PCTech Forums

Hi, I can't tell if this is the right place to start but here goes.
Dell dimension 4600, WinXP, Media Edition SP2, 40 gig HD, 512 Ram

About a week ago I normally shut down the computer and all was fine. About 5 min. later, all on it's own, it started making a sound something like it was trying to turn back on or shuting down. It almost sounded like the HD and the fan was going on and off repeatedly. Pushing and releasing the power on - off button had no effect.

The only way to stop it was to pull the power plug outt of the back.
Plugged it back in and it did the same thing, even though I didn't touch any buttons.

After many times of jabbing at the on - off button it stopped. I was then able to push the button and it booted up fine. It was OK for a few days and started again. Sometimes poking at the botton has no effect and I pull the plug and try again later. It might or might not work.

Some times on shut down it would never completely shut down, just start that on/off
hi / low cycle, and I would pull the plug.

Took a chance today and it turned on fine, so I'm posting this.
Did Adaware, Spybot and have virus program running. All clean

Can anyone help?? Thanks, Angelo

This sounds like it could be a power supply that is starting to go bad.

If you push and hold the on/off button for 4 to 5 seconds your system should shut off completely.
It should be just like if you unplugged the power cord

The other thing I can come up with is a shutdown error is restarting the system.
Go to Start > Control Panel > System > Advanced tab > Startup and Recovery section
Settings button > System Failure section > check the box
'Write an event to the system log' and uncheck Automatically Restart

Hi, Gecko

The items in control panel were allready set up as you explained
I just shut down (successfully) and after a half min. it started going through its on / off routine.

I held the button in for a few seconds and it did turn off as you said.

I had the power plug removed since last night and when I plugged it in this morming pushing the on button had no effect. After a couple min. it started the on / off cycle.
Hit the button and booted up.
Can this be the power supply??
I also have found on Dells customers forums that this is a pretty common problem (this is the "customers forum" , not Dells)LOL
They point this to be a problem with the MO/BO or the PSU.

Should I change the psu for starters?

Thanks for the quick reply, Angelo

HI,
I know I just posted but I found on dells site in the trouble shooting section where they explain the function of all the LED lights. The 4 located on the back of the machine were blinking in a way that pointed to a memory module.and telling you to remove it and put it back inand try to shutdown. IT WORKED !!!
Hope this is it.

The page is located here
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/s ... tshoot.htm

Thanks , Angelo

After a couple of start up and shut down cycles its back to the same problem.
Should I chang the psu as a start??
Thanks, Angelo

The fact that reseating the ram resolved the problem temporarily is interesting.

It’s hard to say if it’s the PSU or the ram at this point.
If you have more than one stick of ram then remove one and give it a try.
But it sounds like you only have one stick of ram so that would not be an option.

At times like this trial and error is the only way to trace down the problem component.
I have a spare PSU and ram at my shop that I use to confirm what hardware is the problem.

Without spare hardware to test with then it’s a guessing game as to what to try first.
A new PSU is around $35.00 and a new stick of ram is at least $60.00.

If you replace the ram and that’s not the problem then at least you have more ram for your system.
If you replace the PSU and that’s not it then you will have a PSU that you cannot use.

Hi Gecko

I have 2 256 sticks of ram to = 512

I swaped them in their sockets and tried them one at a time.

I thought found that one stick was bad but that was'nt the case.
BUT NOW!!--- Its been ok for the last few on and offs.
I might snatch 2 sticks out of my fathers dell and try that.
I'll wait to see what happens.
Thanks Angelo