17R4 power button cable connection location.

As the title says does anyone know what cable controls the LED for the little alienhead power button on this model. Got a replaced mobo but while everything else works and the button itself functions the power light does nothing. Opened the back and removed the heatsink cover and checked the ones I could see but still nothing. Would rather have some idea of what cable to check before digging out the motherboard itself.

 

Hey,

Remove the back cover then you will have to remove the fan exhaust at the back (hold by two screws).
You have to gently lift the edges with a plastic pry tool or a guitar pick after removing the screws.
You will then see 4 cables, on of which is the power button card cable. It might be loose.
If it's not this cable, then you will have to remove the whole mobo as the card that controls this is below.

Check the service manual, everything is well explained :

http://www.dell.com/support/manuals...9140db-7af3-4218-b305-532ff94df51d&lang=en-us

Page 58 in order to see the power button cable (step 5)
Page 73 to access the power button card

Good luck and let us know!

 

I actually opened the back and took off that cover and removed and inserted the cable. It SEEMS to work for actually turning on the computer but the LED doesnt come on so it must be partially loose on the other end then.... -.- Oh opening this up will be fun :/

 

Don't worry! It's very easy to take appart. Just be very careful with the f...ing wifi card (check @iunlock disassemblys guide, he put a video on how to disconnect the cables without ripping them off)

 

Speedsweep - you still there? I just joined to try to PM you but I see no way to do that.

Sounds like you'd easily be able to answer a similar power-switch board question, and doubtless some follow-on questions, about my sad AW 17 R4.

My power-switch button was broken off of the small PC board, as part of broader, horrifying damage to the poor machine, which had been nearly new. But regardless of the other damage, by just jumpering across a couple of the exposed power-switch contacts with a lay-around DVM lead - and I'm not sure which contacts now, or why there appear to be maybe five of them where the switch used to be - I was able to boot the machine up and determine that most or all important stuff still worked. Seeing it running informed my decision to go ahead and send it to Dell for the extensive 'other' repairs. So off to Round Rock it went.

But Dell's communications, at least in my experience, have been UNBELIEVABLY scrambled, and they ultimately forced me to take the machine back unrepaired. The returned box included a letter claiming that they'd been unable to reach me to talk about repair costs, which of course was far from the truth. In fact, I think every call-center Dell (Hyderabad, Delhi, Costa Rica, and now Panama) has been in touch with me, and all have droned on to me only about it being "BER" (beyond economical repair) but can't tell me whether the tech tried/failed to boot it or did anything other than look at it and make a snap judgement. No one at any level in these call-centers could do anything to find out whether they'd been able to boot it up, through multiple 'escalations' (that I don't think are much more than distractions for dissatisfied customers).

Most recently, a Dell "supervisor" (aren't they all?) advised that they'd refund my courier costs, is at least trying to help, and is probably going to set up another FedEX trip to Round Rock, TX for repairs.

But when I got the machine back, I wanted to verify (again) that I could boot it up. Three hours later, and I've got no joy. Now I'm wondering if I need to replace that power-switch board, just in order to convince myself (and maybe Dell) that the machine is repairable - but that also could be good money after bad. You have a workaround for jumpering to get it to come to life?

Also would be interested in alternatives to getting Dell to repair. They quoted parts prices that were surprisingly affordable, so that's why I was going down that road.

Thanks - Dave