Problems with computer start up

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I'm having a problem when i try to start my PC, here's what happens i press the on button but instead of starting up the light just flash's, this goes on for a couple of minute's then goes to start up but goes off, then i have to press the start button again and then it starts as normal, so if anyone out there knows what it could be your feedback would be greatly appreciated, for the record the PC is a Dell 5150, if there's anything i can be more specific about please do ask, many thanks in advance :thumbs:
 
Does the power light flash Amber or green?

we have a fair few Dells at work and if they flash amber its a power issue and we replace power supplies, just a thought with it being a Dell
 
whitey said:
Does the power light flash Amber or green?

we have a fair few Dells at work and if they flash amber its a power issue and we replace power supplies, just a thought with it being a Dell
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Yes it flashes amber, then turns to green to try to start up but it doesn't, but when i press the button again it starts up, so maybe your right and it's a power issue, if so and i am looking at a new power supply any idea how much i'm looking at for a new one ?
 
neil_g said:
what are the green 1-4 lights doing when the power light is amber?
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Their is only one light on the DELL DIMENSION 5150, which i assume just turns from amber to green.
 
some of the older models could have them on the back aswell, newer ones are next to the USB ports as said
 
it could be to do with a number of things, try flashing the bios, i'll find some instructions on how to do it for you.

it could also be the graphics card or the motherboard not receiving power, dell's use the led codes over POST codes mainly, if all else fails probably time to ring dell
 
tomb378 said:
it could be to do with a number of things, try flashing the bios, i'll find some instructions on how to do it for you.
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Ok thanks, i noticed their are LED lights by the front USB ports, the amber light is actually on the on button, that then flashes for a while, then goes to start up but stops, then when i press it again it lights up green, then their are about four small LED lights by the USB ports that flash in a sequence in green while it's starting up, hope this makes sense :shrug:
 
neil_g said:
as long as none of them are on with the amber light..

the 1-4 green LED's will flash in sequence as the PC boots up through its startup checks etc.
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No i don't think any of them are on with the amber light, well they wasn't when i looked earlier, the problem is it just won't start as normal as i've said in the other post's, i guess maybe it's time to call Dell and see what they say, as i reckon i'm going to try it one day soon and it just won't start at all :shake:
 
Might be worth changing the mainboard battery CR2032, had similar problems in the past.

Just a thought and inexpensive!!
 
danelectro said:
Might be worth changing the mainboard battery CR2032, had similar problems in the past.

Just a thought and inexpensive!!
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Thanks for the info, trouble is i'm not computer or technically minded, i wouldn't know where to start :)
 
Ok, first off, go to pc world (sorry just realised you probably don't have one where you are - so maybe a hardware shop??), and ask for a CR2032 battery (couple of quid)

Open your pc case (one side of the case is designed to be easily removed - usually the left side looking from the front) and look on the motherboard for the battery, honestly you can't miss it, (it'll look like the same as you've bought - and will have the writing uppermost - look out for the CR2032 writing (it's a silver disc about the size of a £1 coin)) With the pc turned off, carefully pry the battery out of it's holder, and replace with the new one.

Then reboot and hopefully away you go.

Please don't be worried about doing this, it's very straightforward. any problems shout!!!
 
danelectro said:
Ok, first off, go to pc world (sorry just realised you probably don't have one where you are - so maybe a hardware shop??), and ask for a CR2032 battery (couple of quid)

Open your pc case (one side of the case is designed to be easily removed - usually the left side looking from the front) and look on the motherboard for the battery, honestly you can't miss it, (it'll look like the same as you've bought - and will have the writing uppermost - look out for the CR2032 writing (it's a silver disc about the size of a £1 coin)) With the pc turned off, carefully pry the battery out of it's holder, and replace with the new one.

Then reboot and hopefully away you go.

Please don't be worried about doing this, it's very straightforward. any problems shout!!!
Click to expand...

Thanks for the info on that, unfortunately it didn't work, i put in the new battery and started the PC up the light flickered faster than before then it actually came on, then a message came up saying something about the floppy disk failure, anyway i pressed F1 to continue and it carried on working, switched it off after about half hour, now just started it up again and the same thing light flashes amber for a while goes off then i press the button again the green lights flash and it starts up, but the message comes up saying the floppy disk has failed, so i guess this will happen all the time now till i get it looked at :(
 
A PC has what is called a boot sequence where it looks to certain devices in order to find the operating system. The normal order on older PC's is Floppy Disc first then either CD Rom or Hard Drive. It sounds like it is looking to the Floppy Disc drive but having problems and once you clear the message it then tries the hard drive.

First throught would be to try and use the Floppy Drive when the PC is running, can you see it in My Computer and will it read a floppy.

Assuming it won't work you could access the bios and change the boot up order. To gain access to the bios as the PC starts to boot up hold down either F2 or the Delete key. Once in you should see an option to change Boot Sequence, when this to Hard Drive as number one and see what happens.
 
In my humble opinion (i was a PC engineer) boot to bios using either the F12 or DEL key and your first screen should bring up your drives and time and date if not go across the menu at the top of the page using your arrow keys ans work down each one till you come across this screen to get out of each screen just press x or esc once you find it go down to the 1.44mb brive and click on it ...you should have a popup screen now with 1.22mb 1.44mb ect and disable you want to check the box next to disable and press esc once you have done this press the f10 key and make sure Y is highlighted and press enter if its your floppy thats failed it should now boot normally

Hope this helps but if you need talking through it pm me

Pete
 
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