Hi Peter, Try booting up to the BIOS setups, usually press F1 or F2 or shift-F1 or ctrl F1 or combinations of these during power up (Dell changed them at one stage in about 2003 or 2004, goodness knows why). Then go through the BIOS settings and check that they haven't been set to something stupid like boot over ethernet. The disk head movement and CDROM click is just the disk drives themselves doing a power-on test. They will do that even without a computer connected. You won't get floppy access happening if it has been disabled in the BIOS. Keyboard lights flashing on power-up means the keyboard itself is OK. No Video - that may be a problem; but check the BIOS first as sometimes it doesn't show up until you get into the BIOS settings.
HTH - Jill -----Original Message----- From: Peter Rundle [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Thursday, 23 December 2004 10:42 AM To: slug Subject: [SLUG] Dell GX1 Optiplex Wont boot Sluggers, I've just inherited two Dell Optiplex GX1 400Mhz boxen which are surplus to some corporations requirements because they won't run XP. So obviously we put Linux on them right? Trouble is that they won't boot. I was told that they were perfectly functional and even saw one running before accepting them. Both have exactly the same problem which is that on power on the CPU fan and mother board power up, the disk does a quick head movement and the cd-rom clicks, but then nothing. No video, no disk activity, no floppy access no num lock/caps lock light on the keyboard (though the num caps and scroll lights flash just once on power-on). Tried alternate screens keyboards etc, to no avail. Removed the memory, and they beeb loudly in complaint, but putting it back, reseating the CPU etc, nothing. Tried putting in an alternate PCI video card, but no difference. It seems to be more than a component failure, it's as if the boot sequence is in some sort of disabled state. So something happened to both of them between me picking them up and taking them home, unless my house is in some sort of Optiplex free zone in cyberspace :-( I can't think of anything else that might work. I've looked on the net and it appears that this problem occurs when overclocking them, but I haven't done that. Cluesticks or are they destined for the junk yard? TIA's P. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- IMPORTANT NOTICES This email (including any documents referred to in, or attached, to this email) may contain information that is personal, confidential or the subject of copyright or other proprietary rights in favour of Aristocrat, its affiliates or third parties. This email is intended only for the named addressee. Any privacy, confidence, copyright or other proprietary rights in favour of Aristocrat, its affiliates or third parties, is not lost because this email was sent to you by mistake. If you received this email by mistake you should: (i) not copy, disclose, distribute or otherwise use it, or its contents, without the consent of Aristocrat or the owner of the relevant rights; (ii) let us know of the mistake by reply email or by telephone (+61 2 9413 6300); and (iii) delete it from your system and destroy all copies. Any personal information contained in this email must be handled in accordance with applicable privacy laws. Electronic and internet communications can be interfered with or affected by viruses and other defects. As a result, such communications may not be successfully received or, if received, may cause interference with the integrity of receiving, processing or related systems (including hardware, software and data or information on, or using, that hardware or software). Aristocrat gives no assurances in relation to these matters. If you have any doubts about the veracity or integrity of any electronic communication we appear to have sent you, please call +61 2 9413 6300 for clarification. -- SLUG - Sydney Linux User's Group Mailing List - http://slug.org.au/ Subscription info and FAQs: http://slug.org.au/faq/mailinglists.html
