A Dell Optiplex (755 if I recall correctly) is refusing to start from time to time. Unplugging it and replugging it after ~10 seconds helps, but I would like to get to the bottom of the problem. I made sure that all the extension cards and memory modules are properly seated. Now it actually gave me an error message (w00t), something about a [Krst] checkpoint. A little searching around revealed that the problem might be the keyboard or the monitor. Now I do have my PS/2 keyboard plugged into the mouse port (and using an USB mouse), but that’s because in the keyboard port it wouldn’t work… Until now I assumed that it was a manufacturing glitch, but now I have to look into it.
Update: it is a GX260, and the proposed solutions don’t seem to work. Tried to put the keyboard in the marked slot, to remove the monitor, both to no avail…
Update: it seems that it was a problem with the PSU (power supply). It finally gave up its spirit and wouldn’t start at all. Replacing it with a functioning PSU solved all the problems.
8 responses to “Note to self”
having the same problem
I will be sure to post an answer here if I find one. From the current symptoms I suspect some kind of capacitor problem, since the more the computer stays on, the more it needs to be unplugged to work again…
Try replacing CMOS battery, I have Dell 4600, having issues with multiple codes coming each time it rebooted by its self some being “Checkpoint [Krst],[Ithr],[Ismi],[Puke],[PnP3].” I read on another board someone said to replace the battery, i took mine out and computer works as it should…so far.
🙂
Thanks for the tip. I will try that and report back (even though the symptoms seem very awkward for a bad CMOS battery: no clock loss, no reseting to default settings, …)
Just on the off chance that someone is subscribed to the comment feed: this issue has been finally solved by replacing the PSU of the given box (after it went completely dark). You can find replacement PSUs on the 'net pretty easily, just make sure that you google around for reviews about the company, since I've seen many complaints about companies selling them.
I also have a suggestion because I just had to fix this problem on a Dimension Desktop — It seems that there are many different causes for this particular error, but mine occurred immediately after dusting the PC out to replace RAM. Even with the old RAM back in it wouldn't boot fully. It would start, give me the KRST error, (or others) then shut down seconds later, or sometimes even before the error.
I found it was the front panel switch. I discovered this by booting the system with the power button, then immediately yanking the front button header from the mobo once it powered on. Booted fine and ran like normal.
I work in a very dirty industrial environment, and I think there is dust shorting the switch. After a little searching I think this is not the first time we have had this problem.
Just wanted to give folks something else to try!
@C: thanks for the tip. In the meanwhile I ended up replacing the PSU once again in the system and currently it is stable. Also, if it is the power button, that should be easily replaceable and you can manually boot it by shorting the correct pins (great care has to be taken though when doing such things because it is easy to damage other components by shorting the wrong pins).
This is a wonderful resource for solutions – I have 2 dimension pcs I just vacuumed clean and came out with the KRST error. I cleaned the power button and it booted up fine.
Thanks again