Dell blinking amber light- No boot

**marcelproust** · March 10th, 2008, 11:52 PM

There is a discussion on blinking amber light at
http://www.dellcommunity.com/support...354493#M354493

It is read by Dell, so you may wish to report it there.

**mbmainer69** · July 11th, 2008, 11:17 PM

I'm having the same problem listed here. (Can't get me Dell e510 to boot up...just the blinking amber light.) When you say I may need a power supply, do you mean the cord or do you mean the box inside the pc?

**nsteblay** · August 2nd, 2008, 07:31 AM

The box inside the computer. Get one from Best Buy- about $65. I just replaced one in an E510 with the same problem. Worked great.

**tcadams289** · December 30th, 2008, 11:06 AM

I know this is an older post but it does show up in google as the first match for this problem so, I will post my story here (Dell E510).

I had the amber flashing light but could get my system to boot. I could un-plug all my usb devices (3 - keyboard, mouse and ext. drive) reset the bios (removing the battery and un-pluging the pc). At this point the pc would boot, during the boot I could plug back in the usb devices etc. and it would run with no problems.

I first tried replacing the battery - which didn't work (still had the flashing amber light). Then I replaced the power-supply and that seems to have fixed the problem (2 days now). In my case the problem didn't always occur when I turned on the pc, only when it had been turned off for a period of time (2+ hours) and then turned on did I get the flashing amber light.

Having to replace a power supply is pretty common I have done it on several of my PCs before (all non-Dell, Compaq, HomeBrew). Typically they did not power on at all - this one was different in that I could get the PC to boot. That seems odd - I guess it was a slow failure?

I picked up the new power supply on ebay - $25.

HTH all who has the problem in the future.
Tom

**djday** · January 9th, 2009, 01:04 AM

Flashing orange light on many dell dimension such as 3100, E520, E521, E5150. If you experience this issue it is usually caused by a shutdown issue with your power supply, sort of like a sleep mode but using a compatible power supply usually does not solve the issue. See if you get a friend with a similar machine or one that uses a similar type of power supply where there machine is currently working. It can be another dell or even an hp system which uses similar type of power supply. Take your power supply which seems not to be working and put it into their working machine and boot it. Usually it will boot successfully. Take it back out of their working machine and return it to you seemingly dead machine. And lookout here goes you once dead machine up and running again. Seems like that action takes the power supply out of its dormant state and back to work order. All the best. I am a professional pc technician and IT instructor in the caribbean, who seems to come across all the worse possible problems the computer field has to offer. All the best and hope you are smiling again.

**mikeatcssi** · January 19th, 2009, 01:19 PM

I have 2 identical 5150 desktops and one has the flashing power button. I did a power supply swap to no avail but, at least I then swapped hard drives to get the more important person working. The situation doesn't make much sense at this point except to point to either the MB or the case switch. Could that be a possibility? I am now at the point of letting it sit with power disconnected and unplugged the fron USB's as suggested...

Mike

**mikeatcssi** · January 19th, 2009, 02:54 PM

Well, the power supply is different and the USB (front) has been disconnected and there is no response. The only thing that happens is the green LED on the MB and 1 CD flashes once... I'm guessing the board, huh?

**mikeatcssi** · January 19th, 2009, 03:34 PM

I seem to have the machine now running as long as the CMOS battery is removed. That doesn't make much sense... The front USB ribbon is still detached...

**tcadams289** · January 19th, 2009, 04:03 PM

Hi Mikeatcssi,

I had the same issue...would only re-boot after resetting the BIOS (pulling out battery). I would try first replacing the battery ($5 at Radio Shack). If that doesn't work try a new power supply - $25 on ebay.

HTH
Tom

**mikeatcssi** · January 19th, 2009, 04:12 PM

Actually, that is a "new" power supply from the twin computer. I also have to leave the battery out of the board at this point...

**tcadams289** · January 19th, 2009, 05:13 PM

In my case a new power supply solved the issue.
Couple of easy things you can try...

1. Unplug all the external USB devices.
2. Check to make sure none of your USB connectors are shorted out. Look at where they plug into your case and make sure the leads aren't crossed.

I went around for a month trying to solve my issue...sometimes my PC would boot other times it would not. Based on what I read on various msg threads the problem is that something (MB or PS?) senses you don't have enough power or that there is a short somewhere in your system.

HTH
Tom

**gazaman** · January 20th, 2009, 02:11 AM

I too have an E510 with an amber light problem... again.

A few months ago, I could not boot up my PC at all. I had the dreaded blinking amber light. I installed a new power supply and it seemed t fix the problem.

Now I am having a new problem. I could either be playing a game or browsing the web and all of a sudden the monitor goes black and the amber light begins to flash. The PC doesn't shut down (the power supply still runs, the fan still runs, my video card is still humming, etc.), but I cannot do anything. If I hold the power button down, it will turn off the machine. When I power it back on, the hardware comes back on (fan, vid card, etc), but it doesn't boot up and the amber light flashes. I can turn it on & off 10-12 times and if I get lucky the amber light will come on for about 1 second and then the green light comes on and the machine boots up. But if I go about my business, same old story: back to flashing amber light sooner or later.

