How to restart after wrong ejection from dockingstation

Claus,

Thank you for using the Dell Community Forum.

Verify that this is, indeed, a No POST (Power On Self Test) situation.

2. If the system has video, but is locking up during the BIOS screens, there may be a Drive, Card, or Peripheral causing the problem.
4. Will the system POST out of the docking station?
6. Verify whether the system has power.
8. Make sure the system is not in suspend or CRT mode. Press Fn + F8 and Fn + Esc to exit. Hold the power button down for 8 to 10 seconds to force a shutdown. Or, use a paper clip or similar item to press the reset switch. Wait 10 to 15 seconds and restore power. Look for signs that the system is actually a no POST, or if you have a dead LCD. Look for the hard drive indicator light. Listen for the PCMCIA card recognition tones. Use an external monitor if available.
10. Remove the battery, hard drive, CD/floppy drive, and any PCMCIA card. Remove any external peripheral components such as printers, palmtop devices, or USB devices. Remove the RAM, this should cause the system to power on and off in a cycle. If not, reinsert the RAM and check the BIOS. Will the system POST?
12. Install one memory module, and attempt to boot. Install the second module if the system does boot. If the system does not POST, use the same module in the 2nd slot. If the system completes POST, replace the motherboard for a bad RAM slot. If the system does not POST, remove the memory module and place the other module in this slot. If the system completes POST, replace the memory for a bad DIMM. Otherwise, replace motherboard.
14. Reset the BIOS defaults. Press F2 to go into Setup, Press F9 or hold Alt and F simultaneously to reset Defaults, then F10 or Esc to save and exit. After the system has rebooted, install the hard drive.
16. Install all devices and peripherals one at a time. (hard drive, floppy drive, CD/DVD, etc)

17. If none of these suggestions help, you should contact Dell Support in your global region.

Hi again,

Thank you for the reply but unfortunately it does not work. The battery charge diode is still on and I have no contact. I wonder if there is a reset button somewhere. You know - some laptops have a small hole that fits a paperclip or something like that. Press that and it should all restart. Do the Inspiron 8000 have that? And if so where can I locate it?

Best regards

blipblop,

No, unfortunately there is not reset button on the system.  You may want to try these two reset options:

• Hold the power button for 15 seconds, it will shut down the machine from a powered state.  This will also reset the machine, if done while off.   
• Remove the AC adapter and battery from the system and let it sit for 15 seconds.  This will reset the NVRAM in the computer.

BobT

Ohh my good. It still does not work. Could I have damaged the motherboard? So that I need a new one of those?

Best regards

blipblop,

It is a possibility that you will, unfortunately, have to entertain.  To test the hardware on your system, you should run the Dell diagnostic test.

Place the System Software CD in your computer. Reset the machine and when the Dell logo appears on the screen, press and release [F2] several times until you are in the BIOS. Press the right arrow key to go to the BOOT menu or hold [Alt] and [P] simultaneously to progress to the second page. Change the boot sequence to CD/DVD drive, Floppy drive, Internal HDD. Now press [Esc] or [F10] to save and exit the BIOS.

The following knowledge base article can help you with this:

How to run the Dell diagnostic test knowledge base article.

The program should automatically load. Choose to run the test on the questionable component(s), in this case the motherboard.

YIPPIIII

I cannot answer why or how but I have solved my problem... YIHARR!!!

I have tried everything and it would not work. I have had everything out of the mashine. Totally ravaged. I have  tried to leave the mashine without power from the battery and AC for app. 1 hour. Still there were no reaction. I had even talk to Dell and they said - "it's the motherboard - well - it would be app. 1.600$ for a new motherboard." WOW!!

Then I left the mashine for a hole night without even thinking about it. No power at all. No AC an no battery. And the next morning... It fired up like a brand new mashine... Gohst or something I don't know, but the primary thing is... IT WORKS AGAIN...

Well everybody - you have a very merry chistmas and a nice and happy brand new year...

Best of all