I guess when it rains it pours. I’ve previously chronicled the saga of my neighbor Jerry’s Dimension 4100, whose case fan has failed and can’t be replaced. Yesterday, he called me to tell me that his just-over-a-year-old Dimension 4600 won’t start.
We hauled the PC over to my office, where I plugged it in and took a look. Yep, it’s dead, Jim. I made the obligatory call to Dell’s support line, where I spent 15 minutes on hold before a cheerful tech told me that Jerry’s account was from the Large Systems division. Ha! While I was on hold waiting for those techs to pick up, I surfed over to the Dell Community Forum. And wonder of wonders, I read this thread, and this one, and then hit the mother lode on this one.
In short, lots of people have been complaining about a sudden rash of power supply failures in the Dimension 4600 line, typically just after the one-year anniversary. After I read through all the threads, I decided not to waste any more time waiting for a tech to pick up and tell me the computer was out of warranty. Instead, I’m heading for CompUSA to pick up a generic power supply and swap it with the defective one.
I’ll give kudos to Dell for having a Community Forum, but it’s a double-edged sword. This is one of three problems I’ve experienced with Dell products and support in recent months, and thanks to the forums I’ve learned that I’m not alone. Unfortunately, Dell doesn’t seem to have invested any energy in capturing the feedback on these forums to identify and fix common problems. I can only imagine how annoyed and angry their customers are who are getting the run-around from a support tech and don’t realize that there’s a place to share information and horror stories with other customers.
In general, I think Dell makes good, solid computers, but their support is troublesome. If you’re a Dell customer, do yourself a favor and start in the message boards the next time you have a problem. You might save yourself a lot of pointless aggravation.
Update: Yep, the new power supply fixed the problem.
Update: I’ve closed the comments on this post. They’re now read-only. A lot of people are asking for detailed help with their computers that I can’t offer, and the comments section isn’t really set up to work like a bulletin board or forum. A better suggestion is to go to the Dell forums.
Thanks for all the great feedback. – Ed Bott, February 2006
Same problem but it does seem that my MB is dead after replacing the power supply twice in 17 months with 350w and up. Have you heard of any other formal source for complaints where buyers are actually refunded monies??
What is a GOOD replacement computer or barebones kit.
email dbcvisuals@yahoo.com if you have any suggestions.
Thanks
dave
Ditto to all. Progressively added a couple of USB Printers, one BW and one Color all-in-one; Speakers w/subwoof. Around Thanksgiving, after 14 months, my 4600 started doing revving noises. We had an electrical storm that knocked power off and on a few times. Could not get the sucka to power up. Green light on MB but nothing on power button. Started to disco to have a good look and the box booted. Put surge protectors all around. Box ran OK for a couple of weeks then last night it just died. No response. Green light on MB again but can’t get it to POST. Thank God for this forum I tripped up on. Found a killer price froma reputable dealer for a Brand new 4600 PSU rated at 480W. Free delivery and NO TAX to California. Confident this will fix the problem.
I have owned several Dell notebooks and this tower. Never had great support. Can’t believe they foist this underpowered crap on us and get away with it. The country is going to Dell in a hand cart!
http://store.911forpcs.com/911forpcs/dedi2446posu.html
► Dell Dimension 2400, 4600 power supply – FREE DELIVERY!! 39.29
Subtotal: 39.29
Shipping: 0.00
Tax: 0.00
Total: 39.29
imagine this-my in-laws dell 4600 won’t power up. haven’t looked at it yet, but after the phone conversations and reading this and other forums sounds like the psu. it just surpassed its 2 year anniversary, off to best buy.
Dave, As to the voltages being OK. They might still show OK w/o being under a normal load but once the load is applied they will not be at the correct level with a bad supply. Just a tip.
Interesting. I read all the posts and felt compelled to respond. I have a Dell 4600 and a Dell 2400. The 4600 is just over 2 yrs old and have purch an extended warranty. I will purch the extended warranty on the 2400 in Feb. Prior to these 2 I had a Dimension XPS 300 for 5 yrs. Never a prob with the 300. The cpu fan become noisy on the 4600 a few months after purchase. I called (tech support was still stateside) and they had a tech out in a few days and swapped it out. It is now noisy again After trying and finally ……getting a tech online ( I couldn’t understand him so I hung up) I emailed Dell and got an almost immediate answer saying they are shipping me a new fan (we’ll see). BTW, the fan I am having probs with is the CPU fan directed over the heatsink. I have yet to have a prob with the PS. Just the noisy fan on the CPU. I turn my comp off every nite (does everyone else?). I still like Dells but not the foreign support.
Jack
As a favor to a friend I checked a Dell Dimension 4600. No power. Told them to get PS from Dell. Replaced PS but when I hit the start button it just blinks. It does not have the LEDs on it. I watched and the Motherboard has a light that comes on but the fan doesnt respond and the computer just blinks…I would think that the replacement PS, which was purchased from Dell, would work, even with the horror that I’ve just read about. So what would you recommend as a follow-up. I’ve seen suggestion such as jumpering the green wire to the black wire and pulling out all cards with just the motherboard left and than trying to turn it on. All of this sounds a little much and I would think that there is some easier way.
Anything you might suggest would be appreciated.
By the way, I enjoy Microsoft Windows XP Inside-Out. It is very informative.
new Antec 350 watt PSU from best buy, and we’re up and runnin.
went to the lieffcabraser.com website to file my complaint
Well can you believe this one??? I bought a Dell 8400. I ordered it with everything they could put in it. Paid almost $1,800 for it. Had problems with it since day one. I call tech support and they want a credit card # so they can bill me for support. I even purchased the extended warranty.I got a $1,800 piece of junk that I cant even get tech support for.
I had a Dimension 4600 with the same issue.
1) Just would not power up one day.
