Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

  • Thread starter Thread starter Ant
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Ant

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Hi all.

I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by me
-- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows
XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case
showed yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this
one listed so I don't know what it means.

At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to
three hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware
issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine
agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro.
SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).

A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue
screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it
back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third
time!

Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't
boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even
tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but
my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power
button for five seconds to shutdown manually.

I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).

For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable
CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember,
this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to
another HDD.

So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted up.

Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
--
"Caution is not cowardice; even the ants march armed." --Ugandan Proverb
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

Ant wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by me
> -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
> before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
> it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
> signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows
> XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case
> showed yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this
> one listed so I don't know what it means.
>
> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
> This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to
> three hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware
> issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine
> agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro.
> SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).
>
> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
> hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue
> screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it
> back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
> connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third
> time!
>
> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't
> boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even
> tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but
> my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power
> button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>
> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
> video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>
> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
> but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable
> CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember,
> this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to
> another HDD.
>
> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
> boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
> failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted up.
>
> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?

A yellow LED on "B" and all other LEDs green, isn't shown in the table
of diagnostic LED values here. It isn't likely these LEDs are tied to
actual hardware events, and this is probably just a register that
gets written by software.

http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx280/en/ug/tools02.htm#wp1114558

One reason for a computer to shut off, is CPU overheat. There won't be any
Event Log entry as such, because if THERMTRIP on the processor is triggered,
shutoff is immediate and not software mediated. So the software doesn't have
time to do much. While the software could attempt to queue something for
write out to disk, as the power is dying, the disk may not be in a position
to finish the write to the Event log.

Check the heatsink assembly and see if it is loose. In a move, if a computer
is bumped, that can be enough to break a plastic fastener. Movers vary in
how careful they are with computers.

Paul
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...


"Ant" <philpi@earthlink.netANT> wrote in message
news:eMw9RU7DIHA.5228@TK2MSFTNGP05.phx.gbl...
> Hi all.
>
> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by
> me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
> before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
> it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
> signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows XP
> Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case showed
> yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this one listed
> so I don't know what it means.
>
> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
> This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to three
> hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware issue. I
> doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine agressively
> (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro. SP2's IE6.0
> SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).
>
> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found nothing
> odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose hardwares,
> etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue screens
> during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it back, etc.
> SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD connection, then it
> is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third time!
>
> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't boot
> up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even tried
> safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but my USB
> keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power button for
> five seconds to shutdown manually.
>
> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a video
> issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>
> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense but
> whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable CD.
> It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember, this is
> a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to another
> HDD.
>
> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
> boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
> failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted up.
>
> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
> --
> "Caution is not cowardice; even the ants march armed." --Ugandan Proverb
> /\___/\
> / /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
> | |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
> \ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
> ( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
> Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.

In my experience, one of the easiest problems to create when physically
moving a computer is to dislodge slightly the video card, usually due to the
flexing of the case. Not that it comes completely out of slot, but slides
out just enough to cause (sometimes only intermittent) problems. Best to
completely remove card from slot and then re-install snugly.
HOWEVER! Your mention of the following "Checked again in the case, put
it back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
connection, then it is fine" indicates either a bad connection OR a bad
connector. That may be on hd or on mobo; and gut-feel, I'd suspect hd
connector. Also, it could be you were working with a flakey cable and it was
shuffled around to NOT show and then to DOES show sata hd. *Your hd
refusing to cooperate in a different computer should not be surprising
UNLESS it was just hung on as a slave to new computer's hd merely to copy
data files!* HTH, s
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

On 10/16/2007 5:01 AM PT, Paul typed:

