[kennymoses]

I have an 18 month old Gateway small form factor desktop PC here that will no longer turn on. It started requiring several presses of the top mounted on/off switch for a while and no will no longer power up at all so I suspect the power switch. Can someone here tell me how to remove the top panel on the case so I can get at the switch? The side and front panels were easily removed but not so on the top.

Model SX2801-01e

This post has been edited by kennymoses: 28 December 2011 - 02:06 PM

[LiveBrianD]

What you could try doing: open the PC, find the pins on the motherboard that the power button connects to, and short them with a screwdriver for a second, which should turn the PC on. Does that work?

[kennymoses]

Thanks, I did try that earlier without success. I really want to get the top panel off the chassis to get at the power switch. Thank you for your reply.

[LiveBrianD]

I'm not sure if you can do that. For instance, on my older Antec case, you cannot remove the top at all, just the left side. btw is there a lit LED on the motherboard when plugged in, even if off? If so, that would indicate that the power supply is at least able to supply standby power, and so that's not as likely to be the issue.

[Dellinsp531]

Depending on the case, their should be a way to pull off the front pannel of the case.

Usually it has plastic snaps that need to be pushed out to get the front panel.

Under there, should be the power switch.

If you take a pictures of the inside case, it might show how it is attached and than tell you how to remove it.

[coastie65]

This is the machine and the On / Off switch is not in the front cover :




This is the inside ( best shot i could find ):

This post has been edited by coastie65: 29 December 2011 - 08:13 AM

[gmnelson2009]

a couple of things I see from the above posts

1. if shorting the mobo pins for the power switch doesn't work the problem is not the switch, but make sure these are the pins you are using (prob marked <pwr sw>) and not the ones for something else (indicator leds, or other buttons).

2. from the photo the angled portion with the 2 buttons IS part of the front panel not the top (look at the separation line between the pieces in the side view), I see 3 tabs that seem to hook on the chassis, carefully lifting the tips of these and similar ones on the other side should release the front panel (check carefully in case there are any clips to the top or bottom panels, and the cabling to switches, leds and connectors).

[kennymoses]

This is a quick picture of the underside of the switch looking from the front. The front panel was removed before I made the first post on this thread. It is definitely under the top cover and I have been unable to remove the top cover to get at the switch. I can power the machine up with the top switch if I hold it down and and fool with it long enough. I don't think it's the power supply. The inside matches the picture posted by coastie65 but the front cover is different. There is only one switch and it is on the top panel.

Attached thumbnail(s)

• 

[Dellinsp531]

It might be that you can disconnect the wires from MOBO and than push out the switch. It might just be snapped into place.

If the photo is different from what coastie65 posted, would you post it? May be looking from front and inside the case.

This post has been edited by Dellinsp531: 24 January 2012 - 09:25 AM

[coastie65]

I think this may it:

Attached thumbnail(s)

• 

[kennymoses]

coastie65, on 24 January 2012 - 10:01 AM, said:

I think this may it:

That looks right for top view. I do not have the front cover here but there is a button in the position marked as "backup button in your picture. As LiveBrianD posted I can start the machine by momentarily shorting two pins on the board (corresponding to a blue/white twisted pair of wires of the six wires that are connected under the top switch.)

I thought the odd shaped black tab on the rear of the top panel would have something to do with removal but it does not seem to have a purpose. Apparently no one knows how to remove that black plastic top plate to get at the power button.

[coastie65]

Yeah, I screwed up and flipped the pic around and the reason the writing is upside down.

[kennymoses]

coastie65, on 24 January 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

Yeah, I screwed up and flipped the pic around and the reason the writing is upside down.

Doesn't matter, it is still the correct cabinet, thanks. How the he!! do I get that top panel off without prying and breaking it up?? Discouraging. Maybe we ought to bring this thread to a close because no one's been able to come up with a solution.

[Dellinsp531]

Does gateway have a manual for this computer? may be it mentions how to get to the switch since someone had to install it.

This post has been edited by Dellinsp531: 25 January 2012 - 05:52 AM

[kennymoses]

Dellinsp531, on 25 January 2012 - 05:47 AM, said:

Does gateway have a manual for this computer? may be it mentions how to get to the switch since someone had to install it.

Yes they do (I have a PDF version) and it does not mention top cover removal.

[coastie65]

kennymoses, on 24 January 2012 - 06:02 PM, said:

coastie65, on 24 January 2012 - 05:26 PM, said:

Yeah, I screwed up and flipped the pic around and the reason the writing is upside down.

Doesn't matter, it is still the correct cabinet, thanks. How the he!! do I get that top panel off without prying and breaking it up?? Discouraging. Maybe we ought to bring this thread to a close because no one's been able to come up with a solution.

It isn't that easy when you are not sitting in front of the computer and so for the information has been hard to come by. From the picture you submitted, it appears that there is a metal clip up there holdiing that thing in.

This post has been edited by coastie65: 25 January 2012 - 08:22 AM

[Dellinsp531]

kennymoses, on 25 January 2012 - 07:15 AM, said:

Dellinsp531, on 25 January 2012 - 05:47 AM, said:

Does gateway have a manual for this computer? may be it mentions how to get to the switch since someone had to install it.

Yes they do (I have a PDF version) and it does not mention top cover removal.

Well I was think that may be it mentioned something about the switch.