15 R3, No POST, flashing 3 red 1 blue

Hi @WizardsEnterprise  thank you for providing a good report of the 15 R3 problem and including the Power LED Blinking/Beep code. POST is working, but does not complete. When there is a no video issue, test the screen by run the keyboard shortcut to enter the ePSAs or the keyboard shortcut to run the LCD BIST from POST.

The test has already been undertaken, so please run the ePSAs test.

If problem not resolved, try the Dell Computer Does Not Start - Interactive Support Agent. 

Hi @WizardsEnterprise  did the link to Resolve No Power, No POST, No Boot or No Video Issues help? 

@crimsom Thank you for your response. I just tried holding the function key and then pressing power and continuing to hold the function key. I get the same result as before, 3 red and 1 blue flash. I am 100% sure that this brand new CMOS battery is good, I tested it with a multimeter. I've even tried using Ctrl Esc trick to reflash the bios in case it was a bios issue but it just flashes the code invalid recovery file (even using USB). I tried the link to the power issues troubleshooter but that is only for laptops that are having issues with power and there are no options for me that match what happen

Hi, I also have the same problem. Is it possible that this problem will occur because of the absent of battery or the absent of the wifi card?

The 3,1 light code relates to a failed CMOS battery.

Laptops will function without a battery or wifi card installed so your issue shouldn't be related to this. If you haven't had your battery connected for a long period without the laptop being plugged in then this could cause the CMOS battery to also slowly die. You could try charging your laptop overnight with the main battery connected (if you have it) and see if it revives the CMOS battery. I have managed some success with this in an older 17 R1 in the past but the CMOS battery didn't last very much longer though and I had to replace it anyway. 

Here is a link to a replacement 15 R3 CMOS battery, if your model is the same as the original posters

https://www.parts-people.com/index.php?action=item&id=28191

Definitely not. Find out if any businesses near you take old batteries and get rid of it. 

Hi @Farhan Manaf  this is user to user discussion forum and not Dell Support. 

Removing the main battery makes the laptop behave as a desktop. There will be no diagnostic beeps or lights when this change from laptop to desktop occurs. Using laptop as a desktop does not damage the laptop. Some laptops have a toggle Desktop mode off or on, the 15 R3 does not have this feature. 

Removing the Wi-Fi card should be detected during POST, but there is seemingly no 15 R3 diagnostic code for this, and system should boot.  

The brief power button blue status says system is either in sleep or hibernation mode. To stop this reoccurring press and hold down the power button for about a minute so the system is forced to completely shut down. 

The power button flashing 3 red 1 blue diagnostic code = CMOS (coin) battery failure, usually stops boot because BIOS has no power. Some computers do not have a coin battery and get their power directly from the ac adapter, but all Dell computers have coin batteries. A new coin battery is then required to power the BIOS.

Switch laptop off, and remove the ac adapter's dc-in plug from laptop socket. The BIOS may have been corrupted. Remove the old coin battery. Hold down the power button to remove any remaining (flea) power and/or use the system board's two shorting pins, usually two bight spots designated RTCRST (Real Time Clock Reset) in one of the RAM card bays. Then wait about 20 minutes before installing the coin battery. 

The system POST should not give any diagnostic beeps or lights, and boot into the windows operating system. 

If the screen is dark, look at top of keyboard for the key that toggles between using external monitor and laptop monitor, and the keys that increase or reduce screen brightness. 

To restart your graphics drivers, press key combination Win + Ctrl + Shift + B on your keyboard. Screen drivers will give reset beep, and screen should start working. All your current applications remain open, and no work is lost. 

Please click on Kudos to say thank you for response from another user. Please share an update on progress, so that other users derive benefit from your experience. Thank you. 

I will try tomorrow and update on progress

Hey, is the cmos battery you listed have any difference with the regular cr2032? I am sorry if my question are wrong in any way. I am clueless in cmos batteries.

The CMOS battery on the 15 R3 is a corded battery which plugs into a connector on the board. A standard CR2032 battery is a coin battery which slides into a housing on the board. Alienware seem to swap between the two styles. You won't be able to just buy a $2 CR2032 from the supermarket.  

I had the same problem (and still do). Upon closer inspection I found out I broke the EDP port when I was repasting the CPU/GPU. Try hooking the laptop with an hdmi cable to a monitor and see if you get anything. I still haven't fixed mine, but if you connect it to a TV or a monitor it works fine.