Dell Dimension 5150 problem

[SpringWater]

So I just got an old Dell Dimension 5150 and the problem is that when I press the power switch nothing happens, therefore I cannot turn the pc on. The led on the motherboard lights up so I'm guessing that the problem is not caused by the psu, but by the power switch. Dell has this weird way of connecting their power switches to the motherboard, which is via an ide cable. I can't locate a jumper that would turn the pc on, can someone help me?

 

[spirit]

Doubt it's an IDE cable which goes from the power button to the board, probably just a cable which can be unplugged and then you can most likely use a screwdriver to connect the two power pins together and it might start. That will tell you if the power button is bad or not.

Take a pic and show us here.

Read this too http://www.computerforum.com/209946-tech-guide-diagnosing-pc-will-not-post-start.html

 

[johnb35]

Even though the motherboard light is on, doesn't mean the psu is good. Try a different one. Dell cases do have the power and front usb connection usually in one cable.

 

[SpringWater]

Alright, I'm going to try a different psu soon, and if that doesn't work what exactly do you want me to take a picture of? And I cannot locate the power switch pins...

 

[johnb35]

I'm about 75% sure its the psu. You can try removing the cmos battery for a few minutes also. Try removing and reinserting the memory. What about the diagnostic lights on the back of the case, are they lit?

 

[CorruptHawkeyez]

There is a chance that it could be the switch itself, BUT if you had a fan connected to the power supply and then shorted out the green wired pin with the black wired pin towards the middle of the connector, (I have tried shorting the green one with the black one towards the outside and it did not come on.) and the fan did not turn on when you did this, then it is most likely the power supply.

 

[SpringWater]

Alright, I'm going to try all of these things tomorrow since I am not at home right now and can't access this pc.

 

[SpringWater]

I just tried using a different psu (HEC 500w 80+ rated psu) and... nothing so I'm guessing it's the power switch. I would try to "jump start" the pc using power pins but I simply cannot locate them as I said before. The power switch is a part of a circuit board that looks like this: http://www.google.com/imgres?um=1&s...bnh=172&tbnw=199&start=0&ndsp=45&tx=29&ty=114 and that circuit board is connected to the motherboard via an ide cable as you can see on the picture (I didn't take that picture in case you are wondering).