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October 12th, 2013 05:00
XPS 17 Power On Issues
I'm hoping someone can help me with my XPS 17.
It takes around ten attempts to start the machine and get it usable in windows. The process goes like this:
- Hit the power button... lights on lap top blink as usual, one, two, three, and then machine powers off.
- Repeat this process one to two more time...
- Now when the power button is pressed, the lights go on, and the fan "huffs" for a half second.
- I continue to press the power button, and will go through this cycle four or five times.
- Around the the tenth time, the machine will power up and go through POST, but then the video will freeze. It will show a pattern of thin lines or block on the screen.
- If I continue to press the power button, I can eventually get the machine to start windows.
- At that point to system works as normal. At this point I can play games, and the fan will run full blast.
The problem started several weeks ago and is progressive. What I mean by that is that when it first started, I only had to press the power button twice to get the system to start. At first it would power on and go through POST and then cause a video display freeze. The second restart would do the trick and Windows would start up normally.
After I couple of day I found my self having to press the power button several times. It then started to stop before POST. Now we are up to having to initiate the power on sequence twenty times!
Has anyone experienced this behavior and can anyone suggest a fix?
Here are some tests I've already done:
- I've tried the power up sequence with the AC Adapter and Battery, Battery Only, and AC Adapter only.
- I've run the diagnostic test from the POST screen, and no issues were found.
- I've run the BurnITTest (http://www.passmark.com/products/bit.htm), and it did find a heat threshold issue, but this was only after the test was running for five minutes.
- I've taken the laptop apart and clean out the fan.
Any help or suggestions are welcome!
kriswenzel
8 Posts
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October 14th, 2013 18:00
Anyone have any suggestions?
DELL-Amogh G
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1.5K Posts
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October 15th, 2013 02:00
Hi kriswenzel,
Please share the exact system model and the operating system installed. The issue may arise due to sticky power button as well. Please ensure the power button is not sticking inside when you press it.
Keep me posted with the information. I will be glad to assist you.
kriswenzel
8 Posts
0
October 15th, 2013 18:00
The model is a XPS L702X running Windows 8.0 64 bit. I don't think the power button is sticking. Every time I depress and release the button, the keyboard lights up and the indicators, such as wireless, to the immediate right of the power button light up in sequence first to the right and then to the left as they always did. Is there a test I could run to determine whether the button is sticking?
Thanks in advance for your help,
Kris
DELL-Amogh G
6 Operator
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1.5K Posts
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October 16th, 2013 06:00
Hi kriswenzel,
There is no separate test to check sticking power button. As it works every time you press it, sticky power button doesn't seem to be the case.
I would suggest you to completely uninstall and reinstall the video drivers. Please paste a screenshot of ‘Device Manager’ with ‘Display Adapters’ expanded.
You may update the system BIOS. Please refer to the link: http://dell.to/19RoOBs.
Keep me posted with the results. I will be glad to assist further.
kriswenzel
8 Posts
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October 17th, 2013 04:00
Hi,
I can uninstall the drivers, but since the issue occurs before POST and before windows starts, I was wondering whether this would make a difference.
I wouldn't think the windows drivers would have a chance to interact with the system before windows starts. Do you know why it would?
Also, before I post my original entry, I had upgraded the BIOS to the latest version. It had no effect on the problem.
Thanks,
Kris
DELL-Amogh G
6 Operator
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1.5K Posts
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October 17th, 2013 06:00
Hi Kris,
I agree that drivers have no role to play before the system completes the POST. However, sometimes hardware malfunctioning due to driver can give issues during POST. As the issue started with the video freezing I suggested the driver reinstallation of video card.
Hope this helps. Feel free to reply for any further assistance.