Booting Problems-4 Green Lights & Amber Power Light

[Jami]

I have a Dell 3100 desktop & have had repeated problems with booting. There
are 4 green lights on the panel & a steady amber power light. Dell has given
instructions on releasing residual power by unplugging all cables & holding
in power button for 30 seconds, then replugging everything & booting up.
"Sometimes" this solution works and sometimes it takes repeatedly pushing the
"on & off" button in. When it finally boots up, there are no problems.

I have a warranty on the computer, but until Dell troubleshoots the problem,
they will not dispense technician. There is nothing new plugged in or been
added to computer. I had no problems until mid-August, and have had the
computer for 2 years.

Yesterday Dell came up with the idea that it was my surge protector....got a
new one, no change!

Does anyone have any answers? I can't understand why this became a problem
after 2 yrs with the computer in the same location and nothing new added.

Thanks for any help!

 

[John John (MVP)]

I have a Dell 3100 desktop & have had repeated problems with booting. There
are 4 green lights on the panel & a steady amber power light. Dell has given
instructions on releasing residual power by unplugging all cables & holding
in power button for 30 seconds, then replugging everything & booting up.
"Sometimes" this solution works and sometimes it takes repeatedly pushing the
"on & off" button in. When it finally boots up, there are no problems.

I have a warranty on the computer, but until Dell troubleshoots the problem,
they will not dispense technician. There is nothing new plugged in or been
added to computer. I had no problems until mid-August, and have had the
computer for 2 years.

Yesterday Dell came up with the idea that it was my surge protector....got a
new one, no change!

Does anyone have any answers? I can't understand why this became a problem
after 2 yrs with the computer in the same location and nothing new added.

Thanks for any help!

The answer is that you have a hardware problem and Dell is trying to
renege on its warranty or at the very least they are giving you the run
around.

John

 

[Jami]

That's what I'm thinking, but I don't know "how" to get through to the
people! I'm at a loss.

 

[Patrick Keenan]

That's what I'm thinking, but I don't know "how" to get through to the
people! I'm at a loss.

I agree with JJ, you are experiencing a hardware problem that is covered
under the warranty. Call Dell back, you have tried their troubleshooting
suggestions and they do not work.

If the tech argues, ask for their supervisor. Tell them that you've
followed the phone-support directions, they do not work, clearly the problem
requires on-site warranty service.

If you're out of time and require the working computer you paid for, tell
them this.

HTH
-pk

 

[Jami]

I appreciate the comments/suggestions. I AM going to call Dell & do as you
suggested. This has gotten ridiculous. They seem to want us to "pay them"
and "we do all the work", not to mention it does NOT fix the problem!

 

[JS]

If Dell does agree to send a Technician, I would backup all important data
file to external media or DVD(s).
The tech is most likely to take the easiest step first which is to reinstall
Windows, which of course will wipe
all your applications you have installed and any data.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[Mick Murphy]

Your computer is 2 years old.
Do you have the standard 1 year warranty, or an extended Warranty?
If 1 year, you have to pay to have it repaired yourself, not Dell.

 

[Jami]

I have an extended warranty until 2010...

Your computer is 2 years old.
Do you have the standard 1 year warranty, or an extended Warranty?
If 1 year, you have to pay to have it repaired yourself, not Dell.

 

[AJR]

Usually if the problem is not solved via phone a tech is sent to your
location (Providing it is part of the contract)

Following information from Dell support site:

"If all four diagnostic lights stay on (green) and the power button remains
amber, a possible processor power or connection error has occurred.
Suggestyed resolution - unplug the power supply and check the 4-pin
processor power cable connection.
Reseat the processor. "

 

[Jami]

Antd that should require a technician, correct? I surely can't do that!

 

[Leythos]

I have a Dell 3100 desktop & have had repeated problems with booting. There
are 4 green lights on the panel & a steady amber power light. Dell has given
instructions on releasing residual power by unplugging all cables & holding
in power button for 30 seconds, then replugging everything & booting up.
"Sometimes" this solution works and sometimes it takes repeatedly pushing the
"on & off" button in. When it finally boots up, there are no problems.

