Dell 8400 gone to sleep... how can I wake it :(

[elsiegee40]

We have a single Dell 8400 machine, running XP Pro, that has been left on during the holidays and appears to have gone into permanent sleep mode (power button flashing yellow).

Whilst sympathising with its feelings about sleeping today, I need to install some software on it! It's not responding to keyboard or mouse to wake it up - unless I've missed a particular keyboard combination - any ideas please?

(PS our Bursar suggested that like Sleeping Beauty it needs 'true love's kiss' - I obviously hate it too much!)

[gwendes]

Two ideas...

Give it some power! Sounds like a dead battery.

Or hold down the power button until the light turns off and try powering on again.

Either that works or it's clinically depressed and needs a therapist.

[elsiegee40]

I'm working on the clinical depression theory at the moment

All power options appear to be OK

[broc]

I would try 'press & hold' on the power switch to make it turn off & then try a power on again.

You could also try the DELL website, look for support and from there you should be able to get access to manuals & trouble shooting. Many of the online manuals show status indicators & what they mean.

On most of our DELL (Optiplex) systems, a flashing amber light is not good news, more often than not it indicates a hardware problem preventing the system from completing POST. A flashing green LED is 'sleep' mode on our systems.

We have had a couple of Optiplex PSUs that have failed leaving the system in a state as you describe. I think we have had some issues when memory needed reseating too. If you cannot overcome the problem with a power off/on, I would try swapping the PSU (always assuming you have another box like it of course!).

[gwendes]

I have had problems with laptops solved by removing the battery - pressing the power button with the battery removed and replacing the battery. Normally a keyboard issue but worth a try.

[Ric_]

Flashing orange power button usually means dead PSU on DELL desktops I'm afraid.

[elsiegee40]

Not good news I think

Typical for first day in after the holidays! Hey ho!