Dell dimension 2400 not starting

[hemp]

Geek Squad said I have a virus ($200 to remove) in my Dell Dim 2400. Not worth fixing-- bought a new HP. Brought it home and tried to start the Dell for kicks but I never got it to boot to windows. The screen said keyboard failure but I continued to try. Now the on/off switch only works to shut it down. When I plug it back in I can hear all the fans and HD running. When I shut it down the green light on the MB stays lit for 15 seconds or so. I have replaced the battery and tried the jumper fix (jp2 to jp1 and back). As a complete novice and retired I would like the challenge to get it running to remove the virus and have a back-up computer. Thoughts and advice are appreciated.

 

[scout_03]

do you have a anti virus software in that dell 6

 

[hemp]

I have Microsoft Security Essential.

 

[Kisianik]

Geek squad are bunch of crooks. Youhave 4 small lights on the back panel please describe their color and arethey all lit, also listen for beeps - those are beep codes, we need to know them as well.

 

[hemp]

At times I have 4 green lights other times a and c are lit.. The key board has no lights (cap lock, etc) and mouse has no response. The on/off switch is not working at all now-- using power cord to turn machine on and off. Can hear HD running as well as both fans.

 

[scout_03]

when the light are not green what color they have also give the exact name and model of that dell system,for the on and off switch that the one from the case she could be defective ?

 

[hemp]

The Dell is a Dimension 2400 with a Intel Celeron Processor @2.4GHz-- 80GB ATA Hard Drive. Windows XP. The computer worked fine (including on/off control) until the virus attack. I was attempting to restore the computer and the keyboard operated partially (F keys, enter, cap lock were ok but numbers and letters did not work) Now the keyboard is dead -nothing. The monitor also stopped working-- maybe due to the fact the keyboard is dead to give commands? The diagnostic lights are erratic as far as colors - sometime green and sometime amber. I never heard any diagnostic beeps at all.

 

[scout_03]

check this for the light meaning ftp://ftp.dell.com/Manuals/all-products/esuprt_desktop/esuprt_dimension_desktops/dimension-2400_service%20manual_en-us.pdf

 

[hemp]

This morning there are green lights @ a&c -- b&d are out. Dell manual shows nothing for this pattern.

 

[scout_03]

i would try the cmos battery reset the virus you got may have been a rootkit boot virus ,i you could try to hade your hhd scan for virus on another computeras external drive . try this http://www.sophos.com/en-us/products/free-tools/sophos-anti-rootkit.aspx

 

[hemp]

I tried the battery reset-- no help. I did move the jumper from jp 2 to jp 1 and left it there. Now the on/off switch is working fine and the keyboard has come alive except for letter and numbers. I burned a disc (on my HP) from the link you recommended but the partially operating keyboard is probably keeping me from putting the disc (virus removal) to use.

 

[scout_03]

if you unplug th keyboard and plug it back does the system detect it ? it could be needing driver to work .

 

[hemp]

I have the Dell driver and utilities disc that came with the computer. I tried that disc but again I do not have a working screen to see what is going on. Using the disc did not bring the partially operating keyboard back to life. I downloaded PC Cleaner to a disc ( on my HP) and that gave the Dell logo for a second or two then back to blue screen. PC Cleaner is suppose to fix registry errors. I think I mentioned your suggestion of the Sophos virus removal tool (for rootkit virus) also was unable to solve my problem.

 

[scout_03]

try to check your drive on another system to see if it could boot ?