I have a warranty on the computer, but until Dell troubleshoots the problem,
they will not dispense technician. There is nothing new plugged in or been
added to computer. I had no problems until mid-August, and have had the
computer for 2 years.

Yesterday Dell came up with the idea that it was my surge protector....got a
new one, no change!

Does anyone have any answers? I can't understand why this became a problem
after 2 yrs with the computer in the same location and nothing new added.

As an I.T. Support person with thousands of Dell computers, I've learned
to tell them you've done everything they asked, fake taking the time to
do it, but, don't actually do anything.

If you have a drive going bad, but not dead, unplug it and then call
them and let them walk you through diagnosing that the drive has failed
completely.... Same goes with anything.

I had a couple Dell computers that worked off-on and it turned out to be
the CPU, first time in 30 years I've had a bad CPU on anything. It took
them 5 different events/shipping before they would send the CPU - each
time it took a week to get them to agree to send the parts, and that's
with their GOLD support.

So, if you think it's the PSU, disconnect it and call them.

If you think it's the motherboard, disconnect the power connector and
call them.

If you think it's the drive(s), disconnect them.

One word of advice, make sure that you've done your own homework and
made sure you're showing them the RIGHT part as bad.

 

[Jami]

That's the problem...I have no idea what's bad! I do not know anything about
unplugging "stuff" internally on the computer. I figure with a warranty,
that's their job! Seems like to me it's not doing any good to have an
extended warranty, just pay a local technician to fix it without hassle to me.

 

[Leythos]

That's the problem...I have no idea what's bad! I do not know anything about
unplugging "stuff" internally on the computer. I figure with a warranty,
that's their job! Seems like to me it's not doing any good to have an
extended warranty, just pay a local technician to fix it without hassle to me.

You're going through what most people go through, unless you buy the
really high-end warranty program.

I had a elderly lady with a Dell Laptop, the DVD drive was going bad,
could not read DVD's - the drive required a very small screw driver to
remove - The Indian Dell Tech told me, (I was pretending to be the
customer) that I would have to go out and purchase a set of screwdrivers
in order to reseat it before they would send the replacement drive... I
argued with them for 30 minutes, talked to three "Supervisors", got
nowhere. Called back, got a different tech, different supervisors, and
raised hell, actually got rude with them, asked for their ID numbers and
told them I was calling Dell USA (where I was located) and would tell
Dell I would never purchase another Dell, then I was going to call CNN
and complain about their Warranty scam... After another 30 minutes they
decided to ship the replacement drive and scheduled a tech to come out
and replace it - it worked (the replacement drive).

I almost never get hot, but they totally ticked me off, and the
requirement to purchase tools was off based completely.

As it is now, we don't purchase any Dell computers, that experience cost
them about $1.5 million a year in sales, switched to IBM and HP Business
systems and I've not had another experience like that.

 

[Leythos]

Antd that should require a technician, correct? I surely can't do that!

Reseating the CPU could cause the "Heat Sink" to be removed from the
CPU, and that means you need a new heat-sink pad/paste to be properly
installed to keep it from overheating during use.

 

[Jami]

Thanks for the advice. I will probably consider other computers as well
after this. We have 3 Dells & have had a good experience with Dell, UNTIL
NOW!

 

[JS]

Dell's support was at one time rated top notch. But over the years has gone
down hill.

JS
http://www.pagestart.com

 

[Unknown]

Hogwash. Dell has NEVER been rated top notch. Tell us where you got that
propaganda.
You're in Hell with Dell.

 

[JS]

IT surveys and personal experience many years ago.
Personal experience of late, even with their sales department makes you
wonder what planet there on.

JS

 

[Unknown]

Do you read the PC magazine or Consumers Reports? Dell has ALWAYS been on
the bottom of customer satisfaction.
My personal experience with their sales department: I will never deal with
them again.
They are far worse than a used car salesman.

 

[Leonard Grey]

Interesting...in the July, 2008 PC Magazine survey, for example, Dell
was fourth overall in Customer Satisfaction for desktops (third if you
exclude self-built PCs) and third overall in desktop support.