> Ant wrote:
>> Hi all.
>>
>> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by
>> me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no
>> problems before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and
>> started using it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself
>> off(?) [DVI video signal loss too] without any errors (even checked
>> event logs in Windows XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing
>> weird). Back of the case showed yellow B and all other letters green.
>> Manual doesn't have this one listed so I don't know what it means.
>>
>> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
>> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow --
>> whatever). This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30
>> minutes to three hours). According to the manual, this means a
>> system/hardware issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't
>> using the machine agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling
>> out forms in XP Pro. SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen
>> saver).
>>
>> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
>> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
>> hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then
>> blue screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case,
>> put it back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the
>> HDD connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for its
>> third time!
>>
>> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
>> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't
>> boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I
>> even tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode
>> ONCE, but my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold
>> down power button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>>
>> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
>> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
>> video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>>
>> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
>> but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a
>> bootable CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again!
>> Remember, this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my
>> old datas to another HDD.
>>
>> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine
>> doesn't boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system
>> board failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter
>> lighted up.
>>
>> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
>
> A yellow LED on "B" and all other LEDs green, isn't shown in the table
> of diagnostic LED values here. It isn't likely these LEDs are tied to
> actual hardware events, and this is probably just a register that
> gets written by software.
>
> http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx280/en/ug/tools02.htm#wp1114558

OK, I e-mailed Dell about this light pattern. I wonder why I have an
blinking yellow/amber/orange (geez, get the color right, Dell!) light
now. Manual say, "A power supply or system board failure has occurred."
Is that still maybe a CPU? I will check later when I go to office.


> One reason for a computer to shut off, is CPU overheat. There won't be any
> Event Log entry as such, because if THERMTRIP on the processor is
> triggered,
> shutoff is immediate and not software mediated. So the software doesn't
> have
> time to do much. While the software could attempt to queue something for
> write out to disk, as the power is dying, the disk may not be in a position
> to finish the write to the Event log.
>
> Check the heatsink assembly and see if it is loose. In a move, if a
> computer
> is bumped, that can be enough to break a plastic fastener. Movers vary in
> how careful they are with computers.

Ah good idea. I will check.
--
"For me, the smartest animal's a pigeon." "Huh?" "1,000 cars on the
turnpike, they find mine." "My vote goes to the ants." "How do you
figure that?" "Know those farms they build? They build those things
without plans. To ants! For all you do, this one's for you." --Cheers
(unknown episode)
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

On 10/16/2007 6:17 AM PT, sdlomi2 typed:

>> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by
>> me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
>> before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
>> it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
>> signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows XP
>> Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case showed
>> yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this one listed
>> so I don't know what it means.
>>
>> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
>> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
>> This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to three
>> hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware issue. I
>> doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine agressively
>> (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro. SP2's IE6.0
>> SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).
>>
>> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found nothing
>> odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose hardwares,
>> etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue screens
>> during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it back, etc.
>> SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD connection, then it
>> is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third time!
>>
>> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
>> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't boot
>> up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even tried
>> safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but my USB
>> keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power button for
>> five seconds to shutdown manually.
>>
>> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
>> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a video
>> issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>>
>> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense but
>> whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable CD.
>> It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember, this is
>> a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to another
>> HDD.
>>
>> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
>> boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
>> failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted up.
>>
>> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
>
> In my experience, one of the easiest problems to create when physically
> moving a computer is to dislodge slightly the video card, usually due to the
> flexing of the case. Not that it comes completely out of slot, but slides
> out just enough to cause (sometimes only intermittent) problems. Best to
> completely remove card from slot and then re-install snugly.

I will check again. We didn't pull anything out. We just looked and
wiggled the stuff to see if anything were lose.


> HOWEVER! Your mention of the following "Checked again in the case, put
> it back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
> connection, then it is fine" indicates either a bad connection OR a bad
> connector. That may be on hd or on mobo; and gut-feel, I'd suspect hd
> connector. Also, it could be you were working with a flakey cable and it was
> shuffled around to NOT show and then to DOES show sata hd. *Your hd
> refusing to cooperate in a different computer should not be surprising
> UNLESS it was just hung on as a slave to new computer's hd merely to copy
> data files!*

Well in the other machine, we tried both primary and secondary. Still
odd that Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) crashes from a bootable CD and my
video signal goes lost. Booting Windows XP's safe mode does the same
(video signal lost) on two LCD monitors (DVI).
--
"Ants are so much like human beings as to be an embarrassment. They farm
fungi, raise aphids as livestock, launch armies into wars, use chemical
sprays to alarm and confuse enemies, capture slaves. The families of
weaver ants engage in child labor, holding their larvae like shuttles to
spin out the thread that sews the leaves together for their fungus
gardens. They exchange information ceaselessly. They do everything but
watch television." --Lewis Thomas
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

