Dell laptop has power but won't boot

JAFL · 03-12-2012, 03:13 AM

I have a 2006 Dell E1505 laptop (with Windows XP Home Edition). The computer has been running fine lately (no viruses, no bsods, etc.). This morning, after leaving the computer in standby mode, I came back about an hour later to a computer that would not come back into operation. After turning it off and trying to restart it, it shows there is power to the system, but the hard drive doesn't work (the hard drive light flickers just once after I hit the power button, then goes dark). The power source is working fine.

I've tried rebooting and hitting F2 or F1 multiple times to try to get into BIOS and reset the boot order so I could use a recovery CD, but I can't even get into BIOS. Literally nothing ever comes up on the monitor.

If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it. I'm a novice with computer repair, so anything that involves physically taking the computer apart may be over my head, however I'm willing to give it a shot if it's not too complicated.

biscuits · 03-12-2012, 08:02 AM

since the hard drive light isn't on i'd have to suggest opening the laptop and unpluging the ram and harddrive and replugging it and if this doesnt work im guessing your hard drive is dead

JAFL · 03-12-2012, 01:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by biscuits

since the hard drive light isn't on i'd have to suggest opening the laptop and unpluging the ram and harddrive and replugging it and if this doesnt work im guessing your hard drive is dead

Do you know of any service guides or diagrams that show how to do this? I'm a computer repair newbie, so as easy as it sounds, I wouldn't know what to look for. Thanks.

tremmor · 03-12-2012, 01:53 PM

Couple questions?
Did you try starting in safe mode? Restart then tap the 'F8' key then start in safe mode when the menu comes up. On another note you likely have a button battery on the motherboard that likely needs to be replaced. try looking here. http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...=False&~ck=tab

JAFL · 03-12-2012, 03:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tremmor

Couple questions?
Did you try starting in safe mode? Restart then tap the 'F8' key then start in safe mode when the menu comes up. On another note you likely have a button battery on the motherboard that likely needs to be replaced. try looking here. http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...=False&~ck=tab

I can't try starting in safe mode because nothing ever appears on the screen, it's black. I'll look into the button battery, thanks.

wolfeking · 03-12-2012, 03:44 PM

if there is nothing on the screen, try booting with a external VGA monitor. That will tell you some very useful information. It is possible that your LCD that is built in has failed, or may have become unattached from the power or data cable.

JAFL · 03-12-2012, 04:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfeking

if there is nothing on the screen, try booting with a external VGA monitor. That will tell you some very useful information. It is possible that your LCD that is built in has failed, or may have become unattached from the power or data cable.

I'll see if I can find an external monitor to try this on, but at the moment I don't have access. Just wondering though, even if it was a monitor problem, wouldn't the hard drive still show all signs of going through it's normal bootup? (i.e. light flickering on and off, being able to hear it, etc.).

wolfeking · 03-12-2012, 04:15 PM

that it would, but i am trying to narrow one issue at a time. If we can get it to show video, then we can test the hard drive for problems. baby steps is what is required with computers.

JAFL · 03-12-2012, 04:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wolfeking

that it would, but i am trying to narrow one issue at a time. If we can get it to show video, then we can test the hard drive for problems. baby steps is what is required with computers.

I found a working vga monitor and just tried it. Still no video on the other monitor either. Also tried reseating the hard drive and ram, but no luck.

wolfeking · 03-12-2012, 05:42 PM

If it is not booting that way either then there is a good change the GPU or motherboard is shot.

03-12-2012, 03:13 AM	#1
JAFL Byte Member Join Date: Nov 2008 Posts: 35	Dell laptop has power but won't boot - please help I have a 2006 Dell E1505 laptop (with Windows XP Home Edition). The computer has been running fine lately (no viruses, no bsods, etc.). This morning, after leaving the computer in standby mode, I came back about an hour later to a computer that would not come back into operation. After turning it off and trying to restart it, it shows there is power to the system, but the hard drive doesn't work (the hard drive light flickers just once after I hit the power button, then goes dark). The power source is working fine. I've tried rebooting and hitting F2 or F1 multiple times to try to get into BIOS and reset the boot order so I could use a recovery CD, but I can't even get into BIOS. Literally nothing ever comes up on the monitor. If anyone can help I'd really appreciate it. I'm a novice with computer repair, so anything that involves physically taking the computer apart may be over my head, however I'm willing to give it a shot if it's not too complicated.

03-12-2012, 01:53 PM	#4
tremmor Petabyte Member Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Mich Age: 66 Posts: 5,716	Couple questions? Did you try starting in safe mode? Restart then tap the 'F8' key then start in safe mode when the menu comes up. On another note you likely have a button battery on the motherboard that likely needs to be replaced. try looking here. http://search.dell.com/results.aspx?...=False&~ck=tab Last edited by tremmor; 03-12-2012 at 01:56 PM.

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03-12-2012, 08:02 AM	#2
biscuits Byte Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Posts: 12	since the hard drive light isn't on i'd have to suggest opening the laptop and unpluging the ram and harddrive and replugging it and if this doesnt work im guessing your hard drive is dead

03-12-2012, 03:44 PM	#6
wolfeking banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: madison NC Age: 19 Posts: 11,267	if there is nothing on the screen, try booting with a external VGA monitor. That will tell you some very useful information. It is possible that your LCD that is built in has failed, or may have become unattached from the power or data cable.

03-12-2012, 04:15 PM	#8
wolfeking banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: madison NC Age: 19 Posts: 11,267	that it would, but i am trying to narrow one issue at a time. If we can get it to show video, then we can test the hard drive for problems. baby steps is what is required with computers.

03-12-2012, 05:42 PM	#10
wolfeking banned Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: madison NC Age: 19 Posts: 11,267	If it is not booting that way either then there is a good change the GPU or motherboard is shot.