Dell Dimension – Flashing orange power light
If you have a Dell Dimension and experience the dreaded orange flashing light, there are normally ways to verify what is causing it to occur. I spoke to a Dell technician and he informed me on the Dell Dimension 5100 there are status lights right next to the front USB ports. The numbers are fairly faint so you have to look really good.
However, when I gave the tech the numbers on this computer I was working on, he seemed to be reading from a script and when I asked him what does code 2 and 4 mean he said the SATA cable is not connected – he was wrong.
Let me give you a little background into this computer. I’m working on it for a client. The main symptoms is that as soon as the unit receives power, the indicator light on the power button immediately starts to flash orange. I was unable to turn the computer on. I replaced the power supply and the orange light flashed constantly, again. I then disconnected everything except for the power supply, and CPU. I was hoping to at least get the unit to turn in then I could go from there by plugging each component back in one by one. I eventually came to the conclusion that the motherboard was bad.
I spoke to the client and she still had warranty with Dell. She called Dell and then the Dell tech called me. We spoke like I mentioned earlier, and eventually I was able to convince him that it was a motherboard problem.
Dell shipped the motherboard out next day air and I received it just before lunch.
As I was tearing down the Dimension what do I find?
You see that nasty corrosion? I don’t know what the hell that is but it isn’t dust. I tried blowing it off with a compressed can of air but was unsuccessful.
For reasons beyond me that was the only area of the motherboard that had that build up. Everywhere else was spotless.
So in conclusion, if you experience the dreaded blinking orange power light, make sure to check your motherboard for blown capacitors as well as something like the above pictures show.
If this post helped you, please feel free to donate. Any amount helps, even $1.00!!!
Since my Aug. 14th post, the E510′s problem worsened. PC would take 1 to 3 days to power up, and the amber light increased in flashing. Today, I replaced Dell’s sad-assed 305 watt power supply with an Antec 500W Earthwatts. PC powered up immediately and functions “whisper quite.” Bidding all a great New Year!
Thank You!
Thanks for the advice about the damaged front USB port!
hi
I had the orange blinking light on my 5150C. I tried most of the recommendations above including replacing battery, cleaning dust with aerosol, reconnecting cables etc, renewing thermal paste for heat sink etc, making sure USB pins are ok…but all that didnt work for my PC. Finally, i observed it a a faulty fan inside the PSU that could be causing the problem. I rang dell for a replacement and they wanted to charge me USD 140 to replace a refurbished PSU. Of course I wouldn’t want to pay for such a high price. I replace it with a USD 5 fan and my PC now run continuously for 2 days without any problem.
My conclusion is that if the problem happen after several hours of machine running, it might be the heat building up that is causing the problem, so in this case, it could be problem with either of the two fans or the heat sink.
Rgds
I have a Dimmension 5150 with the ambar ligth blinking. I tried everything without luck, even USB port and finally while the ambar light was blinking I pull out the cable from the media reader drive and the computer turned on, then put back the cord for the media reader drive and the computer continue powered on. I’ll try with CMOS flash upgrade and I will post my experience
I had the same problem after a power failure in our home.
It started booting and then went dead. Power switch blinking orange.
After reading these posts – I left the light flashing and disconnected all front usb connections – still dead.
The first usb I disconnected from the back was the speakers… and Boom the machine powered up and is running fine.
The only thing I can think of is that the speakers were shorting the USB.
Thanks to the posts on this site – you saved my life.
Received a flashing green power light when trying to start the Dimension 5150. Read thru the post and comments, each time checking my machine against what everyone posted. Motherboard was clean. USB ports were fine (no bent pins). Removed the CMOS battery. The power light flashed faster and upon second push the machine booted! Replaced the 2032 battery and the original problem came back. Took out new battery & it booted fine. Inserted the battery during post, powered off, and then powered it on again and it’s running like a champ. You saved my friend a new machine! Thanks for this post and all the commenters!
i have the anber light flasing on my dimm 9100 i clened everthing i just leave it unplugged overnight and then it starts and works fine until i turne it off so now is allways on so i dont think is psu other wise it should just turn off quickly i guess
>>>>>>>>> FACTS ON THE ORANGE LIGHT OF DEATH <<<<<<<<<<<<<<
Dell users, after fixing numerous machines and reading multiple reports, here is the obvious in case you didn't find it by now.
Blinking yellow = Power problem.
It dont matter weather it be the board, supply or shorted USB port, or even a fan. It's a power problem of some sort and the machine is protecting itself.
The second issue is with the diagnostic lights. These indicate malfunction of a sort. Mainly with something connected to the board, which could be anything obviously.
The battery situation. As stated, it's a tempory fix unless it happened to be a dead battery. Clearing the CMOS will reset the board until it detects the problem again.
The order of repair should be as follows (it's not a fixed plan due to the many combinations of problems but should save money over all):
1) Blinking light situation.
2) Examine computer for broken USB pins, or any external connectors due to these being used often anything can break.
3) Examine capacitors (Round can looking things for the fill in the blank types of people) for buldges or leaks. The reason they have that little "X" on the top is to allow expansion like a soda can. If you find a swollen capacitor then you can either fix it or lable the part toast. BE VERY CAREFUL IF YOU OPEN A POWER SUPPLY! CAPACITORS STORE A LOT OF ENERGY AND CAN KILL YOU AT WORST!
4) If everything looks "normal" disconnect all components from the board except the main power supply cable. (There are ways to test the supply but if you didnt see a buldging capacitor chances are its ok).
5) Reconnect items one at a time (unplug power each time) until you run into the problem.
5a) If at this point (with all but the power supply and front panel heater hooked up) you still have a amber light, then you can either find the pins to bypass the front panel header and just power the computer on (Depends on machine) or spring for a power supply. Most places will accept a return on a supply.
6) If you still are stuck you can pretty much call your Mainboard toast. They do go bad but it's rare and almost always obvious as in seeing a buldging Capacitor or you were in the process of flashing the Bios. Even that can sometimes be recovered.
1) Error codes showing (Lights 1,2,3,4)
2) Generally they will point you to the problem as seen on Dell's web site.
3) If you try the obvious by reseating all boards and the sort, chances are you have a capacitor out.
4)If you don't spot a capacitor buldging remove all as mentioned above and start connecting again one by one.
Almost all the time the error is either a broken connector port, unseated component, or bad power supply.
If it's not listed here your board is toast. Dell uses their own custom boards on must units when they went to "BTX" style. You can fit a BTX board if you're good with a dremel tool. No one wants those boards anymore and they are as cheap as $10 for a Pentium 4 board new. If I need to explain how to put an aftermarket board in they you shouldn't be doing it.
LAST CASE SCENARIO -
Buy a motherboard and case (with power supply) that supports your processor and video card and move all your stuff into it.
Take the old dell case and board and properly dispose of it because it will contain contaminents for a landfill.
If you're a hick and dont care about mercury, led and the sort, you can perch the old system on a fence post and shoot it with any various weapons and film it for youtube for us all to see. If you're really constructive you can have it trampled by a bulldozer…. blown up… etc….
I have same problem I downpower the computer remove all usb ports & battery. Install batt & repower the cmptr the yellow light will start blinking hold it untill the the computer turns o
And here i am thinking i was alone. Yeah i get the orange light. What i do is unplug everything then the power is turned of. Plug power back and replug everything and it works but am fed up of unplugging it all. Am gonna look at the USB thing when i get in tonight