inspiron 1501

Question

All of a sudden my Inspiron 1501 will not turn on. Blank black screen. Battery is good. Tried numerous times with it plugged in and with Bart alone. It does make sounds for a few seconds as if trying to start. Also the left green light lights up for about a second then goes out. It is just dead. Happened without warning after being unplugged for three days. Th ink I should shoot it?

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

Hi happytrails35,

Welcome to the Community,

Try releasing flea power.Disconnect AC adapter,remove battery,disconnect all external peripherals(USB devices),press and hold down power button for 30 seconds.

Reconnect battery and AC adapter,turn on system.

If issue persists check if the LED on the AC adapter brick stays lit when connected to the system.

Do you hear any beep sound when you try to turn on the system? Does the power button LED stay lit?

Thank You

happytrails35 · Answer

Hi,  It did not respond.  The led on the brick does remain on a d there are three beeps or rattles when I press the power button.  The battery led blinks about once every 10 seconds and the power on led (the one on the left)of three on the right of the keyboard stays on.  Thanks for trying to help figure this out.

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

Hi happytrails35,

If the power LED stays lit then check the keyboard status light and see if its lit in a sequence indicating a problem.

Refer to this chart below and match the sequence of the keyboard status light on your system:

Num Lock	Caps Lock	Scroll Lock	Error Indicated
Off	Flash	Off	The memory is believed to be good but it is about to be exercised (such as when shadowing the BIOS and when testing / zeroing all memory).
Off	On	Off	The system is performing diskette and hard disk initialization.
Off	On	Flash	Flash USB controller initialization.
Off	On	On	No DIMM is installed.
Flash	On	On	EC turn on Pentium.
Flash	Flash	On	Call option ROM for Video.
Flash	Flash	Flash	CMOS initialization, SMI initialization, timer, gate A20, and mouse.
On	On	On	POST has completed and the BIOS is about to jump to the PSA module.

Let me know your findings.

Thank you

happytrails35 · Answer

Hi,  went to bed with 1501 unplugged.  Got your msg. this morn.  Miraculously it fired up when I was going to attempt a turn on to answer your question about the keyboard lights.  Everything is performing nicely as if nothing happened.  What might cause such a thing?  It has been running slow on line lately.  BTW...you are my new best friend,  Don.

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

Hi Don,

Glad to know the system is working.I am not really sure what might have caused the issue.

However for the internet running slow you may check with your internet service provider and make sure everything at there end is fine.

If you need any further help please feel free to reach out.

Thank You

happytrails35 · Answer

Hi again my friend.  Well I let my 1501 sit plugged in for awhile yesterday and it shut itself off as is normal but it will nor come on now.  The three keyboard lights light up when I turn it on a d 3 beeps happen but then there are no lights that stay on or blink.  This is getting wierd don't you think.  I have tried poweing it up several times now with the same result.  Very sorry to be such a pain, Don

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

Hi Don,

If all the LEDs on the system turn off (including the power LED) then it could be an issue with the system board.

Does the LED on the AC adapter stay lit when connected to the system(even after the system shuts down)?

happytrails35 · Answer

Hi, ok.. The power LED & the battery charge light stay on when system shuts down. The three keyboard LED's (num lock, etc.,)blink on when I power up but then go off and stay off. Thanks, Don

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

Hi Don,

If the power LED stays on(solid green) with no display on the screen try running the onboard diagnostics and confirm if you hear any beeps sounds.To run test press and hold down Fn key and press power button to start the system (while holding down the Fn key),if you hear some beep sounds(after few seconds) that means the test is running in the background but system is not able to display anything.In this case it may be an issue with LCD screen or the video card.

Also when the system shuts down (with power LED still lit),press the Num lock or Caps Lock or Scroll lock key and see if they turn on.

Let me know your findings.

Thank You

happytrails35 · Answer

Hi Roshan, Well my mysterious 1501 powered up yesterday morning and worked flawlessly for several hours. Then I put it to sleep by closing it and it has not powered up since despite repeated attempts yesterday and today. I did try to run diagnostic per your instructions but heard no beeps. It does grunt twice each time I power up and the power and battery less remain on. The three keyboard lights blink on but go off and stay off. I don't think the diagnostic ran. It can't be the LCD screen since yesterday it was perfect. I pressed the NUM, CAPS and SCROLL lock keys and their LED's did not come on. After trying to power it up several times today it is dead as a Mackerel. Thanks for your continued help, Don

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

Hi Don,

Usually we are able to isolate the problem either by running the onboard diagnostics or by using the diagnostics LED.However in this situation we are not able to use both to isolate the problem.

I would suggest you to get the system physically checked by a local technician to determine the faulty part which is causing this issue.

happytrails35 · Answer

Well thanks, Roshon. You did your best. It's a perplexing problem and I will take your advice and have it looked at. Thanks for all your help. Don

DELL-Roshan L · Answer

You're Welcome. Please feel free to post back for any other help

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inspiron 1501

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