Top 20 Dell Optiplex 740 Desktop Desktop Computer Questions & Answers

RAM problem. Remove the RAM and reseat

Please check monitor cables, if ok, then check RAM

If the power light is b linking green that usually means the pc is in standby mode. Press a key on the keyboard or move the mouse to resume normal operation.

What are you seeing other than this? Are there other problems you see? When do you see this? I have worked on older optiplexes and the lights are yellow at different times.

Perhaps this will help: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vBGCreJPKzk

parental control is usually at browser level settings open that up and make adjustments might be under securityother parental controls are usually on user level on pc's but if you are the only one using it and not a child, then that's most likely NOT what you are asking

A steady or Amber blinking power button indicates a low voltage problem. This can be caused by a defective power supply or a defective motherboard. Just to make sure that nothing else is causing the problem, remove any PCI cards like modem, video card, sound card, etc... Remove the memory modules and disconnect cables to CD/DVD drives. Look at the USB ports to see if any are damaged.

This model comes in 3 designs for the computer chassis. Small Form Factor Chassis (SFF), Desktop Chassis (DT) and Mini-tower Chassis (MT).
Here is a link to for the Dell Optiplex User's Guide:
http://support.dell.com/support/edocs/systems/op740/en/UG/RP699A03MR.pdf

http://www.fixya.com/support/r4282412-find_no_post_diagnostic_information_dell
A solid amber power LED indicates a problem with the motherboard, or something attached to it. (I've seen a bad mouse cause a no post before) Disconnect all cables except power, turn on system see if any LED change. If using a UPS, connect power direct to the wall. If still no change, open case, remove any expansion cards, try again. If still no go, disconnect power cables to all drives, try again.
If still no change, then replace the motherboard

95% sure the computer did not overheat, if it did overheat it will shut down by itself to prevent itself from overheat damage. Crashes or computer freeze could result in lagging due to unpowered computer component. When multitrask as you said, some newer software such as games, burners, media players use alot of memory and cpu power and for that sake the cpu will take more time to process these instruction from the software, Most likely with a optiplex 740 you are dealing with dual core, and the promblem can be associated with your memories. Multitasking is memorie hungry. So you may want to upgrade your memories, if not considering purchasing a more powerful computer to handle those task you are using. Also as a advice you may want to defrag your harddrive to make seeking speed faster.

you can Dowload it from Dell Optiplex 740 driver page

go below the page ,Select the OS you are useing , Select Catagary i.e. "Audio"
Click "Download" on the search result. after file download. Open the file (some files of Dell extracts in C:/ location. setup will Prompt the location. Note down the location, where it is extracting) or Locate the extracted place and run the setup file.

If it shuts off randomly it could be to things it could be power suply or virus. i would first off make sure that there is no viruses. make sure u run a virus scan and there is no viruses. if it turns up none i would look into a power suply. if it still shuts off i would look into making sure the heat sink on your cpu is seated correctly and has good heat sink and fan as it could be over heating

That's not a problem. One light(Green one) is for power and another (Red one) is for Hard Disk. Red one will blink continuously, if hard disk is being accessed.

The video and audio needs drivers - if you have drivers - simply insert the media - [ CD with the stuff on it] into the CD or DVD tray and it will play.
You may have to download the drivers from Dell's main web pages - go to www.dell.com and read - you will see what to do there.

I would open the case and look for popped capacitors, you can see them easily on the 740. make sure the caps are not swelling and popping. If they are under warranty, CALL DELL!!!!!!!!! If they are not under warranty, Ask dell about extended warranty availability. If you get the warranty, you can get dell to replace the boards or send a tech (like me) to replace the board on-site. If you ever do anything with any I.T. or I.S. you NEED to get the longest strongest warranty available. It pays for itself. If warranty is not an option, then do not panic. The boards in this unit are easy to replace. make sure you specify low profile if you have the smaller unit. You'll need a phillips screwdriver, and a pair of scissors (to cut a cable-tie, NOT any cables). Popped caps are a regular occurrence in many systems, and the case on these models flips open easily, so the boards are easy to inspect as well as replace.

unplug monitor power cord wait for 5 minutes then turn computer off and re hook up monitor and computer if the moniter does not come on then yo have a defective video card, but you can test it with another monitor to be sure. normally if the monitor was bad it would say no signal.

Search windows XP programs in Google you will find what you are looking for.

If yahoo mail will not open in internet explorer that means that your IE version is not the latest (8 being the last ) witch is required to view the yahoo content.

well if u have windows 7 disc, then u can use that to boot the computer from the disc n then it will give u option to format the hard drive and install the new os.

u will have to boot the computer from the windows 7 bootable disc.

This is because of either the system has shutdown while it was processing a windows file. sometimes repairing the OS or running a CHKDSK /R in the recovery console will fix this problem. if that doesnt help i recommend you change your HDD