System failure detected – power switch remains inactive following extended inactivity of the machines.
System failure detected – power switch remains inactive following extended inactivity of the machines.
Hey there, friends. After some trial and error on my end, I’m looking for advice from the community. I’ve been a regular observer but just starting to engage here. My problem is clear: I have two Dell Precision 5820 workstations. When I connect the power cable and press the power button, nothing happens—no fans spinning, no LED lights, not even a hint. It’s even more puzzling since the system booted fine a couple of months ago. My second machine is identical and shows the same issue. I’ve reset the CMOS using the jumper, checked the battery voltage (it’s 3.02V), tested the power button with and without the cable, and tried different combinations of resetting and booting. The PSU diagnostic light comes on when I press it, but all fans still spin. When I check the power button on the CPU board, it gives a continuity beep on my multimeter. I’ve also swapped a few cables to rule out anything wrong. I’m running out of ideas and would really appreciate any suggestions or insights from others. Thanks!
Ensured all intrusion detection switches are properly connected and functioning. Required securing the switch closed using zip ties during testing with a 5820 panel; otherwise, it appeared inactive. Similar behavior observed with two 7920 panels at the site, each having a dedicated switch per side panel.
I didn't mention pressing or shutting the intruder switch, even though I did use a screwdriver. The continuity checks look normal. It would be better to update the troubleshooting section to "The Workbench > Troubleshooting." Would you like me to help with that?
The unusual thing is having two almost identical machines, one I left untouched and unused (no power cable connected), which now completely stop responding to the power button. The only response I get is pressing the PSU-Tester key, which activates all the fans. I tested with just the CPU and one memory stick plus the front panel, but it didn’t help. I really miss seeing the POST errors. At least in that setup I can properly diagnose the problem.