Thanks for the reply, looks like i've got some work to do before I run up the white flag.
If any body else has similar problems I would like to hear, since I found a Forum at NotebookReview.com on Inspiron 6400's by fellow named Steele that these boards have a codeing issue that leads to premature failure of Inspiron motherboards and there associated periferals.
Hope this is not true as Dell have not advised their customers!
I have the same problem. I had my Inspiron 6400(1 year 4 mths old) shut down a day before and it couldn't start again when I tried to power it on. When the power button is pressed, the 'power on' icon and the three "bag" icons (9,A,down pointing arrow) turn on for about 5 seconds and everything powers off. At the same time, the 'disk' icon turn on for about 2 seconds and goes off. Meanwhile, the battery is working and it charges well with the AC adapter. When Ac adapted is plugged, the 'batery' icon lit as usual.
Does anyone has a solution for this? I believe this might be a manufacturing defect.
I did some research and below are links from forums that show similar problem/symptoms:
This is happening a lot. I have the same issue and Dell will not do anything about it. Tried calling and emailing but because it is out of warranty they don't care.
I have same problem mine is 1 year and 8 months , reading all the post on this kind of problem, I am begining to regret buying a DELL . I t costed me an arm and a leg.
DELL should be responsible enough to be concerned, this seems like this model is built to just outlast the Warranty so that DELL could be spared of the liability....I am bitter!
I replaced the motherboard with a second hand one from ebay Japan only $145 US I think from kenub123
I have noticed he still lists them occassionally with and the other without on board video.
I also replaced the Dell X1400 video card with the 6400's nividi 256Meg video module option again from ebay for less than $50.
If you investigate over the web there is some contention that the Dell video X1400 module has an input into these motherboard failures and this was the only component that had not been replaced in the past with the failure of previous 3 motherboards bd's (1 under warranty) for $50 I wasn't going to take the risk again.
After replacing the motherboard and the video module (Replaced Dell X1400 256Mb which I believe only really has 128Mb of its own RAM but shares a further 128Mb of system Ram) with the Dell nvidia video 256Meg module option.
I then installed a fan speed indication (only) utility which indicated processor temperature was reaching as high as 60-70 deg C before fans started "flaming hot" (NOT GOOD).
I then found and installed the following following fan utility 18fangui31 and set the processor temp control to 40 Deg C through the installed 18kfangui31 utility.
Result processor cooling fans start earlier and Processor temperature rarely rises above 45Deg C (ambient temp where I live can hit 47 Deg C in the shade in summer).
18kfanGUI was developed by Christian Diefer of Germany specifically for Dell laptops (see his compatibility chart). Using 18kfanGUI, I am able to get my fans to turn on or up sooner, and therefore keep the temperature of my laptop lower. Christian did host a forum, which appeared to be very active, so you can support beyond his manual and FAQs.
Now the laptop is a bit noisier earlier (fans and higher fan speeds earlier), but I am much more comfortable in knowing that the laptop wont crash (or worse, get ruined again) by high temperatures.
It has been operating now for over a year with no further problems. I have since passed it onto my son who gives it a right flogging at university and as his prime entertainment machine games videos burning etc and I have since moved onto a very sweet Hewlet Packard (HP) Laptop.
My only future advice is if you buy a Dell again you must purchase the extended warranty as it is quite evident when they (DELL) drop a defective model or one that is over a short time proven to be a lemon on the market they will not support/protect you or their Brand name once the warranty runs out.
I really think that the X1400 Video module was also impacting on the temp/problems previously experienced as my original (2 X motherbord failure prior) symptoms were initially pointing to a video problem, find yourself a nvidi 256 Meg video module option if you are running the X1400 as well.
I might have a spare one of these somewhere (impatient purchase/delivery I do live in Australia).
The fan utility is definitely the way to go if you repair yours and don't want to gamble on another failure. See "kenub123" @ ebay for replacement motherboard he may have some.
... and the three "bag" icons (9,A,down pointing arrow) ...
I just wanted to say that's the greatest way I've ever heard those icons described, hahaha, you're right they totally look like little bags, I've never thought about that! As an aside, I have a 6400 with no system board problems so far but now after reading these posts I will keep my fingers crossed and am glad I got an extended warranty! (although I did have LCD problems and just had a defective one replaced so I've got my money's worth on the warranty already)
Downloaded and installed, both cores sitting at 50-55'C with minimal CPU load but I'll keep an eye on things. What should the "resting" temp and max temps be? (actually I've used 18kfanGUI before on my old laptop, Inspiron 4000, operating temp of 70-80'C was normal with the mobile PIII I think it was, designed to work up to 100'C! Let me tell you that thing got hot, but still works great after 8 years). And ya I agree not having the laptop during repairs is a big pain, it took two shipments off to Dell to get my LCD correctly fixed, although only 2 days each time.
