1.  first, a normal first start into dell screen and then into windows.

2.   then "restart" from inside windows is not a problem, the laptop will reboot easily!

3.  BUT:   if i shut off the laptop completely, and try to restart it within 10 minutes or less, all i get is 3 blue lights!  these lights only come on after a minute or so, then one of them blinks, then they all stay on.....

4.  then, ONLY after a long while,  the laptop can be started again! 

this is NOT about the RAM or the CPU or the CMOS battery or the power supply !!   those are all fine!  

it sure works fine the first time, so i do not see a motherboard problem?

5.  while it is in that "blue light" situation, it seems even holding down the power button does not turn it off or stop it from doing whatever it is doing!

is there some "after shut off' process in the BIOS that i don't know about?   or what is going on??