CD drive (or cable) issue

[aedifica]

Last week, this computer (a Dell Optiplex GX270) began to shut down
anytime a CD was put in the CD or DVD drives. I tried swapping out the
ribbon cable (they're both on the same cable) to see if the cable was
bad, since it was affecting both drives. Now I get one of two things
when I turn the computer on: with the ribbon cable (original or
replacement, doesn't seem to matter) plugged in to the CD and DVD
drives, I get a 1-3-2 beep code; if I unplug the CD and DVD drives
entirely, I get prompted to boot to Safe Mode, and then the screen goes
blank and nothing further happens (fans still running, but that's all I
can tell). Any thoughts?

 

[Pen]

Last week, this computer (a Dell Optiplex GX270) began to shut down
anytime a CD was put in the CD or DVD drives. I tried swapping out the
ribbon cable (they're both on the same cable) to see if the cable was
bad, since it was affecting both drives. Now I get one of two things
when I turn the computer on: with the ribbon cable (original or
replacement, doesn't seem to matter) plugged in to the CD and DVD
drives, I get a 1-3-2 beep code; if I unplug the CD and DVD drives
entirely, I get prompted to boot to Safe Mode, and then the screen goes
blank and nothing further happens (fans still running, but that's all I
can tell). Any thoughts?

That code is a memory error. Try reseating the DIMMs.
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/opgx270/en/ug/solve.htm#1235408
Also check the diagnostic LED on the back.

 

[kony]

Last week, this computer (a Dell Optiplex GX270) began to shut down
anytime a CD was put in the CD or DVD drives.

please define exactly what state the system was in when it
is "began to shut down"... and what you had to do (the least
thing that would work) to get it working, running again.

Also, what drive is this CD(?), and does the system have ANY
other scenarios where it similarly shuts down?

I tried swapping out the
ribbon cable (they're both on the same cable) to see if the cable was
bad, since it was affecting both drives.

Please elaborate on "since it was effecting both drives".
Do you mean, you have a 2nd optical drive? If so what is
this second drive?

With (if) you have two acting the same, is it possible you
have some DRM malware installed that it freaking out (acting
like a virus) when any CD is tried? What if you try to boot
a CD from either drive, or boot to DOS floppy (or
thumbdrive, whatever it takes to get to DOS and....) load
CDROM drives as done with a Win98/etc boot floppy's typical
files//boot sequence?

Now I get one of two things
when I turn the computer on: with the ribbon cable (original or
replacement, doesn't seem to matter) plugged in to the CD and DVD
drives, I get a 1-3-2 beep code;

In this case, it seems pretty clear a drive is damaged.
Figure out which and leave it disconnected (from data and
power). Make sure the remaining drives are jumpered
approprietly.

if I unplug the CD and DVD drives
entirely, I get prompted to boot to Safe Mode, and then the screen goes
blank and nothing further happens (fans still running, but that's all I
can tell). Any thoughts?

This is a bit odd, it almost acts as though you have both a
hardware failure AND a software or OS configuration problem.

I'd wonder if your PSU is going bad, and inspect capacitors
on the motherboard. If nothing else gets Windows working
then you'll have to either restore a backup, do a repair
install, or install clean.

 

[aedifica]

Also check the diagnostic LED on the back.

Thanks, I never noticed those. They're all green in this case.

Oddly enough, a colleague noticed that if you leave the case open, it
boots fine. Now we're checking to see if cables have moved around
inside and may be pressing on something (such as the memory sticks)
when the case shuts.

 

[aedifica]

please define exactly what state the system was in when it
is "began to shut down"... and what you had to do (the least
thing that would work) to get it working, running again.

Beginning last week, the PC shut down anytime a CD was put in the CD or
DVD drives. To get it back on, we had to shut it off (since the fan
was still running), then turn it back on; sometimes we had to
powercycle the powerstrip too.

Also, what drive is this CD(?), and does the system have ANY
other scenarios where it similarly shuts down?

CD drive is D, DVD drive is E.

Please elaborate on "since it was effecting both drives".
Do you mean, you have a 2nd optical drive? If so what is
this second drive?

As I mentioned, it affects the CD drive and the DVD drive.

With (if) you have two acting the same, is it possible you
have some DRM malware installed that it freaking out (acting
like a virus) when any CD is tried? What if you try to boot
a CD from either drive, or boot to DOS floppy (or
thumbdrive, whatever it takes to get to DOS and....) load
CDROM drives as done with a Win98/etc boot floppy's typical
files//boot sequence?

I haven't tried booting to anything else. Maybe tomorrow!

In this case, it seems pretty clear a drive is damaged.
Figure out which and leave it disconnected (from data and
power). Make sure the remaining drives are jumpered
approprietly.

Well, yes--that or a cable. Hence the attempt to swap out the ribbon
cable (trying to rule that out before swapping out a drive).

Latest news is that the PC boots fine if the drives are connected (even
using the old cable) as long as the case is left open. We're all
(that is, my colleagues and I) going to look at this some more in the
morning.

 

[kony]

As I mentioned, it affects the CD drive and the DVD drive.

Keep in mind that we can't see this system, so we should now
conclude it has a total of two opticals, CD and DVD...?

I haven't tried booting to anything else. Maybe tomorrow!

That will be useful, you want to isolate hardware from
software by seeing if drives work from BIOS (boot) or DOS
(driver), not just in windoze.

Well, yes--that or a cable. Hence the attempt to swap out the ribbon
cable (trying to rule that out before swapping out a drive).

Is the cable still a variable? If it was working with the
other channel (HDD?) and now the same problem remains, it
would be reasonable to assume it isn't a problem. The
devil's advocate might claim a cable could go bad at any
time, since any cable might have been ok when manufactured,
but odds are against a cable that worked the moment before
you swapped it, being bad thereafter unless you'd subjected
it to some extreme stress.

Latest news is that the PC boots fine if the drives are connected (even
using the old cable) as long as the case is left open. We're all
(that is, my colleagues and I) going to look at this some more in the
morning.

MIght be a faulty case switch, disconnect it and try again.

 

[paulmd]

Last week, this computer (a Dell Optiplex GX270) began to shut down
anytime a CD was put in the CD or DVD drives. I tried swapping out the
ribbon cable (they're both on the same cable) to see if the cable was
bad, since it was affecting both drives. Now I get one of two things
when I turn the computer on: with the ribbon cable (original or
replacement, doesn't seem to matter) plugged in to the CD and DVD
drives, I get a 1-3-2 beep code; if I unplug the CD and DVD drives
entirely, I get prompted to boot to Safe Mode, and then the screen goes
blank and nothing further happens (fans still running, but that's all I
can tell). Any thoughts?

This computer is famous for bad capacitors. Dell is replacing them
(even out of warranty) You should contact dell, to see what they
suggest.

 

[Davy]

With DVD and CD drives disconnected you should still be able to boot
Windows from the hard disc drive if you can't it sounds like the MBR
section on the hard disc is corrupted, that what it sounds like to
me.

Could be entirely wrong here which leaves an explanation of the CD
& DVDs causing a shut down, a driver conflict or CD or DVD
hardware fault fault.

Do make sure all USB connectors are removed just incase one of them
could be faulty.

Don't know if this link will help.
http://www.chem.pitt.edu/facilities...ig. & Maintenance/bios_beep_codes_list_v3.pdf

Sometimes a corrupt bios can cause problems, removing the back up
battery for 2 or 3 minutes may help but
NOTE: removing this battery will reset
the bios to it's default or factory settings, especially if the
battery is on the verge of being 'half-dead' could cause wiered
problems.

Davy