Fix Dell Desktop Startup Issue – Power Button Blinks 3 Amber, 6 White

Original Discussion: https://www.dell.com/community/en/conversations/inspiron-desktops/inspiron-5675-problem-blinking-3-amber-6-white/647f7b7bf4ccf8a8de9b7e9c

About This Issue

If your Dell desktop or all-in-one PC fails to boot and the power button blinks 3 amber and 6 white, this usually indicates BIOS corruption.

Symptoms include:

• No POST or Dell logo on screen.
• Fans and lights running continuously.
• Power button LED sequence: 3 amber blinks → short pause → 6 white blinks → long pause → repeats.

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Quick Fix Summary

• Step 1: Reset CMOS by removing and reinserting the motherboard battery.
• Step 2: Perform BIOS Recovery using Dell’s official recovery process. [dell.com]

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Possible Causes

• Corrupted BIOS image.
• CMOS settings failure.
• Rarely, motherboard hardware fault.

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Troubleshooting Steps

1. Reset CMOS

2. Power off and unplug the system.
3. Open the case and locate the CMOS battery (CR2032 coin cell).
4. Remove the battery for at least 10 minutes.
5. Reinsert the battery correctly.
6. Power on and check if the issue is resolved.

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2. Perform BIOS Recovery

If CMOS reset does not work:

3. On a working PC, go to https://www.dell.com/support.
4. Download the latest BIOS for your system.
5. Under Other Formats, download the .RCV file.
6. Rename the file to BIOS_IMG.rcv.
7. Copy it to a FAT32-formatted USB drive.
8. Insert the USB drive into the affected PC.
9. Plug in power.
10. Press and hold CTRL + ESC, then press the power button.
11. Keep holding CTRL + ESC until the BIOS Recovery menu appears.
12. Follow on-screen instructions to restore the BIOS. [dell.com]

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3. If Recovery Fails

• Under warranty: Contact Dell Technical Support by starting a chat here.
• Out of warranty: Motherboard may need replacement. Seek Dell service or a trusted technician.

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Additional Notes

• Ensure the USB drive is FAT32 formatted.
• Do not interrupt BIOS recovery once started.
• If BIOS recovery fails repeatedly, hardware replacement is likely required.

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References

• Community Discussion: Inspiron 5675, problem, blinking 3 amber, 6 white
• Dell Support Knowledge Base: Recover BIOS on Dell Computer or Tablet After Boot or POST Failure