Black screen - Dell PC
Discussion
Hi guys & gals hope u can help me - my pc [Dell optiplex I5 8GBram SATA256 ssd] was working fine, when suddenly I got a black screen, and was unable to switch machine off via the front on/off button. Only way to switch off power was to unplug the power cable at rear of PC.
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At first I thought the SSD had failed, I have a USB sata caddy so tried the suspect ssd in the caddy, on another pc - it works/reads OK?? To double check this I put a 2nd 'different' SSD into the Dell PC and tried to load a fresh windows install onto that via a Win10 ISO file on USB stick. when I plugged in the power cable the pc switched on without me pushing the On/OFF button [I could hear the fan running but nothing came up on monitor]?
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Any Ideas what this maybe? I'm not a tech geek but have built several PC's from components so know my way around inside the cabinet.
Help
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At first I thought the SSD had failed, I have a USB sata caddy so tried the suspect ssd in the caddy, on another pc - it works/reads OK?? To double check this I put a 2nd 'different' SSD into the Dell PC and tried to load a fresh windows install onto that via a Win10 ISO file on USB stick. when I plugged in the power cable the pc switched on without me pushing the On/OFF button [I could hear the fan running but nothing came up on monitor]?
>
Any Ideas what this maybe? I'm not a tech geek but have built several PC's from components so know my way around inside the cabinet.
Help
If you have any USB peripherals plugged in, unplug as much as you can (including keyboard and mouse).
If it powers up then try again with just the keyboard plugged in. Then add the mouse and so on.
I had one particular PC that doesn't like it if you leave a powered USB plugged in for example - it won't power on if said hub is plugged in.
If it powers up then try again with just the keyboard plugged in. Then add the mouse and so on.
I had one particular PC that doesn't like it if you leave a powered USB plugged in for example - it won't power on if said hub is plugged in.
The last time i had a similar issue, although not exactly the same, It turned out to be the motherboard. It's a bit of a process really as you can try removing items like RAM & additional graphics cards but at some point you may end up with a choice between mother board & PSU. For me a motherboard from ebay was £12.50 while a PSU was £25 so I went with the cheap option & was lucky.
Is the monitor working, do you have anything else you can connect to try it?
Does the menu come up.
You need to remove everything from the PC as others have said, are you using internal or external graphics?
You should get to the bios screen on the pc without a drive and external graphics etc.
No beeps on startup?
I'd try motherboard, internal graphics and ram and see if you can get to the bios.
Does the menu come up.
You need to remove everything from the PC as others have said, are you using internal or external graphics?
You should get to the bios screen on the pc without a drive and external graphics etc.
No beeps on startup?
I'd try motherboard, internal graphics and ram and see if you can get to the bios.
How many RAM sticks do you have? Assuming more than 1 you can eliminate RAM as the issue by just trying 1 stick at a time (try 1 if that doesn't work try the other one). You need to check your motherboard manual for which slot to use with just 1 stick.
You can eliminate external GPU the same way if you have one (does it work without it).
Don't plug in the SSD or any USB devices as you don't need these to boot in BIOS.
If the above doesn't work then that just leaves PSU, motherboard or CPU. Not easy to narrow down if you don't have a spare of each or a POST code telling you exactly what the issue is.
You can eliminate external GPU the same way if you have one (does it work without it).
Don't plug in the SSD or any USB devices as you don't need these to boot in BIOS.
If the above doesn't work then that just leaves PSU, motherboard or CPU. Not easy to narrow down if you don't have a spare of each or a POST code telling you exactly what the issue is.
Mr pointy - 130R & Dundarach
Thanks for suggestions
Tried monitor on another PC - monitor works OK
2x4gb ram sticks fitted - removed 1 at a time - no difference tried with each in either slot - no difference.
Onboard graphics so can't remove that. don't have a spare external GPU so can't try that.
Unplugged sata dvd & both HDD's, still the same, can't get the bios screen up at all??
If you had to guess what's the most likely to have failed?
The PC is a few years old so getting a new motherboard/swopping the CPU is a bit of a faff, PSU looks like a standard unit, but don't have a spare to try
Unless someone's had a similar failure [on a similar machine]and can add something to the discussion, it maybe time for a new cheapish desktop [if such a thing exists] any suggestions for suppliers - over Xmas hol's great timing tho' - !!
