I hate computers

admiral_p

So I bought a used Dell Optiplex 9010. I bought a PCI-E FireWire interface card and I mounted my old Intel PCI WiFi card. I installed an SSD I had and my old PC's HDD. It won't start. No video signal, no error messages, no beeps whatsoever, non-responsive keyboard (NumLock won't turn on or off, and the same applies to all the other Lock keys). I disconnected everything except the CPU. I moved RAM from slots 3-4 to slots 1-2, nothing. I take the PC to a tech. The PC works. I take it back home. Nothing. Dead.

error

Is the power in your house out?

Mingan

@admiral_p

<script>
    Have-you-plugged-it-in?
    Have-you-tried-turning-it-on-and-off?
    Is-there-power-in-your-house?
</script>

Fake edit :

JBert

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

I take the PC to a tech. The PC works.

With literally nothing changed in between, or did you try mounting the PCI cards again? Thought about loose wires or a loose screw in the case, a malfunctioning power switch or some problem with the PSU?

admiral_p

@JBert I thought of all those things, but I've literally tried everything. If I power it on with no RAM installed, it beeps and whines. So the motherboard and power supply should be OK. With everything in the right place it won't turn on. The keyboard LEDs flash on and off, then NumLock turns on and stays on whatever I do.

TimeBandit

@admiral_p From the manual (https://downloads.dell.com/manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_optiplex_desktop/optiplex-9010_owner's manual_en-us.pdf)

The power button LED located on the front of the chassis also functions as a bicolored diagnostic LED. The diagnostic
LED is only active and visible during the POST process. Once the operating system starts to load, it is no longer visible.
Amber LED blinking scheme – The pattern is 2 or 3 blinks followed by a short pause then x number of blinks up to 7. The
repeated pattern has a long pause inserted in the middle. For example 2,3 = 2 amber blinks, short pause, 3 amber blinks
followed by long pause then repeats.

loopback0

1 - Firewire

2 - Have you tried it with just the Dell stuff in? No extra cards, drives etc?

3 - I assume you actually tried it when it was delivered before messing with it?

admiral_p

@loopback0 yes. I actually had the stuff down by a tech. I could have done it myself but I couldn't be arsed. The tech said that when he tried it he had the same issues, but then it went away when he reinstalled everything. I'm thinking that during transport something had slightly moved.

@TimeBandit No blinking leds, the power LED turns from amber to white straight away and it stays that way.

admiral_p

@TimeBandit oh and when I took out the RAM it correctly blinked 3,3 (3 blinks, pause, 3 blinks, long pause).

TimeBandit

@admiral_p I would remove everything except the RAM and try it

admiral_p

@TimeBandit the CPU as well?

TimeBandit

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

the CPU as well?

No

loopback0

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

No blinking leds, the power LED turns from amber to white straight away and it stays that way.

The image above says that means the "system is ON".

Is the difference between your setup and the setup the PC repair shop had the display? Is there maybe an incompatibility or something there?

edit: or have you tried a graphics card in there?

admiral_p

@loopback0 the answer to all of those is no.

Well, the only differences in setup was a different keyboard, a different mouse and the display is connected to the VGA port through a DVI adapter.

TimeBandit

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

the display is connected to the VGA port through a DVI adapter.

VGA on the computer and DVI on the monitor?

Or the opposite

TimeBandit

@TimeBandit there is 2 types of DVI ports: DVI-D and DVI-I.

DVI-D is digital only, so it doesn't have the analog signal for VGA.

DVI-I has the analog signal Integrated.

So if you plug your VGA adapter to a DVI-D, it won't work. I'm not sure you can plug the adapter into it

NVIDIA Support

admiral_p

@TimeBandit it's a DVI-I port/monitor. Anyway the keyboard should be responsive. It isn't.

JBert

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

The tech said that when he tried it he had the same issues, but then it went away when he reinstalled everything.

Last time I had to take a motherboard to the store they had trouble to get it working as well. The tech testing it said with a thousand-mile stare "you know, it's like magic, only worse because we're dealing with electronics here".

Unperverted Vixen

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

Anyway the keyboard should be responsive. It isn't.

You did say it's a different keyboard. Is it a known-good one? In the same port?

loopback0

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

@TimeBandit it's a DVI-I port/monitor. Anyway the keyboard should be responsive. It isn't.

Have you tried another display?

cabrito

Try other kbd, in case of doubt also try other monitor.

Uncommon, but sometimes the problem is there.

Tsaukpaetra

@loopback0 said in I hate computers:

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

@TimeBandit it's a DVI-I port/monitor. Anyway the keyboard should be responsive. It isn't.

Have you tried another display?

Or the cable?

I can't believe THIS killed my PC... – 14:20
— Austin Evans

admiral_p

@loopback0 yes. No difference. I am utterly flummoxed. I am going to try removing all daughterboards, with another keyboard, another VGA cable, maybe a DP -> HDMI cable and another monitor or my TV.

Tsaukpaetra

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

I am utterly flummoxed.

GEEKSQUAD IS THE BEST AASP OF ALL TIME – 38:21
— Louis Rossmann

Tl;dw: Louis intentionally shorts an important communication to ground, yet somehow the presence of the Geek Squad is enough to breathe life into a dead Macbook.

Gurth

@JBert said in I hate computers:

The tech testing it said with a thousand-mile stare "you know, it's like magic, only worse because we're dealing with electronics here".

I would have reminded him that according to Arthur C. Clarke, he is supposed to be the magician.

admiral_p

It was a combination of bad video cable + dead keyboard.

Basically the keyboard appeared to be working (it flashed all LEDs at power-on, then locked onto NumLock). It had always worked previously. Likewise, the video cable, I had been using it for years and I didn't expect it to fail for no reason at all.

My old computer is very likely functional.

I bought a "new" computer probably for no reason at all.

Rhywden

@admiral_p said in I hate computers:

I bought a "new" computer probably for no reason at all.

Those are the Best Buys.

Gąska

@admiral_p wait... you had similar symptoms on your old computer?

admiral_p

@Gąska yes. I took it to the tech. You gotta know that my old PC had a "soft rubber" exterior that for some reason has become all sticky and disgusting. He told me that the PC was kaputt, and that it was pointless to fix it because it was old and "the case is disgusting". I bet my left nut that he never switched it on.

Gąska

@admiral_p imagine my shock.

_P_

Moral of the story: mobile phones > PCs, change my mind

loopback0

@Gąska said in I hate computers:

@admiral_p wait... you had similar symptoms on your old computer?

admiral_p

@Gąska in my defence, I thought about it but dismissed the idea. I mean, you can't be so big of an arsehole. And I'm also trying to be less cynical. You need to trust people.