Do yourself a favour and download and install the 18kfanGUI utility before the heat from the processor and the poor standard of BIOS processor fan controls cooks your motherboard, it does it ever so slowly basting it you might say.
Forewarned is forearmed.
The biggest problem I found was the inconvenience of not having the laptop available not so much the repairs or the cost in themselves.
You think a P111 gets hot try a P4 9100 I still have one as a back up and when it's fans start and increase in speed it sounds like a hover craft about to fill it's skirts.
The 6400 though using the 18kfangui utility in auto and with the processor at low or no number crunching does not seem to exceed 45 Deg C according to my son (New Owner) I think he said he sets temp to 40 deg C.
He says Crank up the workload on the dual core processor and processor temp has risen to 48DegC.
Still much better than the standard BIOS controlled fan speeds.
Keep the temp set low and the only thing you will have to worry about is the fan bearings failing, which rarely happens in laptops particularly if they haven't got hot, answer to the question is keep it cool and you to will be cool.
... and the three "bag" icons (9,A,down pointing arrow) ...
I just wanted to say that's the greatest way I've ever heard those icons described, hahaha, you're right they totally look like little bags, I've never thought about that! As an aside, I have a 6400 with no system board problems so far but now after reading these posts I will keep my fingers crossed and am glad I got an extended warranty! (although I did have LCD problems and just had a defective one replaced so I've got my money's worth on the warranty already)
:smileyvery-happy: Funny... looking back.. they're supposed to be "locks"? How do you call them?
Too bad I didn't buy the extended warrantee. :(
I called Dell and the support guy told me to remove the battery. He told me to press on "Fn" + (The Power button). Hold them for 20 seconds to discharge. Then, fix the AC power source. However, the three "bag"s (LOL) icon still lit up when i pressed on the power button. He mentioned that the motherboard might had been short.
I then opened up the laptop and found, on two parts of the motherboard, some whitish greenish powdery stuffs on it. Perhaps they were overheated or shorted? no idea on the cause.
ejn63
9 Legend
•
87.5K Posts
0
July 1st, 2007 00:00
If that doesn't do it, and the LED on the adapter is on before you plug in the notebook end, you've another faulty system board.
BJ58
8 Posts
0
July 1st, 2007 00:00
JoanneOh
2 Posts
0
August 24th, 2008 10:00
I have the same problem. I had my Inspiron 6400(1 year 4 mths old) shut down a day before and it couldn't start again when I tried to power it on. When the power button is pressed, the 'power on' icon and the three "bag" icons (9,A,down pointing arrow) turn on for about 5 seconds and everything powers off. At the same time, the 'disk' icon turn on for about 2 seconds and goes off. Meanwhile, the battery is working and it charges well with the AC adapter. When Ac adapted is plugged, the 'batery' icon lit as usual.
Does anyone has a solution for this? I believe this might be a manufacturing defect.
I did some research and below are links from forums that show similar problem/symptoms:
(1) http://www.geekstogo.com/forum/Dell-Inspiron-6400-E1505-laptop-dead-won-t-start-t205526.html
(2) http://www.techspot.com/vb/all/windows/t-37680-Dell-Inspiron-1100-wont-turn-on.html
jkennell
8 Posts
0
August 24th, 2008 16:00
zarekarshiva
2 Posts
0
October 19th, 2008 00:00
Hello,
I am also facing the same problem with my Inspiron 6400 which 1 year and 6 mths old. Diod you get any solution for your problem.
fasoyinbukki
4 Posts
0
October 20th, 2008 15:00
Hi,
I have same problem mine is 1 year and 8 months , reading all the post on this kind of problem, I am begining to regret buying a DELL . I t costed me an arm and a leg.
DELL should be responsible enough to be concerned, this seems like this model is built to just outlast the Warranty so that DELL could be spared of the liability....I am bitter!
zarekarshiva
2 Posts
0
October 20th, 2008 18:00
BJ58
8 Posts
0
October 20th, 2008 23:00
Hi zarekarshiva
I replaced the motherboard with a second hand one from ebay Japan only $145 US I think from kenub123
I have noticed he still lists them occassionally with and the other without on board video.
I also replaced the Dell X1400 video card with the 6400's nividi 256Meg video module option again from ebay for less than $50.
