Re: Dell Optiplex GX280 shuts down randomly after moving...

On 10/16/2007 6:58 AM PT, Ben Myers typed:

AFAIK, it is not possible even to boot into safe mode in the situation you
tried. Micro$oft, supposedly in another lame attempt to speed up Windows,
inserts a chipset-specific driver early on in the boot process, so that a drive
moved to a system with a chipset from a different family will not boot. (By
comparision, you should be able to boot from a hard drive on a system with a
chipset in the same FAMILY, e.g. the different variations of the Intel 845
chipset.) This so-called optimization or "speed up" has the intentional effect
of making it more difficult to switch or upgrade system motherboards. It all
started with Windows 2000.

Oh. Wait, then how did people manage to swap motherboards (different chipsets) then? I think it was removing all devices in Device Managers before the swap (assuming you can get into Windows -- which I can't now)? I forget.


Chassis = case.

Hmm, I don't recall another case fan in there. Just a PSU fan. I will check again later in a few hours.


If the system won't power on after 15 minutes, there is a reasonable chance that
the power supply is failing.

Hmm.


Based on your response, I would install a different power supply as a test. If
the case is a mini-tower, you can use a standard ATX12v power supply with 24-pin
power connector in the GX280.

I believe it is a mini-tower. Do an imaeg search for on Google.com. Does it look like one? I know Dell like to use propieratry stuff.


If the system BIOS on both systems did not see the drive sometimes, there is a
possibility of a failing drive. Or the drive could be starved for power by a
failing power supply.

Hmm. Interesting.


Finally, inspect the capacitors on the GX280 motherboard. They are the shiny
cylinders sticking up from the motherboard. If they are no longer shiny or if
there is some goo or residue on them, the motherboard has failed capacitors and
should be replaced... Ben Myers

They appeared to be OK. No rusts, no colorizations, no blown ups, etc.


On Mon, 15 Oct 2007 22:12:24 -0700, Ant <ANTant@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

On 10/15/2007 9:54 PM PT, Ben Myers typed:

The motherboard chipsets are different between GX270 and GX280. The GX270 uses
an Intel 865 chipset and the GX280 either a 915 or 925, I forget which. When
installed in the GX270, Windows got really confused and would not boot. When
installed back in the GX280, who knows what would happen. You may need to
reinstall Windows on the hard drive in the GX280, if the entire system proves to
work reliably.
Even safe mode won't work? Dang. I thought the machines were identical.


The possible causes of the problem are heat, failure of a piece of hardware in
the GX280, or maybe damage caused by the move. So...

1. Do both cooling fans (in power supply and attached to back of chassis) turn
freely and they are free of dust and dirt?
Where exactly is the chassis? I did feel the power supply fan. It feels blowing, but it's light. Not blowing hard. I can't remember if it was like that before. I really wished the system had sensors. I don't think it is heat because how come the system doesn't power on anymore even after turning it off for like 15 minutes? I will try again tomorrow. The system is off at the moment (unplugged). I forgot to mention even with the yellow blinking light, I couldn't turn off the system unless I pull the power plug.


2. Is the hard drive free of any defects per the drive manufacturer's
diagnostics?
Don't know. I noticed sometimes the motherboard (on both systems) didn't see the SATA HDD at all (primary 0 or something?).


3. Are all the connectors for power can cables attached securely?
They appear to be.


4. Are the DDR DIMM modules are secure and in place?
They appear to be.


5. Are the CPU and its heat sink attached securely?
I will have to check.
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