Hd-tech1,

 

The part about the lights staying on after you unplug the system is definitely odd.  Trying another battery is a good test.

 

Please remove the floppy drive or CD-Rom drive, the battery, any PCMCIA cards, the hard drive and all but one memory module (if you have more than one), and then try restarting the system on AC power.  You should come to a message that says, No Operating System found.  If you do, reassemble the system one piece at a time and try restarting after each piece to see if one of them is causing a problem.  

 

If the system will not start with the parts removed, then contact Technical Support.  Inspiron 5160s have been put back under warranty, and no power is one of the covered repairs.

Thanks for the suggestions Rollie.

 

I tried another known good battery and it is the same result.   As soon as I press the power button, the power light and battery light come on solid green but no video, no POST, no fans, no anything else.  The only way to get it to go away is wait a long time (perhaps battery charge related) or just pull the battery.   Plugging in the AC adapter brings the lights without pressing power button.  Very strange indeed.  

 

I then removed everything you mentioned and tried each battery and without the battery but the above description did not change.

 

I think I will contact tech support, however, I have read in numerous other threads on this board that the 5160 is not covered, only the 5150, and when tech support is asked about this, they say the 5160 is not covered.  Is there a specific number to call and/or something specific to reference for this extention of warranty?

 

Thanks again Rollie!

Hd-tech1,

 

Both 5150s and 5160s have a warranty extension, and it applies to all systems purchased in the US.  Some systems have fallen through the cracks, but Dell internal policy documents direct technicians to fix problems with 5150s and 5160s, even if they do not show a warranty.

 

If you will add your Service Tag number to your forum profile, then I will check to see if your system has the warranty extension and if not, pass it along to those who will add the warranty extension. 

 

 

Rollie - Service tag added.  Let me know when you think I should contact tech support.

Hd-tech1,

 

Your warranty extension is in place and you can contact Technical Support anytime.