M17x R2 - Reasons it won't boot/start?

I have a M17x R2 that was working up until yesterday. My retention clip from my power strip panel had fell off and disappeared, so I had to manually connect the power flex cable and push the alien head power button to get it to start. For a while, I had it taped, and although it didn't work perfectly, it worked a bit better. I then took off the tape about 3 days ago and had to work it a bit to get it to start.

Prior to this, the lights on the power strip panel had stopped coming on about a month ago (without retention clip). I just ordered a new power strip panel and should get that in a week or so, which I hope fixes the issue...

The power block works fine, it lights up and delivers power as indicated by the blue light. The only other things I could think of is that the power flex cable itself could be dead, although, it doesn't look like there is any damage (I can post a pic if wanted).

Does the power strip panel seem like the culprit? Or could it be the power flex cable as well? Any other ideas?

 

It could be any of them but most likely what you ordered will fix the issue.