HelpDesk – Dell 3070 thin client not turning on

Problem

User reports a Dell 3070 thin client will not turn on.  The power LED will blink orange/amber instead of the normal and expected white color.

The light will blink a number of times, pause and then blink a second number of times.  Then there is then a longer pause and the blinking pattern repeats a few more times. The monitor might then display an error message in white text.

Often the error code is related to sudden power loss and the onboard BIOS is unable to remember things like the date and time.

Cause

CR2023 button cell battery has run out of energy and the Real Time Clock ends up resetting itself when the device is not plugged into a working power source

Dell is no longer manufacturing the 3040 thin client device and replacement OEM batteries cannot be acquired. DH also currently runs an older thin client operating system that manages these devices and will not work with newer devices.

Solution

Verify with the user that the thin client is blinking orange/amber.  

Power cycle the device a few times to clear the error. Use the power button to turn it on and off. Do not unplug the AC adapter.

If this does not resolve the issue, follow the escalation steps shown below.

CI = CI of the device

Service Catalog Values = Help Desk > Computer > Hardware failure

Escalation Tree:

Tier 1: IS – Support – Help Desk

Tier 2: IS – Support – LEB Software (Or Regional Support)

Tier 3: N/A