Thanks for suggestions
Tried monitor on another PC - monitor works OK
2x4gb ram sticks fitted - removed 1 at a time - no difference tried with each in either slot - no difference.
Onboard graphics so can't remove that. don't have a spare external GPU so can't try that.
Unplugged sata dvd & both HDD's, still the same, can't get the bios screen up at all??
If you had to guess what's the most likely to have failed?
The PC is a few years old so getting a new motherboard/swopping the CPU is a bit of a faff, PSU looks like a standard unit, but don't have a spare to try
Unless someone's had a similar failure [on a similar machine]and can add something to the discussion, it maybe time for a new cheapish desktop [if such a thing exists] any suggestions for suppliers - over Xmas hol's great timing tho' - !!
What model of Optiplex is it? I'm using a 7010 which I changed the MB on & an ebay replacement cost me £12.50, but agreed that swapping the CPU makes it a bit more of a pain. PSUs were also available but more expensive
Have a look on ebay but delivery will be an issue now. I'd suggest at least a 7060 which is the first model with a generation 8 processor which is Windows 11 compliant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_OptiPlex
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
Obviously as you go for later versions you get better processors but the cost goes up (this is a search for 7070).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
Make sure you buy the RAM & SSD you need as upgrading is expensive. Amazon have refurb Optiplexes as well.
Have a look on ebay but delivery will be an issue now. I'd suggest at least a 7060 which is the first model with a generation 8 processor which is Windows 11 compliant.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dell_OptiPlex
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
Obviously as you go for later versions you get better processors but the cost goes up (this is a search for 7070).
https://www.ebay.co.uk/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_t...
Make sure you buy the RAM & SSD you need as upgrading is expensive. Amazon have refurb Optiplexes as well.
rene7 said:
Mr pointy - 130R & Dundarach
Thanks for suggestions
Tried monitor on another PC - monitor works OK
2x4gb ram sticks fitted - removed 1 at a time - no difference tried with each in either slot - no difference.
Onboard graphics so can't remove that. don't have a spare external GPU so can't try that.
Unplugged sata dvd & both HDD's, still the same, can't get the bios screen up at all??
If you had to guess what's the most likely to have failed?
The PC is a few years old so getting a new motherboard/swopping the CPU is a bit of a faff, PSU looks like a standard unit, but don't have a spare to try
Unless someone's had a similar failure [on a similar machine]and can add something to the discussion, it maybe time for a new cheapish desktop [if such a thing exists] any suggestions for suppliers - over Xmas hol's great timing tho' - !!
Sounds like either the PSU has given up the ghost of the MB has.Thanks for suggestions
Tried monitor on another PC - monitor works OK
2x4gb ram sticks fitted - removed 1 at a time - no difference tried with each in either slot - no difference.
Onboard graphics so can't remove that. don't have a spare external GPU so can't try that.
Unplugged sata dvd & both HDD's, still the same, can't get the bios screen up at all??
If you had to guess what's the most likely to have failed?
The PC is a few years old so getting a new motherboard/swopping the CPU is a bit of a faff, PSU looks like a standard unit, but don't have a spare to try
Unless someone's had a similar failure [on a similar machine]and can add something to the discussion, it maybe time for a new cheapish desktop [if such a thing exists] any suggestions for suppliers - over Xmas hol's great timing tho' - !!
If you have a multimeter you could test what voltage you're getting out of the PSU, I'm guessing you could probably Google the part number and find exactly what each connector should be and go from there.
I assume you haven't got a spare PC that you could insert the RAM in or vice versa, PSU also if it's a generic one?
Assuming you're ready to buy something else have a look at Scan computers or Overclockers, they used to do some good PC's maybe more gaming biased, but it's been a long time since I looked.
Freakuk
Thanks for that, just dug up my previous 2009 desktop, 2 core 32bit pentium [remember them!] win7, 2gb ram, amazingly after updating browser it surf's acceptbly OK
Will wait till after Xmas and decide what to do.
Probably get a cheap refurb and hope to use my existing 8gbram, ssd, HDD, etc etc in that.
Thanks for that, just dug up my previous 2009 desktop, 2 core 32bit pentium [remember them!] win7, 2gb ram, amazingly after updating browser it surf's acceptbly OK
Will wait till after Xmas and decide what to do.
Probably get a cheap refurb and hope to use my existing 8gbram, ssd, HDD, etc etc in that.
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