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I have a Dell. When I start it up the fan is loud. I was told the computer is sensing that the back is open, but it’s not. How do I fix this problem? The computer won’t fire up at all.

The minute you said you had a Dell, I immediately thought of bad capacitors on your motherboard. That’s probably not the best thing you could hear, and there is a chance that it is some other problem, but if you get this symptom with a Dell computer there is a very good chance that it is this well-known issue.

Bad Capacitors

Depending on the model and year of your Dell, you may be involved in the bad capacitor issue - Dell extended warranties for motherboards with bad capacitors into 2008, which really isn’t going to help you now unless your computer is still under warranty or you bought an extended warranty. If that is the case, you should go directly to Dell to try to fix it. There is an older, but still valid CNet article on bad caps, complete with pictures so that you can see what you are looking at when you open the computer. In most cases, the only solution is to replace the motherboard and possibly the power supply.

Overheating

It’s possible that the system is just overheating and if you fix the overheating issues that it will power up again. Check the airflow on your computer - is it sitting on a hard surface or elevated off the ground so that there is airflow underneath? Is there anything blocking the front or back vents? Have you tried to blow the dust out using canned air or a vacuum? Make sure that the fan itself isn’t faulty and is providing adequate airflow and that any internal cables aren’t blocking the airflow. Overheating issues will usually come with symptoms such as shutdown errors or a message like: “This program has performed an illegal operation and will shut down.”

Fans in the case should maximize the cooling of the system. You can add fans to a system - just make sure that any fans placed in the front of the case such as in the space between the power supply and the peripheral cards should flow from the outside to the inside, bringing the cool air from outside into the case. Fans in the back of the case, such as under the hard drive bays should flow from inside the case to the outside. Make sure the computer is out of direct sunlight and keep the room as cool as possible. If you get the computer running again, you can download Speedfan to monitor the internal computer temperature to make sure the system isn’t overheating.

Other Fixes

In a pinch, you can try to remove and reinstall the memory modules. You can also try to reset the BIOS by finding the CMOS battery and disconnecting it for a few minutes. This battery usually looks like a flat watch battery, and on many models can be easily removed.

Unfortunately, my guess is that you have a motherboard and/or power supply issue. You may want to take it to someone who can help you confirm this diagnosis before spending money you don’t need to on other issues.

My computer is a Dell Dimension 9100 and the problem is that on switching the PC on it makes 6 long, drawn out beeping sounds but then after that nothing seems to happen. The screen is blank and the PC doesn’t even seem to be on at all. Please help.

Beeping Bios

The beeping that you are hearing from your computer at start up is coming from the BIOS - the Basic Input/Output System - when it attempts to POST - Power On Self Test - to launch its basic functions and boot up. The beeps indicate that there is a problem, as I’m sure you’ve realized. One beep during POST is normal, as long as the boot continues.

Dell Beep Codes

The number of beeps signify different meanings for different makes of BIOS chips. There seems to be on ongoing debate among users about whether the 6 beeps you are getting indicate a DRAM problem or a CMOS reset, so we can briefly touch on both possibilities.

Reseat the CMOS Battery

The CMOS battery is the computer’s internal power source that allows the computer to retain the time and other set functions even when it isn’t getting any other power supply. CMOS batteries do run out of steam, so yours might need to be replaces, but more often than not, removing it and reseating it is enough to jump start your system. The battery you are looking for is round and thin, here’s how to find it.

1. Turn your PC off, if it isn’t already, and unplug it from the wall.
2. Lie the computer down and open the computer casing and take caution to discharge any static electricity before touching anything
3. Find the small round battery and gently remove it without forcing anything - if you have trouble locating it, use your computer’s user guide for your model instructions
4. Now you can take the battery to the shop and purchase a new one of the same model number, or try to reseat the battery
5. Make sure the battery is firmly inserted, with the positive + side showing - or as instructed in the manual
6. Close the computer and try it again.

Check the Chips and Cards

The other possibility is the DRAM situation. In this case, there might be something wrong with the system board, or too much dust accumulated in the computer. To deal with it, open the computer and check the boards and the contacts. If there is a lot of dust, you can use canned air to gently clean it. Vacuums are not the way to go as the electric power can seriously mess with your system. Check the cards are all properly inserted and try to boot.

Try Tech Support

If nothing is working, you might want to try a remote technician. We recommend the services available here - a specialist will help you troubleshoot the issue step by step to help figure out a diagnosis, and a solution. Good luck!