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Help with a Dell P4.

birdybirdy
edited December 2015 in Hardware
Hey guys, I have been having trouble with my old Pentium 4 Dell desktop Computer. The computer is a Dell model DHS. The problem with this particular computer is that it will not boot up. The computer will start up, but shows no sign of bios configuration. The fan runs, but only blows cold air. I think I might have to either replace the cmos battery, and or change the paste. But I wanted to see if you guys had a better idea of what the solution might be.
Thanks in advance.

Comments

  • 66659hi66659hi
    Just simplify the configuration, remove all of the drives (Hard Drive, Optical, Floppy), all RAM sticks but one (And swap between the two), attach an external video card (or if you are already using a dedicated one, use the onboard, or even just try reseating it), if you have a spare also try replacing the power supply.

    If none of that works, I'd say it's the system board.
  • garirrygarirry
    Most of the time, it's something with the CPU and/or GPU. First, check that the video cable is well connected, connected to the correct port, try other cables, blah, blah, blah. If it has a PCIe GPU, reseat it or try a different one. You could also try reseating the CPU or changing it temporarily. Usually, the CMOS battery doesn't cause that much problems (although replacing it would be a good idea) and the thermal paste has little to do with the functioning of the computer itself. I believe I have once tried a CPU without even putting a heatsink or fan (for a few seconds) just to see if it works, and it did show stuff on the screen so that's not the issue.
  • TCPMetaTCPMeta
    GPU issue most likely. However if you turn it on and the fans go full throttle then I think it would be something else. Strip down to the bare minimum and slowly connect one device at a time. This way you'll rule out what is bad or not. Sometimes it's not a bad device but a device that conflicts with another device or even worse you are starving the system of power by adding a device that has acceded the current limit.
  • 66659hi66659hi
    birdy wrote:
    Hey guys, I have been having trouble with my old Pentium 4 Dell desktop Computer. The computer is a Dell model DHS. The problem with this particular computer is that it will not boot up. The computer will start up, but shows no sign of bios configuration. The fan runs, but only blows cold air. I think I might have to either replace the cmos battery, and or change the paste. But I wanted to see if you guys had a better idea of what the solution might be.
    Thanks in advance.

    I totally forgot this when I wrote my first message - bad capacitors!

    This era of Dell was famous for bad capacitors, especially the Optiplex series.
  • TCPMetaTCPMeta
    Very true as well. Just check the electrolytic caps for blown or bulging vents.

    image0041.png

    If you happen to decide to replace any caps go a couple of volts higher on the rating but keep the same uF rating. In other words if it's a 6.3volt cap rated for 2200uF then replace it with a 10volt rated for 2200uF.
  • birdybirdy
    I have unplugged every drive and still no use. I checked the capacitors, and they are looking fine. I do want to note that I do not use a separate video card for this computer so it will be hard to tell if that was part of the problem. I also forgot to say that the power button is displaying an orange color (It usually display's a green color..), There is also a considerable amount of dust below the fan of the cpu. (The radiator thing that vents out the heat of the cpu..).

    Update: I found my problem here. It turns out it is a internal power problem And I'm going to ensure that the microprocessor cable is secure.
  • 66659hi66659hi
    birdy wrote:
    I have unplugged every drive and still no use. I checked the capacitors, and they are looking fine. I do want to note that I do not use a separate video card for this computer so it will be hard to tell if that was part of the problem. I also forgot to say that the power button is displaying an orange color (It usually display's a green color..), There is also a considerable amount of dust below the fan of the cpu. (The radiator thing that vents out the heat of the cpu..).

    Update: I found my problem here. It turns out it is a internal power problem And I'm going to ensure that the microprocessor cable is secure.

    I believe the amber power light usually means a bad power supply. Try swapping that if you have a spare.
  • birdybirdy
    Unfortunately I do not have a spare. I do however have a dell inspiron laptop. But it probably suffered the same fate as the desktop. Thank you for the help.
  • 66659hi66659hi
    birdy wrote:
    Unfortunately I do not have a spare. I do however have a dell inspiron laptop. But it probably suffered the same fate as the desktop. Thank you for the help.

    What's wrong with the laptop? While we're discussing this we might as well try to troubleshoot the laptop.

    But a power supply from a Dell Inspiron laptop will not work on a desktop, as you should know.
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