Power-Up Problem

I was trouble-shooting my father's computer for him. He has an old Dell Dimension L___CXE, based on a Celeron CPU, and running on Windows Me. It has has always been somewhat of a dog, but for what they used it for it was tolerable. A few weeks ago he stared having what appeared to be boot problems, but that deteriorated to the point where we couldn't even get to safe mode. Typically, it wouldn't even get to the POST beep codes, and none of the four diagnostic lights on the back panel would light.
Pushing the power button would initially result in some hard drive activity (disk light on and disk moving sounds), but the power-on indicater light, at the button, would not stay lit. However, CPU fan and PS fans were on. Also, optical drive door would open and close indicating there was some power inside the box. After, unplugging and opening the unit, cleaning out minimal dust and reseating just about every connector I could think of we still get the same results. In despair I concluded that for the cost of a new power supply it was worth a shot. Installed a suitable replacement power supply and got the same results. At that point I advised my dad to buy a new PC. (He was ready for one anyhow.)
Here's were it gets really frustrating. He picked up an HP Pavillion on special at Staples and set it up. Result: the exact same problem! confused
Shame on me for not more throroughly inspecting the power strip/surge suppressor FIRST. But after removing the power strip and plugging the new PC directly into the electrical outlet, problem is still there. Tried another wall outlet too.
What the %#@! is going on here? :cry
Any help would be appreciated.
-HMS

 

Have not tested the wall outlets with a volt meter, but will try that. I don't think it would be possible to switch that circuit to 220 volts, without rewiring at the service/breaker panel. New PSU did not have any switches that i could find. Also, that would not explain probelms with new PC, right of the box.
Thanks for your thoughts.

 

We will certainly look into potential problems with the house power. Although the old PC did work for five years at the very same outlet, something could have deteriorated to where it now dips just below some threshold. Still, I would have expected an all-or-nothing voltage output from the PS transformer, and the fact that the fans and Optical drive door still work is puzzling. Coincidently, I did notice that the house receptacle is not retrofitted with a three-prong grounding outlet. I don't know if that could cause a problem, but again, it worked that way for years.
Thanks again.

 

Well, I may have posted prematurely. My dad had overlooked one obvious thing when he set up his new HP. It is now working. I hate to even say what it was, but I give him credit for trying. We are still left with the dead old Dell, but that's okay. I'll post more if I ever figure that one out.
Thanks.
- HMS