I unplugged all USB devices and checked plugs -- all fine.

One time in about 40 attempts, I got the diagnostic lights to come on and stay on (1,2,3). I see what the user guide says about that, but not really sure what my problem is or how to fix it.

Any ideas? I'm stumped. Thanks.

**netfusion** · April 4th, 2009, 09:21 AM

"I could either be playing a game or browsing the web and all of a sudden the monitor goes black and the amber light begins to flash. The PC doesn't shut down (the power supply still runs, the fan still runs, my video card is still humming, etc.), but I cannot do anything. If I hold the power button down, it will turn off the machine. When I power it back on, the hardware comes back on (fan, vid card, etc), but it doesn't boot up and the amber light flashes. I can turn it on & off 10-12 times and if I get lucky the amber light will come on for about 1 second and then the green light comes on and the machine boots up. But if I go about my business, same old story: back to flashing amber light sooner or later.

I unplugged all USB devices and checked plugs -- all fine.

One time in about 40 attempts, I got the diagnostic lights to come on and stay on (1,2,3). I see what the user guide says about that, but not really sure what my problem is or how to fix it.

Any ideas? I'm stumped. Thanks."

I have the EXACT same issue. Have you found a solution for it?

**powerloop** · May 3rd, 2009, 08:04 AM

If you are comfortable removing the CMOS battery off of the motherboard, then i would suggest removing it and insert it back and turn your computer back on . now the slowing amber light should now be rapidly blinking.. just give it a push and wait untill it starts... remember this is a temporary fix.. if this solves your problem then it is a MB failure .. In my case Dell replaced my MB infact I am waiting for the technician to show up with the MB anytime soon ...

hope this helps you !

**lavalasnet** · May 23rd, 2009, 07:24 AM

My problem was posted on anoher thread, but a solid amber light does not indicate a problem with the Power supply, right? I had three Dell customer service reps try to diagnose my problem, but in the end, the guy told me I may have to get a new PC. It's a Dimension E521 about 3 years old. Warranty expired 5 months ago, and they are telling me to throw it away.

**Don Rogerson** · June 23rd, 2009, 10:53 AM

Originally Posted by l_long_island

When I approached my Dell Dimensions 5150 one morning (it was left on overnight), the on/off LED was blinking (amber) at approximately 2.5 second intervals. The system will not boot (even after unplugging/plugging the system from/to the outlet). In addition, a week prior to this event, ipods, cameras and memory sticks did not work when connected to either front USB port. The fans are not on. When opening up the tower a solid green light on the motherboard is visible. From what I’ve read it, seems to be the power supply. Do you concur? Should I remove the power supply and bring it to Best Buy or some other merchant so they can find the appropriate match?
Thanks,
l_long_island

**Don Rogerson** · June 23rd, 2009, 10:55 AM

Originally Posted by l_long_island

When I approached my Dell Dimensions 5150 one morning (it was left on overnight), the on/off LED was blinking (amber) at approximately 2.5 second intervals. The system will not boot (even after unplugging/plugging the system from/to the outlet). In addition, a week prior to this event, ipods, cameras and memory sticks did not work when connected to either front USB port. The fans are not on. When opening up the tower a solid green light on the motherboard is visible. From what I’ve read it, seems to be the power supply. Do you concur? Should I remove the power supply and bring it to Best Buy or some other merchant so they can find the appropriate match?
Thanks,
l_long_island

**Don Rogerson** · June 23rd, 2009, 11:04 AM

Ran into this problem a couple of weeks ago .. call Techy friend and he advised that I unplug all USB components except Keyboard, try startup and Computer booted up OK, added Mouse, startup OK, printer startup OK, USB hub got Amber light no startup, threw Hub in the Garbage Computer working fine..
Hub was a Cheapy from Hong Kong, but worked fine for 3 Mos. or so..
Don R

**Don Rogerson** · June 23rd, 2009, 10:06 PM

Originally Posted by l_long_island

When I approached my Dell Dimensions 5150 one morning (it was left on overnight), the on/off LED was blinking (amber) at approximately 2.5 second intervals. The system will not boot (even after unplugging/plugging the system from/to the outlet). In addition, a week prior to this event, ipods, cameras and memory sticks did not work when connected to either front USB port. The fans are not on. When opening up the tower a solid green light on the motherboard is visible. From what I’ve read it, seems to be the power supply. Do you concur? Should I remove the power supply and bring it to Best Buy or some other merchant so they can find the appropriate match?
Thanks,
l_long_island

**Don Rogerson** · June 23rd, 2009, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by l_long_island

When I approached my Dell Dimensions 5150 one morning (it was left on overnight), the on/off LED was blinking (amber) at approximately 2.5 second intervals. The system will not boot (even after unplugging/plugging the system from/to the outlet). In addition, a week prior to this event, ipods, cameras and memory sticks did not work when connected to either front USB port. The fans are not on. When opening up the tower a solid green light on the motherboard is visible. From what I’ve read it, seems to be the power supply. Do you concur? Should I remove the power supply and bring it to Best Buy or some other merchant so they can find the appropriate match?
Thanks,
l_long_island