Can you "jump start" or "hot wire" a PC?

[StrangeRanger]

We've got a Dell Dimension (I think) that is like 4yrs old here at work, and the power button has crapped out. If you are familiar w/ Dells at all, it's got the desktop style case that swings open. Everything is rivited in place so I can't get at the back or front of teh switch. Can anyone please tell me how to get this POS started. I just need it running for like 10 min to get some data off b/f we scrap it. PLEASE HELP! Thanks,
j

 

[Cook1]

Couldn't take the hard drive out, use it as a slave on another PC and access the files that way?

 

[farmercal]

Couldn't take the hard drive out, use it as a slave on another PC and access the files that way?

That's what I would do.

 

[StrangeRanger]

I can't b/c my boss is using some dumb ass external Maxtor back up system that won't recognize on the new machine he bot himself when this one went down. See, whet he did was kill the Dell which had the maxtor back up unit attached. So he bot a new machine which will not work with the back up unit. He called maxotr support, they told him it will only work with the original set up. So he bot a cheap new HD, installed it in the Dell and restored the Dell OS. The Maxtor back up rig was working ok, but he went home for the night and was gonna finish up today. Now it won't power up at all. Don't ask, he's a fool. So basically, I know long story yada yada, but the info is not on the Dell, it's on the back up unit that supposedly per Maxtor has to be hooked up to the old configuration. I don't know, I got dragged into this unwittingly.
j

 

[bwnv]

Look at the motherboard where the power supply connector is, there should be a green wire. Make a jumper out of a paper clip and jumper thee green wire to a black wire and it should start. If it doesn't then it isn't the power switch that's bad.

 

[Brian23]

Originally posted by: StrangeRanger
I can't b/c my boss is using some dumb ass external Maxtor back up system that won't recognize on the new machine he bot himself when this one went down. See, whet he did was kill the Dell which had the maxtor back up unit attached. So he bot a new machine which will not work with the back up unit. He called maxotr support, they told him it will only work with the original set up. So he bot a cheap new HD, installed it in the Dell and restored the Dell OS. The Maxtor back up rig was working ok, but he went home for the night and was gonna finish up today. Now it won't power up at all. Don't ask, he's a fool. So basically, I know long story yada yada, but the info is not on the Dell, it's on the back up unit that supposedly per Maxtor has to be hooked up to the old configuration. I don't know, I got dragged into this unwittingly.
j

 

[Cook1]

Yeah, I'm not understanding that either.

So what kind of hard drive has the data on it that you need?

 

[AluminumStudios]

With those Dells that swing open, there is a ribbon cable that goes from the motherboard to a card screwed in the front of the case. This card has the power button, etc.

If you open the case, I think there is a single phillips screw holding this card in, you should be able to remove it. I think the case power button comes down and presses on a contact on this card. Once you take a look at it you might see how to either short it or press the contact on the card (if the case's button is physically broken as opposed to an electrical issue with the contacts.)

 

[hopejr]

Originally posted by: bwnv
Look at the motherboard where the power supply connector is, there should be a green wire. Make a jumper out of a paper clip and jumper thee green wire to a black wire and it should start. If it doesn't then it isn't the power switch that's bad.

In dells, they've put all the wires into a ribbon cable so this won't work. I've tried putting another mobo in a dell case when the original mobo died, but the ribbon cable stopped me. I hate dells.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: farmercal

Couldn't take the hard drive out, use it as a slave on another PC and access the files that way?

That's what I would do.

Be careful, something that old, might be using C/H/S addressing, make sure to make a note of what those settings are before putting it in another machine, and that Phoenix/Award/AMI used different "LBA" (really, not true LBA, but LBA-to-CHS) translation schemes.

What size is the HD?

Is this an ATX case or AT? Is it old enough to be a "Dell-custom" ATX mobo PSU connector? If so, be careful "hotwiring" it. If it's an AT, don't even try to "hotwire" it, it carries live 120V AC.

 

[VirtualLarry]

Originally posted by: StrangeRanger
I can't b/c my boss is using some dumb ass external Maxtor back up system that won't recognize on the new machine he bot himself when this one went down. See, whet he did was kill the Dell which had the maxtor back up unit attached. So he bot a new machine which will not work with the back up unit. He called maxotr support, they told him it will only work with the original set up. So he bot a cheap new HD, installed it in the Dell and restored the Dell OS. The Maxtor back up rig was working ok, but he went home for the night and was gonna finish up today. Now it won't power up at all. Don't ask, he's a fool. So basically, I know long story yada yada, but the info is not on the Dell, it's on the back up unit that supposedly per Maxtor has to be hooked up to the old configuration. I don't know, I got dragged into this unwittingly.
j

External Maxtor back-up system? One of those "one touch" USB backup things? I've not used one personally, but I would imagine that all you would have to do is install the software necessary to use it, which is probably on Maxtor's website. Did you check it, and what OS is the machine running that you are trying to access the backup unit from?

 

[Tiamat]

Go to where the power button plugs into the mobo. Unplug the power button. Plug in your PSU to the wall, connect everything like normal. Take a flat head screwdriver that is not magnetized and run the tip in between the 2 pins that the power button plugged into on the mobo. Carefully touch the screwdriver to both of those pins at the same time.

This is the jump start if your button failed.

 

[hopejr]

Tiamat - I don't think you've read the thread. That's already been said, but Dells have a ribbon cable from the front panel that make it hard to tell which pins are the power button.

 

[speed01]

Originally posted by: AluminumStudios
With those Dells that swing open, there is a ribbon cable that goes from the motherboard to a card screwed in the front of the case. This card has the power button, etc.

If you open the case, I think there is a single phillips screw holding this card in, you should be able to remove it. I think the case power button comes down and presses on a contact on this card. Once you take a look at it you might see how to either short it or press the contact on the card (if the case's button is physically broken as opposed to an electrical issue with the contacts.)

Ding Ding Ding.......
This would be your best bet...

Speed

 

[Gunbuster]

Just run a flat head down the power/LED/reset pin block on the mainboard until you find the right set

 

[Tiamat]

Originally posted by: hopejr
Tiamat - I don't think you've read the thread. That's already been said, but Dells have a ribbon cable from the front panel that make it hard to tell which pins are the power button.

I read the thread. My suggestion was not already said. it was suggested to jump the power supply when not plugged into the mobo. This post, you responded to incorrectly, since the post was aimed to test the power supply to make sure it worked properly, not disconnecting the power button from the motherboard. My suggestion was to unplug where the front button plugs into the mobo, not the 20pin atx connector.



In anycase, i fail to see how taking the time to jump all of the pins 2 at a time wouldnt work. Just trial and error. As long as you dont jab the mobo in frustration with the screw driver, nothing should break any further than it is now.

 

[hopejr]

umm, I understood what you said, and it had already been said by bwnv (but not using the same words as you). It wasn't suggested to jump the psu but instead to pull the power button off and use a paper clip to jump it at the point where the power button plugs in. Why would someone be stupid enough to use a paper clip on the psu?

 

[Brian23]

At work, boss's computer owns you!

 

[w00t]

i just had this same problem like 5min ago open the case up look at the green plastic thing wreer the powerbutton works press the green plastic peice down. than press the button i recently took out my hd and i guess i knocked it since wire in the way. try that and tell me if it works

so werd how u have same problem.