Dell Optiplex 9020 MT intermittent start issue

[fincoder]

Dell 9020 Mini Tower in the workshop usually won't turn on. No response from power button. If pressed a few times the power LED flashes 2-1 (apparently main board failure). But with persistence, sometimes I can get it started and it boots fine! No particular technique it just sometimes boots after pressing the power button a few times.

Once running I can run tests, e.g. built-in Dell diagnostics and stress-testing utilities, without any crashes or errors. Restart seems to boot OK but usually not after shutdown.

Any ideas?

The customer thought it was the PSU, and I suppose he might be right but I don't have a compatible one to test with. I might order one to try I suppose.

 

[fincoder]

Customer has another 9020 MT so is going to pick it up and try swapping the PSU before ordering a new one.

 

[JoelM]

Have you turned off "fast startup" I've had that cause that kind of issue. Restart ok but not shutdown.

 

[Sky-Knight]

I have a bunch of those in service, that's what they do when the PSU is bad! You're on the right track.

You should see the button turning amber after each press.

But, fair warning... I had ONE where the button itself actually went bad, which results in extremely similar behavior. So you might want to get a conductivity tester on it.

 

[Markverhyden]

What's the reading on the CR2032?

 

[fincoder]

CR2032 is 2.9v, tried replacing it with a new one, no change.
I don't think it's the power button, because when running it goes into shutdown immediately on a single press every time.

Funny thing is, sometimes when it starts it still has the power LED flashing amber in a 2-1 sequence. While running!

 

[Markverhyden]

Not sure if you saw the below while surfing on this.

9020, power button LED, amber blinking | DELL Technologies

Hello Guys, I recently have ran into a problem with my pc (Dell Optiplex 9020) it's power button light was blinking orange like blink..blink..........blink. I looked up for this issue and f...

www.dell.com

 

[fincoder]

Yes thanks Mark, I've read that thread. That poster only had the issue a couple of times, and was using a 750ti card with stock PSU. It might be another hint that the PSU is the culprit.

 

[Sky-Knight]

@fincoder Yes sir, PSU is weak, probably got a soft 3.3v rail. It's trivial to test if you have the appropriate meter. Swap that thing out and she'll roar to life... that is... if you can find one.

 

[fincoder]

Thanks @Sky-Knight. Was talking to the customer today and he has another working 9020 MT. So we can do a swap of the PSU and confirm before sourcing a replacement part.

I wish he mentioned he had another one earlier!

 

[Sky-Knight]

You don't have any ATX PSUs around? I think that unit uses standard connectors. Just because it doesn't fit in the tiny case doesn't mean you can't use it!

 

[fincoder]

Not ATX. The PC is Mini Tower and the PSU is ATX-size but different connectors.

 

[Porthos]

Having one of these handy to test would have been nice,

Amazon.com: COMeap 24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm): Computers & Accessories

Buy COMeap 24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm): Internal Power Supplies - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

 

[Diggs]

Having one of these handy to test would have been nice,

Amazon.com: COMeap 24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm): Computers & Accessories

Buy COMeap 24 Pin to 8 Pin ATX PSU Power Adapter Cable Compatible with DELL Optiplex 3020 7020 9020 Precision T1700 12-inch(30cm): Internal Power Supplies - Amazon.com ✓ FREE DELIVERY possible on eligible purchases

www.amazon.com

Nice find! Was fired up until I read the fine print: "Not compatible with Dell Inspiron series such as: 3653 3650 3655 3250 3252 3268 3660 3667 3668 3670."

I have an Inspiron 3670. I wonder why the incompatibility? Hmmm.... Still - Nice to have for the bench.

 

[nlinecomputers]

Nice find! Was fired up until I read the fine print: "Not compatible with Dell Inspiron series such as: 3653 3650 3655 3250 3252 3268 3660 3667 3668 3670."

I have an Inspiron 3670. I wonder why the incompatibility? Hmmm.... Still - Nice to have for the bench.

Cuz it’s a f-ing Dell….

 

[Sky-Knight]

All the really tiny boxen are custom, doesn't matter who you get them from. At least with Dell that bit is mostly standard across lines.

The MT, DT, and SFF all use ATX pin headers, it's the USFF you have to watch out for and incidentally this is also why I don't sell them. The link Mark shared above has a nice picture on which is which.

 

[Diggs]

it's the USFF you have to watch out for

I have several Dell SFFs but I'm not even sure I knew there was an USFF! Interesting. (Thanks for the reminder not to go there.)

 

[Sky-Knight]

I have several Dell SFFs but I'm not even sure I knew there was an USFF! Interesting. (Thanks for the reminder not to go there.)

Yeah, that's the jump that has you swap from desktop components to laptop components. Everything gets appropriately custom at that point. Because well... it's a laptop! The price of being small means proprietary.