I've gotten a problem of a sort that just started. Whenever I start the Dell Dimension 8200 2.51 Ghz PC we have in our library, the monitor screen stays BLANK, and the keyboard does not function at all. We've got a USB keyboard. No matter which USB port I plug it into, nothing happens. The fans power on properly and everything. Nothing ELSE happens. Can anybody HELP me? That's our main computer! I would hate to have to lose everything!First, have you tried a different monitor with the PC? If so, and still no joy, are you familiar with the insides of a PC, and aware of anti-static precautions? I would start by stripping the PC down to its bare bones - one stick of memory, no hard drive, floppy drive or optical drives, all cards except graphics removed. See if it will boot to the BIOS. Report back.My dad does not want me opening the PC case without him around, so I'll tell him about this, or to check this thread out. Yes, I tried another monitor, and even another keyboard. No result. I'm not sure he'd be willing to do this, but my uncle might. He knows more about computers than anybody else in my family, and may be able to help. I'll report back to you on Sunday. For right now I can't do anything. I'll PM you if my TOPIC goes down too far.Do you have a PS/2 (round plug) keyboard that you can botrrow to test with? We need to findout if the problem is with the USB ports or with the keyboard you are trying to use.

Let us know. I tried a PS/2 keyboard, and no, it didn't work. When I tried the keyboard from the Dell Dimension 8200 on my mom and dad's laptop, the keyboard worked. It's not the keyboard. From what I know, only the fans come on. It seems that the computer is not powering up. If by tomorrow, my uncle cannot get it to boot to the bios with only the basic needs, we'll need a new computer. I do not find it to be a big deal, as the only thing I will lose will be my music files. I had over 500 wave files recorded from my collection of 45s, and I had partially burned them to CD after cleanup. I should have dealt with them earlier. I do not see any problem with having to re-record the records, as it will not bother me. GX1_Man, I'm not so sure what we can do about the Dell desktop. It might be shot as far as I know. The keyboard is never detected no matter which USB port I put it into, whether it be the two in the rear or the two in the front. I'm positive the monitor isn't dead. If all else fails, we'll just get a new desktop computer more powerful than that Dell. We won't be getting a Dell next time. Especially after having PROBLEMS with two other Dells.How about running the diagnostics from the Dell website?

What happened prior to all of this?

Can you boot from a real Windows CD and see if your keyboard works with that?

Has anyone been playing with the BIOS or monkeying around inside the case?

Sometimes a machine just croaks, even Dells, but I don't believe it's ready for the scrap heap. An 8200 is a good machine. If you totally give up on it let me know. The data can be saved. Some model have lights on the motherboard that point to where the problem is as well.

A post on the Dell forums would be a good and free idea also.

http://forums.us.dell.com/supportforumsI recently saw a Dell that was recently exhibiting these same problems. A motherboard battery seems to have cured that one but it is symptomatic of a failing PSU.Edit:

I want to let you know that my Uncle Bill fixed the problem with our Dell Dimension 8200. The problem was with the graphics card, which was caked full of dust and dirt, and the fan on the graphics card was not turning. Things should be back to normal for this PC. I'm using it right now.