The motherboard comes with the circuits required to provide power to onboard components, as well as to allow other components installed to the Dell OptiPlex to communicate with one another. If your Dell OptiPlex GX270 exhibits symptoms of motherboard malfunction -- failing to boot, freezing in the middle of a task, suddenly failing to recognize components installed to the system -- you should check the board itself for any physical signs of damage.
Instructions
Small Desktop Model
1. Turn off the computer. Disconnect the power cable and any other devices connected to the OptiPlex.
2. Wrap a grounding strap around your wrist to protect the hardware against electrostatic discharge (ESD). ESD can irreversibly damage your computer's components.
3. Press the power button to drain the motherboard of any remaining charge.
4. Turn the computer over so that the stand faces upright. Remove the thumbscrew securing the stand to the base of the Dell OptiPlex.
5. Lift the stand up and away from the base. Lay the GX270 on its side.
6. Hold down the release buttons located on either side of the case and lift the cover up slowly to protect the cables installed inside.
7. Shine a flashlight into the case and check the motherboard for any signs of damage, such as brown capacitors or strange smells. Confirm the cables connecting any hardware components to the motherboard are securely inserted into the motherboard and into the respective hardware components.
8. Press down on the right and left sides of the cover until the case closes.
9. Place the stand onto the base of the computer and tighten the thumbscrew in place.
Small Mini-Tower Model
10. Turn off the computer. Disconnect the power cord and any other cables connected to the rear of the tower.
11. Press the power button to drain the motherboard of any residual charge. Set the Dell OptiPlex on its left side.
12. Push the release lever located on the base of the computer while pulling up on the cover. Repeat the step with the release lever located on the top of the case. Lift the cover up as you hold the case in place.
13. Shine a flashlight into the case to look for any signs of damage on the motherboard. Brown capacitors, cracks in the board or burnt smells all indicate physical damage. If the motherboard looks physically sound, confirm the cable connections are securely inserted into the motherboard and the hardware components.
14. Place the cover back on the case. Push down on either side of the cover to secure it. Reconnect the power cord and other cables to the rear of the Dell OptiPlex GX270.
Run Dell Diagnostics
15. Restart the computer. Press "F12" on the Dell boot screen.
16. Use the directional pad to select "Boot to Utility Partition." Press "Enter."
17.Choose "Extended Test" from the main menu. Dell Diagnostics will scan your system for errors.
18. Review the results, and follow any instructions the tool provides to resolve detected problems.
Tags: Dell OptiPlex, hardware components, signs damage, Turn computer, base computer, button drain