the memory cards, and still nothing. I talked to Dell and they think i need a new Motherboard which the one they have for me would be $195.
I was wondering if anybody else has had this problem or knew what the problem could be? I really dont want to spend $195 on a five year old computer. Is it the motherboard? or power supply? And also, if i do have to get a new motherboard, is there anyway i can save all my files from my 2 hard drives?
Any advice or info would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
It could very well be the Mobo or the power supply. You may want to try to take the CMOS battery out for a few mins as well, I have had problems with that. But I would try PS first, get one from Circuit city or another electronics store and if it doesnt fix it take it back. I dont know if you know a lot about computers but you could buy a new Mobo just make sure the Ram and Processor match up
I have seen with some of the small form factor dell's that there can be a motherboard problem; my expirence with the regular towers and the steady amber light have been power supplies. I have a dimension 9100 that is three years old now and I am on my fourth power supply. I am not sure that you would have one laying around, but in my past expirence its been teh power supply. On the ones that I have seen where it was the motherboard you could clearly see on the chipset where it was damaged from heat (it was burnt). Hope that helps
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same machine same problem help!
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