On 10/16/2007 7:00 AM PT, Ant typed:

> On 10/16/2007 5:01 AM PT, Paul typed:
>
>> Ant wrote:
>>> Hi all.
>>>
>>> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by
>>> me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no
>>> problems before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and
>>> started using it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself
>>> off(?) [DVI video signal loss too] without any errors (even checked
>>> event logs in Windows XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing
>>> weird). Back of the case showed yellow B and all other letters green.
>>> Manual doesn't have this one listed so I don't know what it means.
>>>
>>> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
>>> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow --
>>> whatever). This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30
>>> minutes to three hours). According to the manual, this means a
>>> system/hardware issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't
>>> using the machine agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling
>>> out forms in XP Pro. SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen
>>> saver).
>>>
>>> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
>>> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
>>> hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then
>>> blue screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case,
>>> put it back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the
>>> HDD connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for
>>> its third time!
>>>
>>> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the
>>> same exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2
>>> wouldn't boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss
>>> again! I even tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe
>>> mode ONCE, but my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to
>>> hold down power button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>>>
>>> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
>>> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
>>> video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>>>
>>> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
>>> but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a
>>> bootable CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again!
>>> Remember, this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my
>>> old datas to another HDD.
>>>
>>> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine
>>> doesn't boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is
>>> system board failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no
>>> letter lighted up.
>>>
>>> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
>>
>> A yellow LED on "B" and all other LEDs green, isn't shown in the table
>> of diagnostic LED values here. It isn't likely these LEDs are tied to
>> actual hardware events, and this is probably just a register that
>> gets written by software.
>>
>> http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx280/en/ug/tools02.htm#wp1114558
>
>
> OK, I e-mailed Dell about this light pattern. I wonder why I have an
> blinking yellow/amber/orange (geez, get the color right, Dell!) light
> now. Manual say, "A power supply or system board failure has occurred."
> Is that still maybe a CPU? I will check later when I go to office.

Dang, support@us.dell.com didn't work:

" support@us.dell.com
SMTP error from remote mailer after RCPT TO:<support@us.dell.com>:
host smtp.ins.dell.com [143.166.224.193]: 550 #5.1.0 Address rejected."


Grr.
--
"When the ant grows wings it is about to die." --Arabic
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...


"Ant" <philpi@earthlink.netANT> wrote in message
news:%233U211$DIHA.3716@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
> On 10/16/2007 6:17 AM PT, sdlomi2 typed:
>
>>> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by
>>> me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
>>> before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
>>> it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
>>> signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows
>>> XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case
>>> showed yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this
>>> one listed so I don't know what it means.
>>>
>>> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
>>> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
>>> This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to
>>> three hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware
>>> issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine
>>> agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro.
>>> SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).
>>>
>>> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
>>> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
>>> hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue
>>> screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it
>>> back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
>>> connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third
>>> time!
>>>
>>> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
>>> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't
>>> boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even
>>> tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but
>>> my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power
>>> button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>>>
>>> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
>>> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
>>> video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>>>
>>> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
>>> but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable
>>> CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember,
>>> this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to
>>> another HDD.
>>>
>>> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
>>> boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
>>> failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted
>>> up.
>>>
>>> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
>>
>> In my experience, one of the easiest problems to create when
>> physically moving a computer is to dislodge slightly the video card,
>> usually due to the flexing of the case. Not that it comes completely out
>> of slot, but slides out just enough to cause (sometimes only
>> intermittent) problems. Best to completely remove card from slot and
>> then re-install snugly.
>
> I will check again. We didn't pull anything out. We just looked and
> wiggled the stuff to see if anything were lose.

