17 R3, died overnight

Hi @Alienware_user1981  wow, the 17 R3 does not work al all! There is no sign of any life. 

Try disconnecting the main battery cable (you do not have to remove the battery). Plug the ac adaptor in and try to start the 17 R3. This checks that your new main battery is acknowledged by the 17 R3 system and checks that your charger works. 

Try the Dell Computer Does Not Start - Interactive Support Agent. 

Look at Top Solutions for your Alienware System. 

As I followed your directions I noticed that the dc_in connector is.... burnt haha I wish I could load a picture of it. I disconnected the battery connector and plugged in the power cord and nothing. So possibly I need this new connector and hope there isn't further damage to the board. Any other suggestions? Thanks

Yup,

https://www.amazon.com/Eathtek-Replacement-Dell-Alienware-P43F/dp/B06WD335JS

Thank you for your reply. This did not work I believe I found the culprit. The DC-IN cable is fried totally disintegrated as i disconnected it 

 Any clue where I can get a new one?

Nice, fingers crossed. Appreciate everything

Hi @Alienware_user1981  removing the rear panel to disconnect the main battery cable and having a good look around revealed this problem. Thank you for telling us what is causing the problem and sharing the image. You should remove this cable because it will have eclectically shorted out, which also means that your new (and old) battery power is probably zero. 

Have a look under good light conditions to see if there are any visible alpha numeric identification markings. An internet search for Power Jack Harness Cable for Alienware 17 R3 should reveal the replacement part. Check that your cable identification markings and the replacement cable identification description match before purchase. 

Yes, you should look to see if there is any other damage. Hopefully the damage is confined to this cable. If everything checks out, you are ready to install a main battery that has been charged. As the warranty has run out, you may decide to see if the 17 R3 will start. This will reveal if there are any other problems to fix. Please keep in touch with an update. Thank you. 

You’re welcome dude.

Well the new part arrived and I installed it. No success. There was no sign of further damage, ie discoloration or melting anywhere on both sides of the circuit board. The power button doesn't even light up like it should if battery was charging and its a new battery I assume it only has a 50% charge. I even put the old battery back in just to try everything. Someone suggested the cmos battery, i could agree that it should be changed just due to the age of the machine but I feel its more. What do you think I should try now? New PC? Lol..

Hi @Alienware_user1981  getting the replacement part is good, even though it has not got your 17 R3 working at the moment. You have undertaken a visual inspection and everything looks good. You have paid special attention to the new cable's plug and socket connections and removed any carbon debris. Spend a few cents and replace the CMOS coin battery. Your original and new main battery are unlikely to have any power, so the 17 R3 will appear to be dead.

We now start to diagnose afresh. Disconnect the main battery cable (without removing the battery).

Plug in the charger into the ac mains, does the charger light come on and what is its colour? If charger appears to be OK, switch off at mains, plug it into the laptop, switch the charger on. Does the charger light come on and what is its colour.

If charger function ok, switch on the laptop to check that the new part is working and that there are no problems with getting power from the ac mains as shown by the charger lights. Does the laptop show any signs of life as POST cycles through your hardware (checking that hardware is present and functioning)? Does the laptop give any diagnostic beeps or flashing light code from the on/off switch?

Please post an update to share your diagnostic results. 

Try the Dell Computer Does Not Start - Interactive Support Agent. 

Look at Top Solutions for your Alienware System. 

Some people have gotten lucky with the A C power adapter only when they try to turn their systems on like @crimsom crimsom said.

Hi @Alienware_user1981  if your charger appears to be dead, remember to check if its ac power cord has a fuse that might have blown. 

That could be a cause!

You can try to reinstall the system.

But he can’t if the unit doesn’t turn on in the first place.