Dell Dimension - weird problem

Freakbro · 2 Nov 2010 at 14:09

I have an old Dell Dimension 8400 (P4 3Ghz) and just recently it has developed an intermittant problem.

On initial power up, the fans start spinning...then instead of POSTing the fans just start accelerating...getting faster & faster and louder & louder until it sounds like a jet waiting to take off!!

I have to hold in the power button to switch it off and keep re-trying till it POSTS normally, this can be the next try or half a dozen before it works again. Or it may just work first time normally anyway...so it is rather intermittant.

Anyone come across this issue before?

PSU would be my first thought or could it be a Mobo problem?

Zyaphear · 2 Nov 2010 at 16:00

Probably the PSU considering the age of the Dell and the fact that Dells typically use unbranded OEM PSUs.

edscdk · 2 Nov 2010 at 16:03

is it a desktop?

remove the memory and reseat it very firmly,

I have now had 5 of the white tower dells with the same issue every time fixed my messing about with the memory...

worth a try as it will only take 10 seconds..

Freakbro · 2 Nov 2010 at 17:34

Zyaphear said:
Probably the PSU considering the age of the Dell and the fact that Dells typically use unbranded OEM PSUs.

Its about 5-6 yrs old, but it did have a new mobo and psu after ~2yrs when the last PSU died.

is it a desktop?

remove the memory and reseat it very firmly,

I have now had 5 of the white tower dells with the same issue every time fixed my messing about with the memory...

worth a try as it will only take 10 seconds..

It is desktop yea.

I'll try the resetting of memory, if it keeps happening i'll get a cheap psu to replace it before it fries anything else