Got a weird boot loop on a Dell Optiplex that had me stuck for a day

This thing would power on, show the Dell logo, then just restart... over and over. I tried the usual stuff, like clearing the CMOS and reseating the RAM, but nothing changed. Out of pure frustration, I unplugged the front panel USB header cable from the motherboard, and it booted right up. Must have been a short in that little connector. Has anyone else fixed a loop by just disconnecting the front ports?

3 comments

3 Comments

elliot_lane963mo ago

Wait you fixed a boot loop by just UNPLUGGING a cable? That's wild.

fionak633mo ago

Actually had to unplug the power cable and hold the power button down for a full minute, @elliot_lane96. It drains the leftover power from the parts. I've seen it fix boot loops on old laptops and even some weird monitor flickering. Sometimes the hardware just gets stuck and needs a full reset, you know?

ryan65314d ago

A full minute holding the power button? I always do like 10-15 seconds tops. I had no idea it needed to be that long to really drain the capacitors or whatever is in there. I just tried that on an old desktop that wouldn't post and it actually worked. It makes sense though, electronics can hold a charge for a while even after you unplug them. Good tip.