>>snip<<
...and apparently you lucked out & wiggled something that was loose.
(BTW: are you using like an ide-to-sata adapter to connect hd to mobo??? )
Possibly just as Paul suggested: to do with cpu-heatsink/cooler. Also
possibly other wiggle-susceptible stuff. If all else fails--or maybe you'd
prefer to do it first--unplug each cable and re-attach, unseat and reseat
each card, remove and replace each ram stick, remove and clean and re-paste
cpu-and-heatsink/fan, etc. May solve the problem & you never know which did
it. Good luck and pls. let us know what you did, whether you id'd it or
'shotgunned' it, that got it going. I get curious.;) s
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

On 10/16/2007 7:38 AM PT, sdlomi2 typed:

> "Ant" <philpi@earthlink.netANT> wrote in message
> news:%233U211$DIHA.3716@TK2MSFTNGP03.phx.gbl...
>> On 10/16/2007 6:17 AM PT, sdlomi2 typed:
>>
>>>> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by
>>>> me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
>>>> before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
>>>> it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
>>>> signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows
>>>> XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case
>>>> showed yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this
>>>> one listed so I don't know what it means.
>>>>
>>>> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
>>>> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
>>>> This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to
>>>> three hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware
>>>> issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine
>>>> agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro.
>>>> SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).
>>>>
>>>> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
>>>> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
>>>> hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue
>>>> screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it
>>>> back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
>>>> connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third
>>>> time!
>>>>
>>>> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
>>>> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't
>>>> boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even
>>>> tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but
>>>> my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power
>>>> button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>>>>
>>>> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
>>>> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
>>>> video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>>>>
>>>> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
>>>> but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable
>>>> CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember,
>>>> this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to
>>>> another HDD.
>>>>
>>>> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
>>>> boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
>>>> failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted
>>>> up.
>>>>
>>>> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
>>> In my experience, one of the easiest problems to create when
>>> physically moving a computer is to dislodge slightly the video card,
>>> usually due to the flexing of the case. Not that it comes completely out
>>> of slot, but slides out just enough to cause (sometimes only
>>> intermittent) problems. Best to completely remove card from slot and
>>> then re-install snugly.
>> I will check again. We didn't pull anything out. We just looked and
>> wiggled the stuff to see if anything were lose.
>
>>> snip<<
> ...and apparently you lucked out & wiggled something that was loose.
> (BTW: are you using like an ide-to-sata adapter to connect hd to mobo??? )

You know. I think it was directly to motherboard. I will have to look again.


> Possibly just as Paul suggested: to do with cpu-heatsink/cooler. Also
> possibly other wiggle-susceptible stuff. If all else fails--or maybe you'd
> prefer to do it first--unplug each cable and re-attach, unseat and reseat
> each card, remove and replace each ram stick, remove and clean and re-paste
> cpu-and-heatsink/fan, etc. May solve the problem & you never know which did
> it. Good luck and pls. let us know what you did, whether you id'd it or
> 'shotgunned' it, that got it going. I get curious.;) s

Yeah, I am going to pull everything out and reinsert.
--
"Ah. Those club kids did eat those ants up like popcorn." --CSI: Miami
(Wannabe episode; #218)
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

>>SNIP<<

>Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
>

Maybe if Ant would merely adjust his antennae.........
sdlomi2
 
RE: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

Call Dell and see if your Dell is part of a motherboard recall, read more by
Google Recall GX280, for example:

http://www.news.com/Bulging-capacitors-haunt-Dell/2100-1003_3-5924742.html

"Ant" wrote:

> Hi all.
>
> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not by me
> -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no problems
> before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and started using
> it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself off(?) [DVI video
> signal loss too] without any errors (even checked event logs in Windows
> XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing weird). Back of the case
> showed yellow B and all other letters green. Manual doesn't have this
> one listed so I don't know what it means.
>
> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because I
> noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow -- whatever).
> This happened like three times and randomly (can be 15/30 minutes to
> three hours). According to the manual, this means a system/hardware
> issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I wasn't using the machine
> agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003, filling out forms in XP Pro.
> SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D screen saver).
>
> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose loose
> hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the sytem, then blue
> screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again in the case, put it
> back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again, especially the HDD
> connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut off again for its third
> time!
>
> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the same
> exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2 wouldn't
> boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss again! I even
> tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in safe mode ONCE, but
> my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I had to hold down power
> button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>
> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another LCD
> monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it is a
> video issue (note different computer with another video card in it).
>
> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no sense
> but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from a bootable
> CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss again! Remember,
> this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted to copy my old datas to
> another HDD.
>
> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine doesn't
> boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is system board
> failure or something in the manual. Back lights show no letter lighted up.
>
> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
> --
> "Caution is not cowardice; even the ants march armed." --Ugandan Proverb
> /\___/\
> / /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
> | |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
> \ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
> ( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
> Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
>
 
Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

Resolved. It was a dying PSU. Yesterday, the Dell "dude" came to swap
the PSU and everything seems to be working. No random shutdowns so far! :)

>>>>> I have a Dell Optiplex GX280 machine that was moved last week, not
>>>>> by me -- movers, to another building. It was working just fine (no
>>>>> problems before the move). Today, I rehooked it up, powered on, and
>>>>> started using it and left it idled. The system was shutting itself
>>>>> off(?) [DVI video signal loss too] without any errors (even checked
>>>>> event logs in Windows XP Pro. SP2 (all updates) and CMOS (nothing
>>>>> weird). Back of the case showed yellow B and all other letters
>>>>> green. Manual doesn't have this one listed so I don't know what it
>>>>> means.
>>>>>
>>>>> At first, I thought it was the APC UPS and power management because
>>>>> I noticed my front case light is orange (manual says yellow --
>>>>> whatever). This happened like three times and randomly (can be
>>>>> 15/30 minutes to three hours). According to the manual, this means
>>>>> a system/hardware issue. I doubt it is a heat issue because I
>>>>> wasn't using the machine agressively (e.g., typing in Outlook 2003,
>>>>> filling out forms in XP Pro. SP2's IE6.0 SP2, idled with a light 2D
>>>>> screen saver).
>>>>>
>>>>> A coworker and I tried looking inside the computer case, and found
>>>>> nothing odd. No weird burning odor, no blown capticators, nose
>>>>> loose hardwares, etc. that we could see. Then, turning on the
>>>>> sytem, then blue screens during Windows XP's boot up. Checked again
>>>>> in the case, put it back, etc. SATA HDD not found. Checked again,
>>>>> especially the HDD connection, then it is fine. But my machine shut
>>>>> off again for its third time!
>>>>>
>>>>> Then, coworker and I decided to try another Dell machine (not the
>>>>> same exact model -- GX270). For some reason, Windows XP Pro. SP2
>>>>> wouldn't boot up (saw BIOS and CMOS) and showed a video signal loss
>>>>> again! I even tried safe mode, and same thing. I actually got in
>>>>> safe mode ONCE, but my USB keyboard and mouse didn't respond and I
>>>>> had to hold down power button for five seconds to shutdown manually.
>>>>>
>>>>> I was wondering if my monitor and cable were bad. I tried another
>>>>> LCD monitor with another DVI cable, and same thing. So, I doubt it
>>>>> is a video issue (note different computer with another video card
>>>>> in it).
>>>>>
>>>>> For kicks, I thought maybe the HDD was going bad, which made no
>>>>> sense but whatever. I couldn't run Ghost 2003 (DOS; ghost.exe) from
>>>>> a bootable CD. It kept crashing(?) and showing video signal loss
>>>>> again! Remember, this is a GX270 machine not GX280. I just wanted
>>>>> to copy my old datas to another HDD.
>>>>>
>>>>> So, I put my HDD back into the GX280 machine and now my machine
>>>>> doesn't boot up anymore. I get a blinking orange light which is
>>>>> system board failure or something in the manual. Back lights show
>>>>> no letter lighted up.
>>>>>
>>>>> Any ideas on what the problem is and what to try tomorrow?
>>>> In my experience, one of the easiest problems to create when
>>>> physically moving a computer is to dislodge slightly the video card,
>>>> usually due to the flexing of the case. Not that it comes
>>>> completely out of slot, but slides out just enough to cause
>>>> (sometimes only intermittent) problems. Best to completely remove
>>>> card from slot and then re-install snugly.
--
"The ants are back Ted!" --Dougal from Father Ted TV show.
/\___/\
/ /\ /\ \ Phil/Ant @ http://antfarm.home.dhs.org (Personal Web Site)
| |o o| | Ant's Quality Foraged Links (AQFL): http://aqfl.net
\ _ / Remove ANT from e-mail address: philpi@earthlink.netANT
( ) or ANTant@zimage.com
Ant is currently not listening to any songs on his home computer.
 

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