2 failed motherboards on a dell optiplex 3010 ??

[Big Jim]

We had a Dell optiplex 3010 in with boot issues, Upgraded it from W7 to W10, and it was fine in the shop.
Customer collected and brought it back a few days later complaining of similar issues.

Whilst on our bench the USB ports stopped working, couldn't even get in to BIOS.
Whilst testing the PSU on another machine it also went pop.

So we replaced both components with used parts and customer collected.
All was well for a week, now it is back in again, this time with USB port failure again on the new board.


Seems very odd to have a failure like this in the first place, but 2 time sin a row in 2 different locations is very odd.

Am I missing something here ?

 

[Moltuae]

Sounds like one of the only remaining common factors is the computer case ... Are there any physical signs of damage to the USB ports? Have you tried booting with the front ports disconnected? Failing that, does the motherboard work if you boot it on the bench (ie out of the case), with just the bare minimum devices attached?

 

[Big Jim]

So computer was back in yesterday.
No signs of damage to anything.
very very clean inside, no signs of damage to anything inside at all.
No real way of the board contacting the chassis as standoffs are built in to the case.
The cable for the front USB was pristine also.

New board arrived today, fitted and customer collected back on his way again.
He has it plugged in to a Belkin Surge protector as well.

the only thing was I noticed one of the plugs had a slightly black colour around it, he said he plugged a printer in one day about 2 or 3 year ago and it went bang, but the socket still works so he still uses it for his printer, the bottom flaps were permanently open on the socket as well and i could see burn/black marks inside, so must have got quite hot inside and melted something.

I don't think its related but when you have the same very obscure fault happen twice it makes you think.

 

[Markverhyden]

I think @Moltuae point is damage to the USB sockets themselves can cause problem. My landlady's sister came to me with a dead HP. Power up, fans spins a few seconds, then powers down. Was going to tell her it was a toast MB but I happened to notice the front USB ports. The plastic key was missing in both of them and the contacts were touching. Unplugged the cable from the motherboard and it worked fine.

 

[Moltuae]

I think @Moltuae point is damage to the USB sockets themselves can cause problem. My landlady's sister came to me with a dead HP. Power up, fans spins a few seconds, then powers down. Was going to tell her it was a toast MB but I happened to notice the front USB ports. The plastic key was missing in both of them and the contacts were touching. Unplugged the cable from the motherboard and it worked fine.

Had a few similar experiences myself. My retail customers like to use the front USB ports for things like barcode scanners. Trouble is they don't unplug them when they've finished so inevitably they get knocked or kicked and the plastic key/tongue inside the USB port gets broken.

On a number of occasions I've had staff complain that the computer crashes or turns off when they plug something in. Blissfully unaware of the missing plastic key and the mangled mess of bent contacts inside the USB port, they repeatedly attempt to ram the USB cable in. So I now disable the front ports on any new machines for such customers and stick a label over them. Instead I bring a USB extension lead to the front, connected to the rear ports.

 

[Big Jim]

sorry I should have mentioned that I did check the front ports for damage as well there wasn't any.
This is one of those machines that has been well looked after and is in good condition.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Sounds like an electrical problem on site.

 

[Diggs]

I have a pair of 3010s that have been almost flawless so there's nothing inherently wrong with them but I do run them with beefed up power supplies.