2) After being plugged in for an hour or so would make a Vroom noise an cycle power to the fan. If you pushed the power on switch during this cycle, the PC would actually power on.
3)On shutdown, the power would keep cycling and the lights on my CD and DVD drive would keep lighting.
4) Small light on Mother Board was still lit.
Solution:
1) Replaced power supply with an Antec 350W Smartpower 2.0 – Purchased at Comp USA. It was about $60 and took 10 minutes max to install. Fit like a glove!
1) Took off left side cover of PC.
2) Released processor cooling baffle.
3) Used black spring clip to release the processor cooling fan to gain better access to the cooling fan.
4) Removed old PSU and noted location of all connection
5) Slid new unit in secured with screws. Plugged in all devices and wire tied extra leads. The main connection to the motherboard suuport both 20 and 24 pins. tou can released 4 pins if you don’t need them, which is what I had to do.
6)Buttoned unit back up and it is running Great!
After this experince and the poor support, I will NEVER buy a Dell computer again!!
It’s a darn shame, what an opportunity miss by Dell: I have a nice 3 year old Dell 4600 that stopped working New Year’s Day. When I went through the Dell Diagnostics and emailed their support folks I received a response in 2 hours (very impressive !!). Unfortunately, the mis-diagnosis was “the motherboard needs replacement”. After reading this forum I simply replaced the PSU with an Antec ATX 350W Smartpower from Best Buy and I was back up and running in 15 minutes. Now if Dell had simply said “the PSU is bad, you can replace it with any standard ATX model” I would have been delighted with the response.
I have a Dimension 9100 which lacks parallel, serial, and 1394 on board IO. Any suggestions for a motherboard that will fit the Dimension case?
Add me to the 4600 list. I bought two 4600’s and one died 6 months ago when it was just 1 month out of warranty. Since i wasn’t going to pay Dell stupid money to fix it i just started using my second one. Then yesterday that one failed too. Same problem. The flea light on the mother board is on but it just won’t turn on. Given all these issues, there should have been some kind of recall on the 4600. So i guess its off to COmpUSA to buy a power supply this morning.
Seems like these guys (www.lieffcabraser.com) are researching a class action but there is no info on where they are with that.
Glad i found this website.
Same problem as everyone else: Computer would not start, even though the little “flea” light was lit up on the motherboard. I purchased a new power supply from:
http://store.911forpcs.com/911forpcs/dedi2446posu.html
and got it the next day! After installing it, it still would not start; but after investigating further, I discovered that I had plugged the wrong 4 pin socket onto the motherboard. After connecting the right one, everything was fine and the computer works better than ever. One caveat regarding this replacement power supply from 911forpcs-it’s VERY noisy.
Add one more PSU dead on 4600. co-worker asked me to swap out a motherboard for him. being a fool i agree. he told me the problem(push the button & nothing) i asked if it was power supply? he said he paid geek squad 50 some dollars to diagnose the problem, they told him MOBO was dead. and PSU checked out ok. So he calls DELL (warranty expired) they send out a refurbished board, and tell him he needs a new video card also!!!!!???? Without thinking (google’n) I rip out the mobo put in the new one, with original vid card (cause i knew it should be fine) NO BOOT!!! i see the light on the motherboard, and tell myself it has power…this is where i should have run a search and found this site! i pulled the wires out of the front panel switch, thinking the switch had worn dead
and get a RMA on this new hardware he didn’t need..
cross the wires and nothing!! ok now im scratchin my head.. run a search finally..AND FIND THIS AWESOME SITE THANK YOU!!!! i had a Thermaltake 420w power supply just hooked up the 20 pin and 4pin, crossed them wires and blammo! posted and fired up (erred due to no drive power) solution found. called coworker told him to order a switch
I just wanted to say that I too have a 4600 and I have ran it 15-24 hours a day since new. Air cleaned system once a month and have not had a glitch out of it. I am very impressd with my DELL !
The PSU in my 4600 died this month, exactly a year after it was bought. DELL only ships “refurbished” supplies now, with a 90-day warranty. Given my experience, and yours, I’m going to buy a new ATX supply at Compusa. Thanks, everyone.
Hoping someone can help. I have a Dell Dimension 4500 ( bought in 2003). After the first year a new hard drive was installed. Experienced the blue screen of death. And just before christmas this year (2005) the machine would just shut itself down. Sometimes it would restart and sometimes it wouldn’t. Had to shut down using the power switch and then restart. Took the machine to a computer guy. Said it sounded like a power supply problem. It sat on his bench for 8 hours and the machine shut down twice with the original power supply. He attached his own power supply and it sat for 5 hours with no problems. We purchased a refurbished power supply from Dell ( couldnt get a new one- even though we paid the same price for it.) I was told we couldn’t use another type of PS because Dell machines were periphial. Computer guy installed the PS , but it still does the same thing. What is the next step to repairing this computer. Hoping it doesnt cost too much. I’m thinking we just might have to live with the problem until the machine just dies.
Hey Guys,
I’ve got a bad 4600 Power supply also, my idea is to box it up with a nice letter informing Dell of the crappy PS there putting out. I figure if they get all there bad PS’s back and a big influx of crap maybe they will see the light. It’s gonna cost me $3 to ship it. What do you all think?
Posted earlier about a power supply problem with my Dell dimension 4500. Talked to another computer guy and he suggested i have a Trojan problem and that i should reformatt my hardrive. Does anyone have any thoughts on this? Could this be the problem or is it a hardware problem. Anyone else tried doing this and were successful? I would like to know.
I have a 4550 that I replace the power supply, still no startup, then replace with a different Dell MB and still no startup. I replace the memory still no startup, replace video card, still no startup. Jumper the PS and the fan run! How can I jumper the push button switch to see if this is the problem?