Dell XPS - Amber Light Problem Solution

Whether you own a DELL XPS 710, 720, or 420 - All of them are susceptible to the notorious "amber light" problem. For those of you who don't know, the "amber light" problem is where the machine won't boot and an LED behind the power button blinks a orange or amber color indicating a malfunction within the system. Well - this is a problem considering it won't let you start your computer! The primary reason for this malfunction is usually a simple fix, however - not-so-usual reasons are generally troublesome.

The first step to fixing your problem is identifying what exactly the problem is. We know that the machine won't boot and that an amber LED is either blinking or just holding steady. According to Dell's documentation, a steady amber light means a direct issue with machine simply not getting power from the power supply. This would indicate that the power supply needs to be replaced. Not so fast though, a blinking amber light isn't as clear cut.

A blinking amber light simply means a "problem within the machine". However, a blinking amber light also means that the machine is indeed getting power. Unfortunately, this does not take the power supply unit out of the problem. A power supply which is not completely dead but dying can be the cause of this problem. Generally, the power supply has notorious trigger activated preventing it from starting and causing damage.

An instant fix to the above problem is simply unplugging the power cable from the power supply for an hour. This resets the trigger and allows you to boot up, but that isn't to say that the problem wont reoccur soon. In most cases, the problem reoccurs more often and eventually results in a dying power supply.

However, as I said before, it isn't always the power supply. For a blinking orange light, any other malfunctioning hardware component may be the culprit as well. A loose RAM DIMM, a loose Video Card, a loose cable - it could really be any number of things. Many technology enthusiasts will tell you to simply turn off the computer and re-seat all components and wiring.

The above should get your machine working again, but not forever without replacing some parts. According to various online forums, direct DELL representatives have simply stated that the power supply is the culprit 99% of the time in situations like this, and I agree. However, it isn't uncommon to come along technology enthusiasts who will tell you everything but the power supply is the problem. These people may not entirely be wrong, but it is safe to assume that the power supply really is the underlying cause.

Now - we have identified a failing or already dead power supply, how can we replace this? Depending on your particular model, you may be able to go and purchase any generic power supply and replace it with either an equivalent or higher wattage. For models like the 710, you need to purchase proprietary OEM power supply units either directly from DELL, or from resellers. The cheapest path is most likely eBay, but if you are covered via a warranty directly from DELL, then that is obviously the cheapest and easiest path!