Hardware

Ask something
Question Locked

Dell 8400 dead / ok / dead

0 helpful
3 replies

by borden_mail-computer

Closed to new repliesThis discussion is closed. It stays readable, but it takes no new replies.
My 8400, 2yr - 3mo old, suddenly didn't power on at all. No external lights front or back, no sound (no beep), no fan, nothing changed when I hit power on. Inside the case the small green aux power light on motherboard was on; all looked OK. I first followed procedures on Dell site and then called support. After doing a bit more than the site tests, tech support concluded that it was the motherboard and suggested I buy another from them. This is expensive (out of warranty) and I wasn't fully convinced that was the answer. (I've since seen that 3rd parties offer the 'mobo' more cheaply). So I brought the 8400 to a local Geek Squad. They looked at it for several minutes and then pulled and reseated the cpu. They'd seen that loose before on a 775 board. This worked, all rebooted and came up OK. When I got home the 8400 was in the nothing, all dead, status again. I brought it back and this time they also pulled and reseated the CPI boards. Again all OK. I was extremely careful driving home and all was good at home. A few days later (after cleaning lady (a factor or not??)) it was (is) absolutely dead again. I suppose I should just go back to the Geek Squad, but thought I'd try to see if I could learn more on-line. I wondered if anyone else has more experience/knowledge about this OK/totally dead/OK dead pattern. Thanks much for ideas.

3 replies

by mjd420nova

This has been a common problem in the older units. The heating and cool-down cycles cause the chips in the sockets to expand and contract, loosening their connections. I've removed the units from the case and cleaned the heat sink and fan along with the vents to get the air moving again and keep it running cool.

by fetz654

I just ran into a computer with solid amber and no abcd lights in back with sometimes working just fine other times just fans spinning away and solid amber. i reseated everything including cpu, cards, and it worked the first few times but after that the problem got worse and no boots, after changing out everything the only thing left was the case. took it out of the case and it worked perfectly. probably due to the heatsink screwing thru the mobo right into the metal case and laying against it and the motherboard is being shorted, seen sparks just once, no other signs of this otherwise. So if your comfortable with finding some way to space it from the metal....

i have changed the parts to be nearly a new pc and the parts work fine in other computers just not in the dell... definitely can be the case causing motherboard shorting if solid amber and/or no lights in the back. and no other sign of any other issues.

This discussion is closed to new replies.