If you investigate over the web there is some contention that the Dell video X1400 module has an input into these motherboard failures and this was the only component that had not been replaced in the past with the failure of previous 3 motherboards bd's (1 under warranty) for $50 I wasn't going to take the risk again.
After replacing the motherboard and the video module (Replaced Dell X1400 256Mb which I believe only really has 128Mb of its own RAM but shares a further 128Mb of system Ram) with the Dell nvidia video 256Meg module option.
I then installed a fan speed indication (only) utility which indicated processor temperature was reaching as high as 60-70 deg C before fans started "flaming hot" (NOT GOOD).
I then found and installed the following following fan utility 18fangui31 and set the processor temp control to 40 Deg C through the installed 18kfangui31 utility.
Result processor cooling fans start earlier and Processor temperature rarely rises above 45Deg C (ambient temp where I live can hit 47 Deg C in the shade in summer).
18kfanGUI was developed by Christian Diefer of Germany specifically for Dell laptops (see his compatibility chart). Using 18kfanGUI, I am able to get my fans to turn on or up sooner, and therefore keep the temperature of my laptop lower. Christian did host a forum, which appeared to be very active, so you can support beyond his manual and FAQs.
http://www.chrisdott.com/2007_12_01_archive.html
Now the laptop is a bit noisier earlier (fans and higher fan speeds earlier), but I am much more comfortable in knowing that the laptop wont crash (or worse, get ruined again) by high temperatures.
It has been operating now for over a year with no further problems. I have since passed it onto my son who gives it a right flogging at university and as his prime entertainment machine games videos burning etc and I have since moved onto a very sweet Hewlet Packard (HP) Laptop.
My only future advice is if you buy a Dell again you must purchase the extended warranty as it is quite evident when they (DELL) drop a defective model or one that is over a short time proven to be a lemon on the market they will not support/protect you or their Brand name once the warranty runs out.
I really think that the X1400 Video module was also impacting on the temp/problems previously experienced as my original (2 X motherbord failure prior) symptoms were initially pointing to a video problem, find yourself a nvidi 256 Meg video module option if you are running the X1400 as well.
I might have a spare one of these somewhere (impatient purchase/delivery I do live in Australia).
The fan utility is definitely the way to go if you repair yours and don't want to gamble on another failure. See "kenub123" @ ebay for replacement motherboard he may have some.
Cheers
Mark
biznatch11
212 Posts
0
October 21st, 2008 04:00
I just wanted to say that's the greatest way I've ever heard those icons described, hahaha, you're right they totally look like little bags, I've never thought about that! As an aside, I have a 6400 with no system board problems so far but now after reading these posts I will keep my fingers crossed and am glad I got an extended warranty! (although I did have LCD problems and just had a defective one replaced so I've got my money's worth on the warranty already)
biznatch11
212 Posts
0
October 21st, 2008 05:00
BJ58
8 Posts
0
October 21st, 2008 05:00
Do yourself a favour and download and install the 18kfanGUI utility before the heat from the processor and the poor standard of BIOS processor fan controls cooks your motherboard, it does it ever so slowly basting it you might say.
Forewarned is forearmed.
The biggest problem I found was the inconvenience of not having the laptop available not so much the repairs or the cost in themselves.
Best Regards
Mark
BJ58
8 Posts
0
October 21st, 2008 06:00
You think a P111 gets hot try a P4 9100 I still have one as a back up and when it's fans start and increase in speed it sounds like a hover craft about to fill it's skirts.
The 6400 though using the 18kfangui utility in auto and with the processor at low or no number crunching does not seem to exceed 45 Deg C according to my son (New Owner) I think he said he sets temp to 40 deg C.
He says Crank up the workload on the dual core processor and processor temp has risen to 48DegC.
Still much better than the standard BIOS controlled fan speeds.
Keep the temp set low and the only thing you will have to worry about is the fan bearings failing, which rarely happens in laptops particularly if they haven't got hot, answer to the question is keep it cool and you to will be cool.
Cheers
Mark
JoanneOh
2 Posts
0
October 21st, 2008 09:00
:smileyvery-happy: Funny... looking back.. they're supposed to be "locks"? How do you call them?
Too bad I didn't buy the extended warrantee. :(
I called Dell and the support guy told me to remove the battery. He told me to press on "Fn" + (The Power button). Hold them for 20 seconds to discharge. Then, fix the AC power source. However, the three "bag"s (LOL) icon still lit up when i pressed on the power button. He mentioned that the motherboard might had been short.
I then opened up the laptop and found, on two parts of the motherboard, some whitish greenish powdery stuffs on it. Perhaps they were overheated or shorted? no idea on the cause.